An illegal encampment was set up on Clare County Council offices in Ennistymon for the first time, earlier this week.

Two caravans took up residence in the public car park at Clare County Council’s Ennistymon offices on Tuesday morning of last week. Associated vehicles including a van belonging to the family were also left on the grounds of the local authority.

By Friday, the family had moved on to an alternative location following daily engagement with the local authority.

“The matter of illegal trespass on public lands was dealt with by the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána. As this is a car park and not a caravan park, this was an area with moving vehicles and no sanitary services. It was not suitable for a family as a place of residence. Those involved in the illegal encampment gave an undertaking to the Court to depart and did,” a spokesperson for Clare County Council told The Clare Echo.

The Clare Echo understands that the family who are living in accommodation owned by the local authority have requested a transfer on the grounds of safety. No reports have been lodged with An Garda Síochána on the matter.

Clare County Council has defended the level of support it provides for the Traveller community on areas such as housing need. “The Council is responsible for Housing functions and is satisfied that this service is undertaken to the highest standard. All members of society are entitled to access this service, including the Travelling community. In this case, the occupants of the illegal encampment have a house. Other statutory agencies and NGO organisation have responsibility for providing support for other functions,” the spokesperson added.

Home ownership by Travellers while increasing is at 20%, this compares to 67.6% of the general population who own their own homes. 65.6% of Traveller families rent from a Local Authority with the 2016 Census indicating a decrease in Traveller households renting from a private landlord.

Advertisement

Related News

rineen ns 1
11 Clare schools removed from Hot School Meals scheme
green cross pharmacy killaloe
Two men arrested who drove into Garda car after series of burglaries in Killaloe & Roscrea
gerardine joe quinlivan 1
Springfield residents can sleep soundly as flooding nightmare ends
ambulance coast guard scariff 1
Bodyke hurler recovering after picking up head injury which forced abandonment of game vs Whitegate
Latest News
clonlara v crusheen 23-08-25 oisin o'brien breffni horner 1
'We left it behind us against The Bridge' - Crusheen reflect on latest championship crusade
green cross pharmacy killaloe
Two men arrested who drove into Garda car after series of burglaries in Killaloe & Roscrea
naomh eoin v liscannor 03-08-25 darren nagle 1
Liscannor extend life in intermediate ranks & send Ennistymon into relegation decider
gerardine joe quinlivan 1
Springfield residents can sleep soundly as flooding nightmare ends
st josephs miltown vs doonbeg 30-08-25 conor cleary darragh burns 1
Miltown down Doonbeg and march onto quarter-finals
Premium
kildysart v kilmihil 29-08-25 conall casey stan lineen 1
Kildysart produce extra time kick to seal senior status & leave Kilmihil in relegation final
feakle v newmarket-on-fergus 08-08-25 oisin donnellan 1
'Next man up' the focus in Feakle despite injury crisis
Shannon, Ireland, June
Shannon will not receive 15 extra Gardaí despite claims of Govt TDs
Springfield3
€5.2m Springfield flood relief scheme 'makes fear & devastation of flooding a thing of the past' in Clonlara
st josephs miltown v doonbeg 16-08-24 sean neylon eoghan killeen 1
Doonbeg & Miltown to battle it out for last remaining quarter-final spot

Advertisement

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.