Every whole blessed fecker is going camping this year!

Ubbquittious · 08-06-2021 1:05am #1

For years me and my group of chums were the only ones into it. I used to ask colleagues would they join us and they nearly always turned up their noses, opting for a jaunt to the Algarve over the traditional and obsolete Irish holiday. Most had terrible memories of being dragged on a mandatory camping holiday by their parents as children, failed attempts at pitching tents, weeks of incessant rain and misery, bad food and overpriced Irish seaside towns.

Now all that is old is new again.

Tents flying out the door, Hymers on every road, Burstners stuck down every boreen, caravans that were only fit for the knacker's yard being nursed back to life, price of "no camping" signs gone up through the roof, retirees patrolling every strip of communal grass for wild campers. Still I think it's great that people's interest in camping has been revived. I just hope it's not short lived and that people will revert to how they were before covid arrived.

pgj2015 · 08-06-2021 7:58am

It's a sense of freedom you don't get with other holidays.

Potential-Monke · 09-06-2021 8:36pm

Always preferred camping over "sun" holidays. It's a great way to unwind and remove yourself from the tech laden normality of our lives. And I'm a fan of tech, but it's nice to head off camping and disconnect every now and then, even for just 1 day/night. Pro tip: roll your joints before going incase the weather is crap, fierce hard to roll in windy conditions!

SineadSpears · 10-06-2021 2:23am

not me anyway!

hate camping. hate everything about it.

I was in scouts when I was younger and camped a lot. Used to love it. But not as an adult I don't.

The last time I went camping was about 6years ago, I woke up to a tent filled with water and a half deflated blow up bed. never again!

the bugs..not being able to wash properly..the lack of walls around me to protect me if anything tries to get me..

The only way i'll ever go camping again is in a camper van. the rest of the family can be adventurous and pitch tents outside and see if they survive the night. I'll be locking myself in the camper van for a half decent nights sleep. with access to the kettle when I can't sleep

Pac1Man · 10-06-2021 7:10am

SineadSpears wrote: »

The only way i'll ever go camping again is in a camper van. the rest of the family can be adventurous and pitch tents outside and see if they survive the night. I'll be locking myself in the camper van for a half decent nights sleep. with access to the kettle when I can't sleep

You sound like a young Edmund Hillary.

Calahonda52 · 10-06-2021 7:13am

There will be a glut of camper vans next year once full travel is back on

Hoboo · 10-06-2021 7:55am

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Pro tip: roll your joints before going incase the weather is crap, fierce hard to roll in windy conditions!

Pros pros tip; zip up your tent door

Potential-Monke · 10-06-2021 7:57am

Hoboo wrote: »

Pros pros tip; zip up your tent door

Ah that makes shouting at the lad in the other tent (if you have company, recommended) that bit harder.

whisky_galore · 10-06-2021 8:00am

Not appealing in this country.
Waking up freezing.
Crap weather.
No facilities, crapping behind a bush.
Screw all that.

10-06-2021 8:00am

Too many large insects and you’ve ****e in a hole. Nah.

Necro · 10-06-2021 8:10am

Self catering for me anyways. Have a week booked in Cork in July and need to have bits and pieces for the kids to do so not taking any risk with the Irish weather :pac:

Badly Drunk Boy · 10-06-2021 8:23am

Calahonda52 wrote: »

There will be a glut of camper vans next year once full travel is back on

'They' said that last year. They'll be right this time, though, with everything opening up.

Zaph · 10-06-2021 8:57am

I have never spent a night camping in my life, and I don't intend to start now. I have only two requirements when I go on holiday - a bed and non-communal indoor plumbing. After that it's just a case of what else I'm willing to pay for. I'd actually rather stay at home than go on a camping holiday. Which is probably good news for those who like camping as they wouldn't have to listen to me constantly moaning.

branie2 · 10-06-2021 9:01am

I've never done it

TefalBrain · 10-06-2021 9:02am

I used to love it here just as in got older I couldn't handle the **** weather and sudden influx of Lidl/Halfords campers.

biko · 10-06-2021 9:06am

It's good people go camping. Help the local economy.

