Clean Coasts Roadshow marks Earth Day with major beach clean in Louth
50 volunteers remove litter and highlight community action against marine pollution
The Clean Coasts Roadshow travelled to Louth to celebrate Earth Day with a Beach Clean and Coastal Conservation Talk in collaboration with Dromiskin Tidy Towns, PayPal, and the Fairways Hotel.
On a sunny but windy Wednesday morning over 50 volunteers teamed up from Clean Coasts, Dromiskin Tidy Towns, Paypal and the Fairways Hotel and took part in a coastal action day as part of the Clean Coasts Roadshow at Seabank in Louth.
The day began with a talk from Clean Coasts Regional Development Officer for the North East Aidan Gray, discussing Earth Day, the impacts of marine litter, and the power of community action in tackling pollution.
A skip provided by Louth County Council was filled with multiple bags of litter on the day. The litter found consisted mainly of small plastic pieces, though larger items such as rope, tyres, and metal were also removed during the clean-up. The Fairways Hotel also kindly provided refreshments for all volunteers following the clean-up.
Liam Reilly, Secretary of Dromiskin Tidy Towns said, “Dromiskin Tidy Towns was delighted to take part in a large-scale beach clean at Seabank, a beautiful stretch of coastline that remains a hidden gem within our community. Held on Earth Day, the event was made especially meaningful by the fantastic support of volunteers from PayPal, with sincere thanks also extended to Fairways Hotel Dundalk for their warm hospitality following the clean-up.”
"It's excellent to team up with Clean Coasts again to help make a meaningful impact in the community. Our Dundalk based employees loved the initiative and used their Community Impact hours that PayPal offers to take time out from their job to make a real difference to the local area. IT was a great collaboration and we even managed to get good weather!", said David Thornton from PayPal of the event.
The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a series of informative talks and workshops tailored for coastal communities across Ireland, taking place between January and May each year. This initiative brings together individuals interested in protecting their local beaches, seas, and marine environments.
The Roadshow events cover a range of topics, including biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife, sustainable developments, and the work of local groups and organizations. These events also serve as a platform for community groups to discuss practical matters, such as building volunteer capacity, attracting new members, and sharing responsibilities.