Mayo community clean-up group make a key purchase
The Castlebar Community Clean Up Group was established nearly three years ago and has made great inroads by becoming involved in the local community ever since.
As a group of volunteers they started out with nothing, only their own shovels, spades and sweeping brushes.
As time progressed they were doing more and more recognised work in the community and making a notable difference.
More volunteers started to join and they decided to become a registered body in the community and with the local authority in Castlebar.
Funding has now been provided and that means that the Castlebar Community Clean-Up Group is fully equipped to deal with any work situation that they encounter.
They now enjoy the full support of the Castlebar Municipal District at Mayo Co Co and are privileged to have councillors Donna Sheridan, Michael Kilcoyne and Blackie Gavin on board.
The recent purchase of an enclosed trailer has greatly improved their means of travel to and from work stations in the Castlebar area.
The cathaoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District, Ccouncillor Michael Kilcoyne, officially launched it at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar.
The Castlebar Community Clean-Up Group can now travel to any area with all the equipment required on board.
Over the past thre years the group have done great work around the environs of Lough Lannagh and the Great Western Greenway in conjunction with the transition year students from St Gerald's College, Castlebar.
Major clean ups have been completed in different locations around the town. Memorial gardens have been installed and maintained.
Streams and rivers have been cleaned and all rubbish disposed of. The restoration of waste and overgrown areas have been restored and brought back to life. Tree planting has taken place along with flower planting and ground works.
Walls have been power washed and painted. Roads and footpaths have been swept and weeds removed.
The cutting of grass and trimming of overgrown hedges have been managed carefully as they follow a biodiversity plan. Litter has been collected in various locations around the town.
The work of the Castlebar Community Clean-Up Group has made Castlebar a greener and cleaner place to live and visit.
The group has worked with schools, sporting organisations, scouts groups, Resident Association groups, Lions Club, international protection volunteers and the general public.
Only recently the group announced a new sponsor -Brophy Excavation & Demolition, Chicago - and special thanks goes out to this company overseas for their support.
The Castlebar Community Clean Up Group meets up every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. outside the Lough Lannagh Leisure Complex, Westport Road, Castlebar.
New volunteers are always welcome to join up for the banter and the enjoyment of coming together and making Castlebar a better place to enjoy life.
They also do midweek work during the summer and throughout the year and can be contacted by emailing castlebarcommunitycleanup@gmail.com or follow us on our facebook account.