Allinall · 10-06-2021 9:10am

biko wrote: »

It's good people go camping. Help the local economy.

That's only if you go camping locally.

Most people like to travel a bit further afield.

JimmyVik · 10-06-2021 9:12am

We have a group of about 5 families now who have given each other access to each others gardens for the summer to pitch you tent.
Also a couple of us swapping our whole houses.

Last weekend we had friends from Clare camping in our garden in Dublin with their 2 kids.
Other friends from Donegal coming this weekend. They can all use the BBQ in the garden or bring their own cooking stuff.
They can use the kitchen once we are all vaccinated. Probably a few more trips for everyone like this before the summer is out too.
First weekend in July we are going camping in their garden in Donegal.
And last weekend in August we are camping in a Kerry friends garden.
Everyones kids are all excited tbh. Some adults arent though

listermint · 10-06-2021 9:12am

Allinall wrote: »

That's only if you go camping locally.

Most people like to travel a bit further afield.

Locally means Ireland ....

SineadSpears · 10-06-2021 9:28am

TefalBrain wrote: »

I used to love it here just as in got older I couldn't handle the **** weather and sudden influx of Lidl/Halfords campers.

on that last camping trip I was on, a family pulled up in a van and start building a fcuking fort around them.
The father was hammering away a big barrier around the area they were camping. unloading everything and anything from the van for about two hours.

It was kinda ridiculous watching them setting everything up. could hardly call it 'camping'.

But jesus the next morning me getting out of my swamp of a tent to see their big fcuking castle all snug and protected :mad:

HBC08 · 10-06-2021 9:31am

TefalBrain wrote: »

I used to love it here just as in got older I couldn't handle the **** weather and sudden influx of Lidl/Halfords campers.

Not a question I've asked myself often but the answer seems to be yes,there is such a thing as a camping snob.

TefalBrain · 10-06-2021 9:33am

HBC08 wrote: »

Not a question I've asked myself often but the answer seems to be yes,there is such a thing as a camping snob.

Have you seen the sorts that buy all their camping gear in Halfords/Tesco/Lidl etc.. :eek:

The horror

whisky_galore · 10-06-2021 9:54am

TefalBrain wrote: »

Have you seen the sorts that buy all their camping gear in Halfords/Tesco/Lidl etc.. :eek:

The horror

The same sorts that buy an inflatable boat from Lidl and think its grand for the Atlantic...

Tabnabs · 10-06-2021 9:57am

Poor Wicklow is destroyed with abandoned tents, fire pits still smouldering after everyone has gone home and literal bags of rubbish left behind.

The sooner Benidorm is back on the menu the better.

HBC08 · 10-06-2021 10:10am

TefalBrain wrote: »

Have you seen the sorts that buy all their camping gear in Halfords/Tesco/Lidl etc.. :eek:

The horror

I mean really....
There should be a separate area for these degenerates.

JustAThought · 10-06-2021 10:34am

Between growing up camping & going to a school with a uniform I think that’s whats hardened me to anything life throws at me! Loved it as a kid but also have strong memories of the misery - summers basically sharing a room with 5 people and one wardrobe between us all - going to bed when it got dark cos there was no insulation or heat other than the gas ring to cook on - and the misery of truging in the rain in coat, PJ’s & barefoot in wellies to find a bush or camp toilet in the dark

I like my bit of luxury now & thou part of me loves the wild of tent-ing in the middle of nowhere I’m not sure I’d really feel safe doing it anymore - too many oddballs & drugheads around to be able to properly relax and sleep - and the dog wakes you with the fear going mad but its only a mouse or rabbit bopping around outside!

I’d defo to it but in a camper or van - neither of which I have atm!!! Ireland can be a great little country but you’d need the good weather and showering & water facilities!!!.

FlubberJones · 10-06-2021 10:39am

Not a chance, would rather smash my toes with a hammer than sit in a rainy field with no facilities, nowhere to go and nothing to do.

