A decision by Kerry County Council to close a caravan park and withhold toilet and water services at Rossbeigh beach, in order to comply with EU legislation, resulted in chaos over the weekend.
It was claimed "thousands of people" had to go to the toilet on the dunes, and there were no bins or tap water at the traditional start of the summer season.
The beach has been awarded blue flag status.
Local councillor Michael Cahill, who owns a bar and restaurant on the two-mile beach, said soiled nappies were stuffed into rabbit holes on the dunes and he had received "hundreds of complaints".
"It's an absolute disgrace what happened this weekend," Mr Cahill said, calling for better supervision on the beach.
The council-owned caravan and camping park is located in an EU Special Area of Conservation. There are no proper sewage facilities and the National Parks and Wildlife Service had warned the council to close the park to ensure compliance with an EU directive.
Two years ago council officials decided to close the 70-berth caravan park but, after an outcry from the public and caravan owners, it reopened with a reduced number of berths.
In a recent report county manager Martin Riordan said consultants had advised him the existing toilet block did not comply with planning legislation and was in breach of the Water Pollution Act.
He said the operation of the park in the conservation area also contravened planning legislation and was in direct conflict with environmental heritage.
He added that there was a clear threat of legal action from the parks service if the park remained open.
A meeting between the parks service and the council is taking place today in an attempt to resolve issues for the season.
Meanwhile, warning signs have been erected alongside inlets and streams on many of Kerry's 13 blue-flag beaches, cautioning parents not to allow children to play in inlets because the quality of the fresh water cannot be guaranteed. Notices have been erected alongside Ballinskelligs in south Kerry and other Blue Flag beaches advising the public to be careful.