Mayo-based Clean Coasts group captures major Ocean Hero award

A collective of beach clean voluntees in Mayo have been credited with the Event of the Year at the Ocean Heroes Awards, held in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin.

The group – made up of volunteers from Circus 250, Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo and Scoil Naisunta Cheathru Thaidhg – were nominated for Event of the Year 2024 for their Big Beach Clean event.

Comhar Dún Chaocháin arrange regular clean-ups on two local beaches – Rinn Rua and Port a' Chlóidh, both of which have Green Coast flags – working closely with the local primary school, Scoil Náisiúnta Cheathrú Thaidhg, to raise awareness among local schoolchildren on the importance of reducing and recycling waste.

They believe it is important that young people understand the key role they play in shaping the future of the environment, and both Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo and the primary school have a strong green ethos.

Their Big Beach Clean this year as part of An Taisce's Clean Coasts programme was extra special, with the participation of Circus 250 bringing great joy, fun and excitement to the occasion for all age groups. This event included a clown-led beach clean, organised by Clean Coasts, Circus 250 and Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo, as well as having a fun workshop on Rinroe beach. The event was open to the local community, with students from the local school taking part in the clean-up, while Juanita the Clown guided the children in beach cleaning activities.

Every year, the Ocean Hero Awards commemorate the invaluable contribution and dedication that Clean Coasts volunteers, groups and communities give towards conserving Ireland’s unique coastal heritage.

Established in 2006 as the Clean Coasts Merit Awards, the awards initially featured a single category - the Clean Coasts Group of the Year. In the years following the awards have grown alongside the programme itself as more groups have come on board. As of 2024 there are over 2,000 Clean Coasts groups and over 40,000 volunteers who are actively engaging with the programme and who are integral to their coastal communities nationwide.

In 2024, Clean Coasts determined six distinct categories, and after hundreds of nominations were received, a total of 30 groups, organisations and individuals made the shortlist for the title of Ocean Hero in each category. At the awards ceremony, the hard work and achievements this year of each group was showcased and celebrated, and now the winners for each category have been announced.

Also based in Co. Mayo, the Western Care Clean Coasts Group was shortlisted for the 2024 Equality Diversity and Inclusion Award. The group was set up in 2020 during Covid as they felt privileged to have access to their local beaches and wanted to give back to the communities in the area.

Through liaising with members from Keep Our Beaches Clean, which had been set up in 2018, they undertook beach clean-ups and other initiatives and activities aiming to preserve and protect the beaches in the area. Focusing on becoming more conscious of the environment, the group this year opened a free community library aiming to encourage recycling of books and to foster interaction with the community.

Meanwhile, just outside the Mayo border in Co. Sligo, Enniscrone Clean Coasts was a joint winner of the Group of the Year Award, sharing it with Spanish Point Community Group.

INCREDIBLE

At the awards, Clean Coasts dedicated special attention to its incredible volunteers and their contributions to the programme.

The event featured a keynote address by Conall O’Connor from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, and contributions from An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit.

The audience was held captivated by guest speaker Seán Ronayne as he spoke about his debut book, Nature Boy: A Journey Of Birdsong And Belonging, and his second album, entitled Hope. It was a timely reminder to everyone that when you follow your passion, great things can happen.

The venue was adorned with various displays spotlighting Clean Coasts campaigns and initiatives, highlighting collaborations such as the #2MinuteBeachClean and featuring information stands on topics like biodiversity and marine litter.

This year the venue was decorated with table centre pieces featuring ocean-inspired sculptures crafted entirely from waste such as discarded plastic bottles, metals and fabrics that were salvaged by Native Events from various productions, festivals, and waste facilities. These creative pieces not only add a striking, marine-themed visual to the tables but also reduce the use of virgin resources and, as a result, the event's carbon footprint.

The sustainability theme carried right through to the awards presented to the winners which were made of Polygood – a material composed entirely from 100% recycled and recyclable plastics, demonstrating how plastic waste can be repurposed into something meaningful and durable.

Bronagh Moore, An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme manager, commented: “The Ocean Hero Awards is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and showcase the incredible work that is being done day in and day out by volunteers in the Clean Coasts community.

“We hope that it will inspire others to get involved and be ambitious about the positive impact we can have in protecting and caring for our marine environment.

“Now more than ever our oceans needs to be protected. We are stronger together and when we work with a common purpose, great things can be achieved.”