Galway overnight

Kay and myself had a wonderful few weeks in West Cork, Kerry, Clare and Tipperary, where we generally wild camped in car parks or the side of the road in some towns. Our must haves are an outdoor swim and some beer from the tap and got both of these in Valentia, Cahersiveen, Ballybunion and the real jewel was Kilkee for 3 nights. Here we parked up right on the beach and only 20 meters from clean toilet facilities. Hats off to Clare COCo as there was constant council staff keeping the beach area and facilities in excellent condition.
Not once in the previous 2 weeks were we approached by a Garda or any other official and ticketed or asked to move. Not even when we overnighted just off the main street in Cahersiveen and only 50 yards from the Garda station.
But this all changed when we crossed over the Galway county boundary.
We spent last Friday night in Dromineer and headed off early Saturday Morning and crossed the Shannon into Portumna. While I am aware and had previously been to the Portumna Aire, there is no area here for a swim So we followed the sign posts and sat nav to a lakeside beach half a mile from the town. Massive car park, toilet facilities and life guarded beach but alas it also had the dreaded height restriction barriers. Parked up at the turning area outside the barriers, making sure we were in no way an obstruction to anyone. I had a lovely swim returned to our MH, got out the deck chairs and brewed up. At Midday a Garda car entered the car park and stayed for an hour - doing what I don't know as there was only a handful of cars parked. Eventually they came out and approached me. The blond Ban Garda berated me for parking at a roundabout. I replied that this was not a roundabout but a turning area and that in no way was I causing a nuisance or an obstruction. The older gent Garda in the passenger seat gave me a wink so I ate humble pie while the power tripper continued her castigation. After spending Saturday night in a car park in Athenry we headed off and found a parking spot on the seafront just outside Leisureworld in Salthill at midday Sunday. Off I go for my swim and a stroll down the promenade to Seapoint. While sitting outside a cafe and having a cuppa and bite I noticed an officious looking man - not in uniform but carrying a radio and some other machine hanging from his belt. I commented to Kay that he must be a parking superintendent. However, this man ignored the cars parked in bus stops, taxi ranks and double yellow lines.
We eventually returned to our MH to find the dreaded note under our wiper and noticed the same on other MHs parked at the prom. Started watching the snooker on the tv and after an hour the same official knocked on my door. He told me I would get a ticket if I was still here in an hour. I replied that as I was in a passenger vehicle, paid all my taxes, etc. had every right to park anywhere a car could. I challenge him that he was directed to target motorhomes as I had observed him earlier ignoring other illegally parked cars. Of course he denied all this.
Usually, I would loose my cool and tell the official where to stuff his flyers and tickets but instead informed him to tell his bosses that I now had proof of the deliberate targeting of MHs. There are paying officials probably double pay for Sunday work to get motorhomes out
So I still have the sour taste after being encouraged to staycation.
One question here needs to be thought through - can a local bye law take precedent over national legislation.

F GALWAY LETS SPEND ELSEWHERE
Jokee