10-06-2021 10:42am

The Irish never fail to deliver. No matter what it is, there will always be someone looking down their nose at those who aren't doing something as long as they are.

theteal · 10-06-2021 10:43am

Same here in Engerland. We'd normally go a couple of times a year and there would always be availability up to a couple of weeks beforehand. We've got two trips booked for this summer since early April (first one is next week, whoop!) and it turns out we were lucky to book so early. These are "wild" sites too so none of this luxury glamping lark.

Love me a bit of camping, especially here with the weather being better than home. In saying that, these trips are long weekends, I'm not sure I'd be into a full week or two of it. Feckin' kids would drive me demented.

whisky_galore · 10-06-2021 11:08am

Tabnabs wrote: »

Poor Wicklow is destroyed with abandoned tents, fire pits still smouldering after everyone has gone home and literal bags of rubbish left behind.

The sooner Benidorm is back on the menu the better.

This crowd would normally be resort goers I'd bet, and have unfortunate min wage workers at their beck and call, picking up after them.

Ubbquittious · 10-06-2021 11:10am

Tabnabs wrote: »

Poor Wicklow is destroyed with abandoned tents, fire pits still smouldering after everyone has gone home and literal bags of rubbish left behind.

The sooner Benidorm is back on the menu the better.

Any good tents being left behind?

Badly Drunk Boy · 10-06-2021 11:15am

I've usually only camped when there was music involved: 13 Electric Picnics, 2 Liss Ards, and an Oxegen. Does that count?

And in sixth class in Primary school, our teacher brought us camping in Sligo for some reason (dropping in to Knock on the way home to Kildare).

There was also one drunken night on Inishmore in the late 90s, I think. That was grand but I'd never really consider just going somewhere to camp.

TefalBrain · 10-06-2021 11:22am

HBC08 wrote: »

I mean really....
There should be a separate area for these degenerates.

Santa del sh1thole?

Electric Picnic?

10-06-2021 11:27am

Ubbquittious wrote: »

For years me and my group of chums were the only ones into it.........

The only thing worse than bandwagon-jumpers is those who look to gatekeep stuff for themselves.

Balmed Out · 10-06-2021 12:01pm

Started 6 years ago when eldest started walking amd thought that the first 2 years were a lot easier and cheaper to book pitches etc. 4 years ago busier and a massive explosion in popularity 3 years ago.
Its enjoyable but if it weren't for the kids i dont think id go.

JustAThought · 10-06-2021 12:35pm

Balmed Out wrote: »

Started 6 years ago when eldest started walking amd thought that the first 2 years were a lot easier and cheaper to book pitches etc. 4 years ago busier and a massive explosion in popularity 3 years ago.
Its enjoyable but if it weren't for the kids i dont think id go.

I see a few people camping during the covid - fancy cars, high cost gear - my first thought was camping AWAY from their wives & children!

BobMc · 10-06-2021 12:44pm

find the facilities at the actual pitch limited here. Camped tons as late teens early 20s in Ontario, its great camping, Provincial state parks with each pitch has parking for usually 2 cars, an area for tent pitching, picnic table, fire pits and an, next pitch might be 50 metres away or more, some might be bit tighter but usually good seperation with natural foiliage or trees, not up on top of you, patrolled too day and night by rangers so no OTT messing

Charcoal stand BBQ, usually in fantastic forest or riverside or lakeside,

here its field with tents and a shower block

I'll pass

Ubbquittious · 10-06-2021 12:54pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The only thing worse than bandwagon-jumpers is those who look to gatekeep stuff for themselves.

Just as well I wasn't doing that so

global23214124 · 10-06-2021 1:17pm

Went camping for music festivals in Ireland and Belgium. Our tent in Oxegen got flooded the first night so we all had to cramp into another tent. Found it impossible to get to sleep for long in any shape of tent so dont think it's for me.

silliussoddius · 10-06-2021 2:52pm

biko wrote: »

It's good people go camping. Help the local economy.

Do they, is it not the case that before people go camping that they'd buy their provisions in their own locality and have no need to when they end up in their destination?
I've heard that complaint levelled against people in camper vans.

Ubbquittious · 10-06-2021 3:26pm

silliussoddius wrote: »

Do they, is it not the case that before people go camping that they'd buy their provisions in their own locality and have no need to when they end up in their destination?
I've heard that complaint levelled against people in camper vans.

