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Over 15,000 volunteers across Ireland participated in The Big Beach Clean weekend, removing an incredible 95 tonnes of litter from coastlines nationwide. The event, which took place between 20th and 22nd September, marked the largest clean-up in Clean Coasts’ history, with over 600 clean-ups organised throughout the country.
In County Cork alone, more than 100 groups and over 6,000 volunteers took part, removing an estimated 38 tonnes of marine litter from beaches and waterways across the county.
A Significant Community Effort in Cork
Among the notable participants in Cork was Cork GAA, which had 90 clubs sign up for World Clean Up Day as part of The Big Beach Clean 2024. Starting at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and continuing to Nemo Rangers, the effort was cheered on by the Lord Mayor, Dan Boyle. Impressively, 60% of the litter collected was recyclable, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in promoting sustainability.
Another standout group was Siúlóid from Clonakilty Community Resource Centre, which saw 40 people enjoying the sunshine at Inchydoney beach while removing 12kg of litter. The town mayor, along with local residents and various groups, joined in to help make a difference.
Meanwhile, 30 cubs and beavers from Youghal took part in the clean-up efforts by tidying Glenbower woods, learning about local biodiversity, and gaining valuable insights from Elaine Doyle of Clean Coasts. Their efforts concluded with some well-deserved playtime and hot chocolate provided by The Old Thatch.
National Impact and International Collaboration
The Big Beach Clean is a vital part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), led by Ocean Conservancy, that encourages communities across Ireland to remove litter from the coast after the end of the bathing season. This year, Kia Ireland supported the initiative by providing clean-up kits and supplies to volunteers.
Cathal Kealey, Head of Marketing and PR at Kia Ireland, expressed his appreciation for the volunteers’ dedication:
“Kia Ireland was delighted to support the 2024 Big Beach Clean initiative from Clean Coasts over the weekend and witness the dedication and hard work of the Clean Coasts staff and volunteers throughout the country. Their work is truly inspiring, with many of them out there every weekend, come rain or shine, making a huge difference to Irish beaches, and for that we want to say a huge thank you.”
Bronagh Moore, An Taisce, Clean Coasts Programme Manager
, also praised the volunteers:
“We’re delighted to see so many volunteers and community groups across the country take part in The Big Beach Clean. This year’s event was the largest yet and is a powerful reminder of the collective impact we can make when we work together. The dedication and support of all of these groups is hugely inspiring and we thank each and every one of them for their contribution. We would encourage everyone to stay involved, keep active in their local Clean Coasts Group and enjoy the many benefits that come with volunteering in the community.”
The Big Beach Clean not only makes a direct impact on Ireland’s coastlines but also serves as a citizen science project, collecting data on the types and quantities of litter found. This information is shared with Ocean Conservancy, aiding in global efforts to combat marine pollution and shaping policies for future waste management.