An impressive 479 volunteers in Galway collected 2,874 kg of litter at 34 clean-ups held both on land and by the coast – marking the 20th anniversary of the Clean Coasts initiative in the west.

Groups of all sizes took part – 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 Galway, including one at Ladies Beach on the Prom with Galway Atlantaquaria; Silverstrand with Barna Tidy Towns; Grattan Beach with Galway Volunteer Centre, and Ballyloughane with Beach Buds, Love Your Beach and Galway City Council. The event in Ballyloughane coincided with Love Your Beach week in Galway City.

Another event carried out for Love Your Beach Week and World Ocean Day was Clean Coasts and Galway Volunteer Centre and Galway City Partnership’s clean-up of Grattan Beach where over 30 volunteers collected twelve bags of litter from the beach and the park nearby.

Nationwide, over 300 clean-ups were registered, with more than 4,000 volunteers due to celebrate during the month of June, the same month as World Ocean Day.

June marks Clean Coasts’ 20th anniversary – and over the past two decades, groups nationwide have tirelessly worked towards the preservation and conservation of our precious coastlines, reminding all of the vital role people play in protecting our oceans.

In honour of this anniversary, Clean Coasts also gifted free clean-up kits to a number of volunteers who registered for World Ocean Day in Galway.

“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,” , said Coastal Communities Manager Sinead McCoy.

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 https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/clean-coasts-8520359924.