They say that about Germans who bring their camper to places like Iceland that are ferociously expensive to buy food in. I cant imagine many travelling within Ireland would bother

spaceHopper · 10-06-2021 3:37pm

Before kids I used to surf almost every weekend, to the point my parents rang me to check if I was alive they hadn't seen me in weeks. Between car camping and a camper van I've hit so many beaches had a fantastic time and just chilled out. Ireland is the bizz for this if you do it right.

Taking the kids tent camping for the first time in the hills this weekend with another kids and their Dad. I'm expecting careenage and mayhem but hopefully they will enjoy it. I want them to enjoy it but not to much so that they want to do it all the time.

simongurnick · 10-06-2021 3:37pm

BobMc wrote: »

find the facilities at the actual pitch limited here. Camped tons as late teens early 20s in Ontario, its great camping, Provincial state parks with each pitch has parking for usually 2 cars, an area for tent pitching, picnic table, fire pits and an, next pitch might be 50 metres away or more, some might be bit tighter but usually good seperation with natural foiliage or trees, not up on top of you, patrolled too day and night by rangers so no OTT messing

Charcoal stand BBQ, usually in fantastic forest or riverside or lakeside,

here its field with tents and a shower block

I'll pass

I live in Ontario and go camping all summer. Have "advanced" from tent, to pop tent trailer to a new trailer this year (which I am still waiting to pick up).
Camping is second nature though. Great sites, deep in the woods and on lakes with lots of facilities and decent weather.
Ireland in the wind and pissing rain, I'm not so sure...but there is a lovely trailer site out in Roundstone which is a beauty spot.
Also, went to France on a kind of packaged camping holiday as a kid. Had these "tents" that were more like cabins with three rooms. Decent set up

simongurnick · 10-06-2021 3:54pm

Ubbquittious wrote: »

They say that about Germans who bring their camper to places like Iceland that are ferociously expensive to buy food in. I cant imagine many travelling within Ireland would bother

Germans bringing Camper vans to Iceland???

Ubbquittious · 10-06-2021 3:57pm

simongurnick wrote: »

Germans bringing Camper vans to Iceland???

Yep. They go to Lidl and load the thing up with food till the flaps are scraping the road and cruise up to Denmark to board the MS Norrona.

fits · 10-06-2021 4:01pm

Love camping especially wild camping. We are considering going camping down the fields here over summer. Don’t think I’d be bothered with a proper campsite in ireland anyway. Although the one in Cahirciveen is fantastic.

downtheroad · 10-06-2021 4:04pm

pgj2015 wrote: »

It's a sense of freedom you don't get with other holidays.

It's a sense of ****ting in a bucket in a cupboard you don't get with other holidays... in England... with your parents!

Celmullet · 10-06-2021 4:05pm

My father would take us camping a lot growing up. I detested it then and detest it now. I'll take my hotel room with hot water and a functioning toilet.

mariaalice · 10-06-2021 5:29pm

A place in Mayo was advertising camping pitches, they have a water tap nothing else no electricity or a hard stand but was what was making me laugh was you have to bring your own portable loo, imagine bringing a portable loo along with a tent and then having to bring it home with you to dispose of its contents.

I bet you it's booked out as well.

Speedline · 10-06-2021 5:40pm

Wild camping up the mountains with the lads. Plenty of drink and smokage. Permission is generally granted as the other halves know there's no women up there to be chasing, unlike other lads weekends. And they stay home too as there's nowhere to plug anything in.

We go camping at Silverstone too for the motogp. Power in the tent, heating, mini fridge, shower and toilet blocks, entertainment, its like a 5 star hotel compared to the side of a mountain.

simongurnick · 10-06-2021 5:58pm

Ubbquittious wrote: »

Yep. They go to Lidl and load the thing up with food till the flaps are scraping the road and cruise up to Denmark to board the MS Norrona.

Ah cool. Never knew about that. Might be a trip to consider some day

Every whole blessed fecker is going camping this year!

Going camping this year? 139 votes

Comments