Permission sought for new Achill holiday park with room for 61 mobile homes

Planning permission has been sought for a new holiday park with room for 61 mobile homes and 20 campervans close to Keel Beach on Achill Island. Achill Shores Ltd is seeking permission to develop the facility on a 16-acre site on the eastern edge of Keel village, across the road from the existing Keel Camping caravan and camping park. The company, with an address at Derrydonnell More, Athenry, County Galway, is seeking permission to build 61 mobile-home pitches, each measuring approximately 52 square metres, along with 20 touring pitches. A playground, a multi-use games area (MUGA), a communal building, toilet and shower blocks, and landscaped open spaces also form part of the development. Barbecue and picnic areas have also been proposed, along with 28 bicycle-parking spaces and a 15-space visitor and staff car park. An 'Aire', a designated overnight parking facility where touring visitors could access electricity and fresh water, has also been proposed. Documents submitted with the application set out six construction phases, which are expected to take 24 months to complete. The facility will be located adjacent to Keel Lough and the protected Keel Machair/Menaun Cliffs Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Developments that could affect a Special Area of Conservation are subject to environmental assessment under EU habitats legislation. A report by MKO Planning and Environmental Consultants acknowledged that there was 'potential for accidental encroachment of construction plant or machinery' beyond the construction site and onto the SAC. 'Such encroachment could result in localised physical damage or degradation of the habitat. Accordingly, in the absence of mitigation, a potential pathway for likely significant effects on the Keel Machair/Menaun Cliffs SAC cannot be excluded,' the report said. Potential risks identified in the report included construction encroachment, contaminated run-off and the spread of invasive plants. However, the Natura Impact Statement concluded that the proposed development would not adversely affect the integrity of any European protected site if the safeguards were implemented. The safeguards include a 10-metre construction buffer beside the protected machair and nearby watercourse, as well as oversight by an Ecological Clerk of Works. Himalayan balsam, giant rhubarb and rhododendron were recorded on the site. An invasive species management plan has been prepared to prevent the plants from spreading into neighbouring protected habitat. Lisa Fitzsimons, a director of Achill Shores Ltd, and her husband Michael, who operate Keel Camping, have said the proposed park would be separate from the existing campsite. The couple, who have operated Keel Camping for the past four years, purchased the proposed development site two years ago. Mayo County Council is due to decide on the application by October 10. Keel Beach lies alongside Trawmore Strand and is one of Achill's most popular Blue Flag beaches. A separate all-weather water sports facility is also being developed at Keel Beach by Mayo County Council in partnership with Fáilte Ireland. The council previously said it was expected to become operational during 2026.