A second car park is needed in Murrisk to deal with the amount of people climbing Croagh Patrick, it was claimed this week.
Westport based Independent Cllr Christy Hyland raised the issue at the July meeting of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, which took place in Belmullet.
Speaking at the meeting Cllr Hyland said: "What happened at the weekend at Croagh Patrick was horrendous for the people there, the local people. People parked along the roadside and some people could not get into or out of their private houses.
"We need another car park at Murrisk for coaches and cars, there were cars last weekend parked all the way along the left hand side
"It is one of the jewels in the crown and it was terrible that we had people parking along the roadside, the coaches aren't as many as there normally was, but we need a proper coach park there now, it is popular seven days a week not just the weekend."
Cllr Hyland continued: "It will pay for itself over a number of years, it has to be done - Croagh Patrick is crying out for proper parking, take a drive any weekend and you'll see the volume of traffic.
"I got phone calls and the Garda had to go out there on Saturday and Sunday to ensure people could get out of their homes, people parked here, there and everywhere with no concerns for local people; you wouldn't do it in Croke Park on All Ireland final day, you'd be clamped or towed away in no time."
