By Sabrina Sweeney

Social media posts can really get people going. There’s something about the format that invites frustration, sarcasm and plenty of overreaction.

But the flurry of posts over the past few weeks about tourists behaving badly at some of Donegal’s most treasured beaches and beauty spots isn’t just a case of keyboard warriors having a moment.

The concern being expressed is genuine. From the Gaeltacht coastline to secluded inland lakes, locals and longtime visitors alike have been expressing their shock and disgust at the state in which some of these places are being left. And while social media can sometimes exaggerate, in this case, the photos speak for themselves: scorched grass from careless fires, bags of rubbish strewn across the dunes, toilet paper tucked behind rocks, cars parked on yellow boxes meant for emergency access and portable toilets blocked and so unhygienic you wouldn’t let your dog use one. It’s a grim sight, and one that poses serious questions for a county that depends heavily on tourism.

Donegal has always offered a different kind of holiday. We don’t have theme parks or mega resorts. What we have is space, scenery, wildness, a relaxed attitude and an overall sense of escape. Much of that has been preserved simply because it remained off the beaten track for so long. But now that more people are finding their way here, we’re being asked to think differently about how we care for it.

The surge in numbers to even the most remote corners of the county has undoubtedly been helped by the good weather, but it’s about how some of those people are choosing to behave that’s the issue. And it begs a question: would they act this way at home? Would they leave a heap of rubbish in their own driveway? Relieve themselves behind the neighbour’s hedge? Block the road for ambulances and fire services? Almost certainly not. Studies show that people often behave differently when away from home, especially in places where they feel anonymous or disconnected from the local community and a “holiday mindset” can override common sense. But it doesn’t excuse what’s happening. It’s worth noting that while it’s widely assumed that the rubbish, fire pits, and toilet messes are the work of tourists, the truth is we don’t always know for certain. Unless someone is caught in the act, it’s hard to say definitively who is responsible. The natural suspicion falls on those just passing through – and that’s fair in many cases – but we’d be fooling ourselves to think it’s only outsiders causing the damage.

Locals, too, have a part to play. Whether it’s allowing dogs to roam freely through dunes and failing to pick up after them, or driving across fragile, protected habitats because it’s more convenient, we can’t ignore the fact that disrespectful behaviour isn’t the sole preserve of visitors. There’s no doubt, however, that when visitors arrive, problems increase. This is certainly not a Donegal-only issue. Across Ireland and indeed around the world, countries are waking up to the damage of over-tourism and bad visitor behaviour. From graffiti on historic temples in Asia to banned selfie sticks in Venice, local authorities are stepping in to preserve what matters. Even in places like Iceland and Scotland, where wild landscapes are a big draw, there’s been a clampdown on irresponsible parking, littering and camping.

In Donegal, we’re not dealing with cruise ship crowds or coachloads by the dozen. In many areas, tourism is needed for businesses to survive and the hospitality, retail, and outdoor activity sectors all benefit from the presence of visitors. It would be unfair to tarnish all tourists with the same brush but the few causing harm are giving all a bad name. There are opportunities to balance welcoming visitors while addressing bad behaviour. It means looking seriously at how popular sites are managed: better waste facilities, signage, designated parking and perhaps even restricting access at times. But it also means consequences for those who treat places with disrespect, whether that’s fines for illegal fires or penalties for dumping rubbish. No one wants a county full of ‘No Camping’ signs and enforcement officers. But nor can we afford to be passive as the dunes turn into dumping grounds.