Clean Coasts volunteers in Mayo collect almost two tonnes of litter for their 20th anniversary

The month of June marked the celebration of Irish environmental programme Clean Coasts’ 20th anniversary, and clear community spirit was exhibited by volunteers taking part in clean-up events throughout Mayo.

June 8 also marked the global celebration of World Ocean Day, an initiative that highlights the important role the ocean has for our life and the planet.

The significance of community spirit in Clean Coasts volunteers across Mayo this year and years prior cannot be understated and over the past two decades, groups nationwide have tirelessly worked towards the preservation and conservation of the precious coastline, reminding us all of the vital role we play in protecting our oceans.

For this reason, to mark the milestone of their 20th anniversary, Clean Coasts are celebrating all the achievements of community groups and volunteers this month.

In honour of the international day coinciding with their birth-month, Clean Coasts gifted a number of volunteers who registered for World Ocean Day in Mayo free clean-up kits.

Statistics indicate that the leading cause of marine litter is urban littering, making World Ocean Day a valuable opportunity for residents of both coastal and non-coastal areas to address this issue at its root and prevent litter from entering waterways. The World Ocean Day organisation promotes collective conservation efforts, engaging with organisations across 140 countries.

With the theme 'Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing', World Ocean Day 2023 emphasises the significance of preserving marine resources for the well-being of future generations.

Over 300 volunteers in Mayo collected almost two tonnes of litter at 19 clean-ups held both on land and along the coast by groups of all sizes, from individuals to households, community groups, sport groups, Tidy Towns 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 Mayo, including in Ross, Killala, with Wild Atlantic Yoga, at Old Head with Keep Our Beaches Clean, and a talk in the Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park visitor centre.

The group Keep Our Beaches Clean carried out a World Ocean Day and Clean Coasts 20th anniversary clean-up of Old Head beach and removed marine litter, including plastic items and cigarette butts. The group has recently worked with Clean Coasts for the creation of a campaign tackling smoking-related litter in the area.

The event in Ballycroy celebrated World Ocean Day and Clean Coasts' 20th anniversary along the beautiful Claggan Mountain coastal trail. The event was family-friendly and open to all. Clean Coasts chatted about marine litter and the little steps we could all make to lessen our environmental impacts. In addition, Ballycroy NP staff talked about the coastal ecology in the area.

Sinead McCoy, coastal communities manager, stated: “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.”

There are more events organised by Clean Coasts groups taking place across Ireland throughout the month of June as part of the extended World Ocean Day call to action. You can find them all on Clean Coasts Eventbrite page.