Labour councillor Helen Ogbu, Labour Party Councillor for Galway City East has praised the recent clean-up initiative that took place on Saturday last, led by Pastor Larry Ovie and the Faith Christian Fellowship. and brought together several volunteers from the Ballybane community.
Cllr Ogbu said she was delighted to be able to join this dedicated group as they worked on cleaning several key areas, including Castlepark, Monivea Road, Gortcam, St Brigid’s Church, and Ard Álainn.
“These locations are not just public spaces, but vital parts of our community where cleanliness and safety should be a priority”, according to Cllr Ogbu. She said that during the clean-up, the group discovered that the areas around bus shelters had become major litter hotspots, with the shelter in Gortcam in such poor condition that people could barely wait there comfortably. The group ended up bringing in power washers to make the space usable again,” she added.
“The condition of the Gortcam bus shelter was unacceptable. Weeds, rubbish and grime had built up to the point that people were avoiding it” said Cllr Ogbu.
She noted how with a little bit of effort the volunteer group managed to transform it back into a space that people can actually use, and she said that as she worked beside neighbours, she couldn’t help but be struck by the potential of what can be achieved by a group coming together as a community.
She also noted that while the work done by Galway City Council’s staff is greatly appreciated, there is a clear need to strengthen clean-up initiatives and improve rubbish management, particularly in Galway City East.
“There’s an urgent need to look into more robust clean-up initiatives, better rubbish management, and the upkeep and maintenance of our bus shelters in the city,” Cllr Ogbu said.
“This has already been raised with Council staff, and I’m glad to report that it will be looked into. We need to ensure our public spaces are well-maintained for everyone’s benefit.” While the Council continues to work hard to keep our city clean, the role of the community is crucial, Cllr Ogbu believes. “We all have a part to play in keeping our city clean and welcoming. It’s not just the Council’s responsibility. It’s ours too. When we come together to take care of our own streets and public spaces, we’re building a community we can be proud of” she said.
The plan moving forward is to continue these clean-up exercises regularly, with the support of local residents and Galway City Council. The initiative will aim to involve more people from the community, encouraging a sense of shared responsibility and civic pride. Cllr Ogbu believes that in order to create a better environment for ourselves and future generations, residents have to be active participants in that change.
She thanked Pastor Larry Ovie and Galway City Council for making the cleanup possible and pledged to do everything she can to keep the momentum going and continue to work with the community for a cleaner, safer and welcoming Ballybane and Galway City.
