With the aim of keeping Athlone clean, Westmeath County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr. John Dolan, welcomed members of Irish Water to Athlone to take part in a litter pick. The Irish Water representatives were members of the technical advisors service team who took a break from their national meeting to help a local community group.
The group was divided into smaller groups who tackled the litter issues in different areas of the town and along the Shannon banks.
Commenting on the clean up initiative, Town Mayor, Cllr. Frankie Keena, noted, “volunteers are a great bonus to the work of any group and the group present provided a great help in advance of the Christmas markets which took place at the weekend.”
James Cullen of Irish Water acknowledged, “this is an end of year meeting of the East/Midlands/NorthWest and Southern regions. It is when we review work completed during the year and plan for 2019 and this clean up compliments the work we do as it is protecting our natural resources that we have and that we are responsible for managing.”
Shay Hamilton from the Athlone Canal heritage group said, “we are delighted to welcome the Irish Water group, helping hands are always very much appreciated.”
Members of the Westmeath County Council environmental department supplied those in clean up mode with pickers, gloves, bags and vests as part of the local authority’s awareness programme.
