Co Kerry's new beach bylaws will come into force on May 1st, it emerged yesterday, in time for the summer season.
The laws cover surrounding sand dunes as well as the immediate beach area. Some 52 beaches are covered by the laws, although not all laws apply to all beaches. The restrictions on caravanning and camping, for instance, apply to just 17 beaches.
Council officials said the new laws were an attempt to deal with nuisance behaviour as well as to protect the beaches, 13 of which have Blue Flag status, the highest of any county. They are a response to motions at Kerry County Council calling for prohibitions on quad-bike and car racing and for restrictions on noisy jet-ski activity.
However, at this month's council meeting some councillors argued that the laws were "draconian" and went much further than the public would have wanted.
One of the most vocal critics, Paul O'Donoghue, brother of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, said the restrictions represented "the nanny state gone too far".
Beaches were places for impromptu activity, but impromptu barbecues and even singing would now be outlawed, Mr O'Donoghue said.
There were also calls for management plans for specific beaches rather than an overall bylaw and for more time to consider the matter.
The laws were passed by a majority of those councillors present.
There are general prohibitions as well as specific bans on activities such as quad biking and use of off-road vehicles. Under Schedule 10, for example, other than statutory bodies and those with long-established rights of access, nobody will be allowed "drive, propel, push, park or leave" any off-road vehicle on most of the beaches without the permission of the council.
All vehicles are to be banned from Ballybunion, Castlegregory, Rossbeigh and Kells beaches, along with a large number of smaller locations. In the case of Inch beach, an area designated for car-parking is to be set aside after a submission by the local community council that there was no place else to park, and an outright ban would harm local tourism.
Horses - which include donkey, mule, and hinny (the offspring of a donkey and a horse) - are specifically mentioned in the bylaws. On most beaches, horse-riding is restricted to the mean high-water mark and on dunes it will only be allowed where it can be shown that no environmental damage will result. However, the traditional horse races on Rossbeigh beach will be allowed.
One of the most troublesome laws is likely to be that banning camping, a traditional activity on Kerry beaches. No camping is to be allowed on Inch, Kells, Ventry, Ballybunion, Banma, Castlegregory or Derrynane, as well as several lesser-known beaches.
"It was felt that the presence of unregulated temporary overnight accommodation at Blue Flag beaches in the county was incompatible with their Blue Flag status and could ultimately jeopardise that status," according to notes attached to the laws.
The levels of unregulated camping on the Maharees had grown to such an extent it now posed an environmental risk from the perspective of fire control, waste management and damage to the dune system, the notes said.
Surfboards, kiteboards and sailboards in close proximity to bathers are banned on safety grounds, and no one is to windsurf near a swimmer at any of the beach areas.
No one may cause a nuisance or engage in behaviour likely to cause a nuisance. There is also a law governing careless driving of any vehicle, including a bicycle.
No one may sell any commodity "whatsoever" , including such things as canoes or surfboards, or exhibit any advertising board, or "for gain play a musical instrument or sing", without the prior consent in writing from the council.
Other events such as club barbecues will be covered by a similar law prohibiting the holding of any public, sporting or commercial event, without the permission of the council.