Camper vans sail to 'rocky road' in droves

UP TO 300 camper vans are leaving by ferry from Rosslare, Co Wexford, this week as the mass exodus to Poland gets under way. Irish fans have been making the 18-hour crossing to Cherbourg which will leave them with a 1,200km journey to Poznan for Sunday’s match against Croatia.

The exodus of camper vans has been described by port manager John Lynch as “exceptional”.

He said Celtic Link, one of two ferry operators on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route, normally carries in the order of 40 camper vans a week at this time of year. This week they are carrying 170.

Irish Ferries has been carrying between 30 and 40 camper vans on each of its three sailings to Cherbourg this week.

They have also been carrying a substantial number on routes to the UK both from Dublin Port and Rosslare with fans travelling through England and Wales to reach the continent.

Irish Ferries sales manager Declan Mescall said they expected more fans to travel next week with “strong bookings” on all routes.

Stena Line have reported a “substantial increase” in bookings for the European Championships, according to spokeswoman Diane Poole.

Irish fans have also been accessing Stena services from England to the Continent.

Among those departing for Poland yesterday were friends Ger Finn and Peadar Lafferty from Cavan. They not only have the Irish colours which seem to be de rigueur for every camper van heading to Poland but they also have the back emblazoned with a logo for the Cavan Fleadh this summer.

They are both involved in organising it. The logo serves as a reminder rather than an advertisement, they say.

“We can’t get any more people than we had last year. We had 240,000 people turn up,” said Mr Finn.

Both men say it is their first trip to a major championships. “The kids are all reared and gone from home,” said Mr Lafferty.

Retiring garda Justin O’Keeffe is travelling in style in a €125,000 Bustner Elegance motor home with two televisions, a drinks cabinet, cruise control and power steering. It cost him the “price of a house” but will be worth it, he said.