Hi,
this is an interesting thread to happen on and one which has exercised my mind for quite a while. We visit Galway a couple of times each of the last few years to visit our daughter in college and it proves very difficult to find an overnight
Parking place between the end of September and Easter. We did avail of the
Parking at the marina on a number of occasions and were most disappointed to see a total ban on overnight
Parking there when we visited Galway in February. Lest we got clamped we resorted to
Parking up along a noisy Threadneeddle Road. I had occasion to return to Galway in early April and decided in advance of travelling, to contact the Harbour office to see what was the reason behind the total ban on overnight motorhome
Parking. I was put through to a very helpful and unhurried gentleman who gave me a comprehensive outline of what triggered the ban. Firstly, he explained that on an occasion last year a child ran out from between two parked campers and was within a hair's breadth of being hit by a passing motorist. The driver lodged a compliant with the company and demanded action as he thought he had actually struck the child. Sometime latter he contacted the office to enquire as to what action the company had taken or was planning to take.
Secondly, he explained that the company operates on a 7 day basis and clients of the company need access to the port on a 24/7 basis. Sometimes, especially at the weekends, clients have been blocked from entering the port due campervans
Parking in front of the gates despite abundant signage instructing people not to do so.
Thirdly, he said that on one occasion last year when a client approached a campervan owner who was blocking access to the port gates the owner proceeded to give the client a box in the face which resulted in the client having to go to hospital.
For those reasons the company felt obliged to ban motorhome over-nighting at the marina.
There you have it! Now I felt the gentleman was truthful and not exaggerating and was in no way dictatorial; in fact he said the company was losing a lot of revenue from lost
Parking charges.
So in conclusion, two of the above reasons illustrate that inconsiderate assholes always win - well done assholes, take a bow.
Now, despite all that, I still think it is more than worthwhile getting in touch with the Harbour Co. with a view to resolving the issue and the suggestion of contacting the newly elected Councillors is worthy of a shot.
By the way, I was back again in early May and I did find a suitable place (following advice), very near the centre, to quietly overnight. Sorry all assholes I am not going to reveal where it is.