- New Beach cleaning machine costing €25,000
- Clean Coasts Ballynamona manage 1.5% (over 40kms) of the Irish coastline for marine litter
- Over 300 volunteers
- Largest Clean Coast Group in Ireland
- Care for 2 Blue Flag Beaches and 3 Green Coast Beaches
The multi award winning Clean Coasts Ballynamona, Ireland’s largest beach cleaning group has just launched its new weapon to fight the scourge of marine litter. The group took delivery of a new John Deere Gator this week with the support of FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) funding, which will help pull heavy marine litter such as old and abandoned fishing nets that wash up on the shore.
Photo: Cathal Noonan
Founder of Clean Coasts Ballynamona, Proinsias Ó Tuama said:
This is essential equipment for us in tackling the tonnes of litter that washes up on our coast. In 12 months alone we removed over 200 tyres from Ballybranagan and Ballycroneen beaches. Beaches that stretch just 1.2 km. It will allow us to carry the very heavy bags that volunteers collect back to the carpark for safe disposal.”
Pristine coasts are essential, they are not just very important ecosystems. They are also crucial for the local economy, such as the beautiful restaurants, pubs, hotels and B&Bs who are ready to welcome the thousands of visitors who will visit once restrictions lift.” added Mr. Ó Tuama
Clean Coasts Ballynamona clean over 40 kms of coastline of marine litter, which is 1.5% of the total Irish coastline.
Stephen Belton, managing director of the Garryvoe Hotel said:
This is a great boost for us here at the Garryvoe. We are really looking forward to welcoming our guests back to the hotel and we have some of the best beaches in Ireland on our doorstep. We are delighted to have such a dedicated group like Clean Coasts Ballynamona looking after them for us and for all who visit them.
Sinéad McCoy coastal communities manager in Clean Coasts said:
The incredible work done by Clean Coasts Ballynamona over the past number of years has been truly inspiring to the Clean Coasts team and Clean Coasts communities, groups and volunteers throughout the country, with them receiving numerous Ocean Hero Awards for their astounding efforts. We are excited to see what this leading group will achieve with this addition of this brand new Gator, which will expand the beach cleaning capabilities of this already extraordinarily active beach cleaning community
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