By Róise Collins
Annie Feely, Jean Coen with Colin Hunter at the Happy Camper Cafe.
The Wild Atlantic Camp in Creeslough is preparing to celebrate ten years in business this weekend.
Since opening in 2013 the Roarty family have established a state of the art tourism complex that has completely revitalised the small rural village, making it a popular choice for those exploring the Wild Atlantic Way.
The manager at the campsite, Diane Black, spoke with the Donegal News as the staff began preparations for the upcoming birthday bash as well as the start of another busy summer season.
This winter the campsite closed their doors for the first time. This was following the tragic events which took place in Creeslough last October that claimed the lives of ten people.
Diane recalled how that day which changed their town forever started as a typical busy Friday afternoon. They had a school tour visiting the night before and later that evening a large crowd were due to check in for a rally in the area. This quickly changed.
In the wake of the explosion the campsite became a base for the emergency services, staff at the Coffee Pod, which is part of the complex, showed remarkable kindness as they offered soup, sandwiches, and hot drinks to those tasked with the difficult search and recovery operation.
The villas in the complex then became a central location that housed the investigation that followed the tragedy. To allow for this they closed that October afternoon and remained closed for business until February.
The business is now getting back on its feet and is looking forward to welcoming back many of its returning customers, who have been so supportive throughout the closure.
The Wild Atlantic Camp was at the heart of the tragedy but it is also a hub at the heart of the community. It is a significant employer in the close knit village.
In the height of the summer season there are 23 staff in the campsite alone, which is not including the staff in the Coffee Pod which is located on site and Rose’s Bar and Restaurant which is located in the heart of the village.
Also located on the campsite grounds are Jean and the team at The Happy Camper, who are known across the county for their delicious fluffy pancakes.
They all come hand in hand, Diane explained.
When Diane first started working at the campsite a few years ago its offering was humble.
There were only six glamping pods, but every year since then their accommodation offering has expanded.
“I have been run off my feet since,” Diane laughed.
Since moving to Creeslough she has witnessed the greens of the old gold course transform into a haven for any glamping enthusiast.
A view of the functional kitchen and dining areas in the new chalets.
The campsite now boasts 12 state of the art villas, 12 contemporary cabins, nine luxury chalets and 20 caravan bays, on top of the six original pods. The campsite can now comfortably accommodate up to 260 people.
This continuous expansion is down to how family orientated the whole experience is, especially during the summer months. The feedback and reviews they receive from their returning customers rave about the freedom glamping offers young children.
The area where the accommodation is located is completely car free, so if you are visiting don’t forget your bikes and scooters which are more than welcome, they are encouraged. The car free zone allows parents to sit back and relax knowing their little ones are safe to roam.
This is all down to ensuring the campers safety, said Diane.
Most of the accommodation also has individual private patios, so the smell of BBQs wafting through the site comes hand in hand with the summer evenings as the sun sets. In the winter toasting sticky marshmallows on the fire pits is also a firm favourite.
There is plenty to do for campers within the site including foot golf, tennis, football on the astroturf or exploring the vast forestry, and because of their central location there are great adventure seeking opportunities nearby including Ards Forest Park as well as the stunning Marble Hill Blue Flag beach, both are only a short drive away. Glenveagh National Park, the Donegal Boardwalk, Muckish and Errigal are all nearby too, Diane explained.
Summer is without a doubt the campsites busiest season, but year round there is a lot of turnover.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)