Killarney National Park is drawing up plans to curb what has become a growing problem with so-called "boy racers", who are using the quiet roads and pathways through the park almost nightly to race their cars.
Pat Foley, deputy regional manager with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), yesterday said the racing had worsened "significantly" in recent months.
Viewing points and car parks serving Killarney National Park had now become gathering points, the activities were becoming "highly organised" and competitions were taking place in the Torc and Muckross areas with racers drawn from other counties, Mr Foley said.
Cars screamed through the conservation heartland of the park, through forest paths into the early hours. Fires were also being lit. "It's a huge problem now," he said.
As well as disturbance to the preserved species - including red and sika deer, rare owls, bats, squirrels, badgers, hedgehogs - and other wildlife, there was a serious public safety issue and this was the chief concern for the NPWS at this stage, he added.
Management has commissioned consultant engineers to draw up measures which would see an end to the dangerous activity and had meetings on Monday. Some of the roads were public and had local residents.
It is understood that ramps as well as barriers are being considered.
Meanwhile, a public meeting in Killarney on Tuesday night discussed the possibility of a dedicated track.
Industrial estates and outlying villages were also being used by racers in the wider Killarney area, the meeting heard.
Town councillor Seán O'Grady (Lab) said there was a need for a multipurpose track, which would provide a venue for the young racers and take them off the public road. It would also provide a venue for learner drivers.
Gardaí in Kerry are aware of the problem of "boy racers" and of complaints by residents. However, the activities appear to be well organised, with lookout systems by those involved. The cars had often dispersed by the time gardaí got to the scene in outlying areas.