Tourism representatives and local officials on Achill Island say they are concerned for the safety of Traveller children and for the potential impact on water quality at Keel lake after up to 30 Traveller caravans parked alongside its banks.
The Co Mayo location is not a designated caravan or camping site and there are no sanitation facilities. Keel lake is a popular tourist spot. There are three outdoor adventure centres on Achill Island and all use the lake with their students for a range of water activities.
The proprietors of the schools and other lake users say they are concerned about the potential impact on the water quality of the lake. Mr Richie O'Hara, who runs activity holidays on Achill, said: "My concern is for the safety of the Travellers in this location, particularly children. Eight- and nine-year-old children from the caravans get into the boats and canoes along the lake, despite our best efforts to prevent it.
"A tragedy could occur here and it is simply not the right place for these families to be. We welcome everyone in Achill but we have designated caravan and camping sites and we expect any visitors to use these facilities," added Mr O'Hara, who is also chairman of Ireland West Tourism and owner of a hotel on the island.
"The local authority needs to act on unauthorised camping."
Local Fine Gael councillor, Mr Pat Kilbane, says the Traveller families are parked on land owned by Mayo County Council. "At Keel lake these families have no amenities. They have no toilets or electricity and it is an inappropriate location.
"The Traveller families involved are not indigenous to the county and are here, it appears, on holiday since the beginning of July."
Mayo county secretary Mr John Condon said: "While we would prefer that any visitor to Achill books in and pays at any one of a number of registered, serviced camping sites on the island it is technically difficult for us to move the families on without the introduction of new by-laws to cover this particular area."