Hundreds of volunteers across Galway have removed a total of 2,874kg — nearly three tonnes — of litter from beaches in and around the city this month as part of the Clean Coasts initiative.
The organisation, which is dedicated to protecting Ireland's beaches and coastal areas, is marking its 20th anniversary this month. To mark the milestone, Clean Coasts has been celebrating the achievements of the volunteers and community groups who assist in this work.
The anniversary also coincided with World Ocean Day on June 8.
In Galway this month, a total of 479 volunteers in Galway took part in 34 clean-ups held both on land and by the coast by groups of all sizes, including individuals, households, community groups, sport groups, Tidy Towns groups, and more, to prevent litter pollution at the source to ensure it does not end up in the ocean.
Clean Coasts volunteers held a number of public events in Galway, including at Ladies Beach with Galway Atlantaquaria, Silverstrand Beach in Barna with Barna Tidy Towns, Grattan Beach with Galway Volunteer Centre, and Ballyloughane Beach with Beach Buds, Love Your Beach and Galway City Council.
The event in Ballyloughane coincided with Love Your Beach week in Galway city, which began on June 7. To celebrate this event, as well as World Ocean Day, Galway City Council, Beach Buds and Clean Coasts hosted a beach clean and some beachcombing for biofacts with Garry from Galway Atlantaquaria. This was followed by 'Drum Sounds by the Sea' with Community Spirit Drumming. Mayor Clodagh Higgins also launched Love Your Beach Week at the event.
Another highlight of Love Your Beach Week and World Ocean Day was a clean-up of Grattan Beach, organised by Clean Coasts, Galway Volunteer Centre, and Galway City Partnership, where more than 30 volunteers collected 12 bags of litter from the beach and the adjacent park. This was followed by a workshop on ‘How beaches help us tackle climate change’ by Dr Kevin Lynch from the Geography Department in the University of Galway.
A beach clean in Silverstrand, organised by Clean Coasts and Bailte Slachtmara Bhearna, was followed by a workshop with Dr Eugene Farrell from the University of Galway entitled, 'Why are coastlines valuable and how do we use science to understand them?'
Finally, Galway Atlantaquaria took part in a yoga session and beach clean on Ladies' Beach in Salthill, as well as a rock pool experience with Garry Kendellen, and Atlantic Scuba Adventures staff hosted a beach clean at Trá an Dóilin in Cararroe, followed by snorkelling event.
"Clean Coasts are thrilled to see so many groups and individuals stepping up across Ireland to help protect our ocean and celebrate Clean Coasts' 20th birthday and want to take this opportunity to thank and celebrate the efforts of all individuals and groups who have been protecting the Irish marine environment, whether they have been involved with the programme since 2003 or this is their first time joining the initiative," said Sinead McCoy, coastal communities manager with Clean Coasts.
More Clean Coasts events are taking place across Ireland throughout June as part of the extended World Ocean Day call to action. All clean ups are listed on the Clean Coasts Eventbrite page at www.eventbrite.ie/o/clean-coasts-8520359924
