Coastal clean-up: local groups to tidy up beaches

MORE THAN 100 beaches will be cleaned up later this month as part of a countrywide voluntary initiative.

Ireland has 3,500 miles of coastline including beaches, cliffs, harbours and piers. Coca-Cola Clean Coast Week, an environmental initiative run by An Taisce, aims to involve local communities in caring for their coastlines.

Launched yesterday by Minister for the Environment John Gormley, Clean Coast Week involves 100 Coastcare voluntary groups who have registered with An Taisce.

Beginning on June 11th, the groups will tackle coastline in their areas.

Events will include beach clean-ups from Laytown, in Meath to Ballylanders Strand in Cork. In Wexford and Galway, Wexford Sub Aqua Club and Galway Dive School will take part in sub-aqua clean-ups.

A fun sports day including a sand castle building competition will take place on Maghery Strand, Donegal. In Dingle, Co Kerry members of the local community employment scheme will host a biodiversity walk-and-talk for members of the public. And in Bray, Co Wicklow, the local coastcare group will clean up the cliff and coastal walk area.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Gormley said he is committed to protecting Ireland’s coastline and preserving water quality.

He said encouraging local communities to get out and preserve their landscape is hugely beneficial for local community spirit. It also preserves Ireland’s natural beauty and increases the numbers travelling here for eco-tourism.