Media Contact: Annabel FitzGerald
afitzgerald@eeu.antaisce.org
0876169727

 

Join Ireland’s Largest Coastal Clean Up 

Clean Coasts Ambassador & Pro Surfer Easkey Britton Urges Us to Tackle Marine Litter

A call for volunteers to join Ireland’s largest coastal cleanup was made today by Clean Coasts Ambassador Easkey Britton. Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week 2015 takes place from May 8^th to May 17^th and everybody is invited to get involved in protecting and celebrating a beach they love.

A recent United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) report estimated that 8 million individual litter items enter the marine environment every day. This is certainly evident along Ireland’s coastline. In 2014 Clean Coasts groups removed a staggering 500,000 marine litter items from our beaches. Marine Litter includes a range of materials which have been deliberately discarded, or accidentally lost on shore or at sea. It includes materials that are carried out to sea from land, rivers, drainage, sewerage systems and even by the wind.

Speaking at the launch Easkey Britton, Clean Coasts Ambassador said “Clean Coasts Week is about the power of the ocean to connect. Through coming together to celebrate our coasts at Clean Coasts events around the country and by joining local groups for beach clean-ups we create a stronger sense of community, a community connected by the sea. No matter how challenging the problem of marine litter might seem, together, even a small act can lead to positive change.”

Speaking at the launch Annabel FitzGerald, Clean Coasts Manager, An Taisce said: “We are expecting more than 100 beaches to be cleaned by thousands of volunteers during Clean Coasts Week. Every piece of litter removed whether as part of a large beach clean or a #2MinuteBeachClean is one less item that will pollute our oceans or be ingested by marine life.”

Speaking at the launch, Erica Roseingrave, Public Affairs & Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Hellenic Ireland said, “While Clean Coasts activities take place all year round, the impact during Clean Coast week is significant. Year on year more and more volunteers are joining Ireland’s largest coastal cleanup.  The week is a great opportunity to connect with your local Clean Coasts group and to take part in events all over Ireland.”

In addition to the many beach cleans that will be taking place there are also Coastal Celebration events, including the National #2MinuteBeachClean Day, launch of Love Your Coast photography competition, film screenings, Coastal talks, Beat the Microbead Day and lots more. While all events are free, some are ticketed; people are encouraged to check out the website for more details. www.cleancoasts.org

Clean Coasts Week Events

Event	Location	Date	Details
Explore the Shore	Grattan Beach	9th May 3pm	Clean Coasts have teamed up with Galway Atlantaquaria to bring you Explore the Shore where you can enjoy and learn more about your local shoreline, explore topics like marine life, invasive species and marine litter from experts. Families are welcome to take part but all children most be accompanied by an adult.
Clean Coasts Talk with Donegal County Council	Gweedore Library, Co Donegal	11th May 2pm	Dr. Trish Murphy, Celebrate Water‘Community ownership of our local coasts’
Screening of ‘Into the Sea’	The Annex Lecture Theatre, Martine Ryan Building, NUIG	12th May @6.30pm	Clean Coasts are delighted to be screening ‘Into the Sea’ as part of Clean Coasts Week. The documentary follows the story of the first surfers in Iran, a story shaped by three young women – Irish pro surfer, co-founder of Waves of Freedom and Clean Coasts Ambassador Easkey Britton, Iranian pro snowboarder Mona Seraji and Iranian diver Shalha Yasini. Together they planted the seed for new opportunities and made history, becoming the first women to surf in Iran. It is the recognition of the power of surfing to transcend social, cultural and gender barriers that inspired Easkey and director Marion Poizeau to found the non-profit organisation, Waves of Freedom which uses the power of surfing as a creative medium for positive social change.
Clean Coasts Talk with Donegal County Council	Buncrana Library Co Donegal	12th May 2pm	Michael Cosgrove, Loughs Agency‘Meet your Donegal Shoreline neighbours’
Screening of ‘Into the Sea’	Dublin IFI Cinema, Dublin 1	13th May 6pm	Clean Coasts are delighted to be screening ‘Into the Sea’ as part of Clean Coasts Week. The documentary follows the story of the first surfers in Iran, a story shaped by three young women – Irish pro surfer, co-founder of Waves of Freedom and Clean Coasts Ambassador Easkey Britton, Iranian pro snowboarder Mona Seraji and Iranian diver Shalha Yasini. Together they planted the seed for new opportunities and made history, becoming the first women to surf in Iran. It is the recognition of the power of surfing to transcend social, cultural and gender barriers that inspired Easkey and director Marion Poizeau to found the non-profit organisation, Waves of Freedom which uses the power of surfing as a creative medium for positive social change.
Clean Coasts Talk with Donegal County Council	Dungloe Library, Co Donegal	13th May 2pm	Olivia Crossan from An Taisce’s Clean Coast programme will be giving a   lunchtime talk on Coastal Awareness as part of a series of lunchtime talks run by Clean Coasts and Donegal County Council during Clean Coasts Week
Screening of ‘Into the Sea’	Sligo, The Model Cinema	17th May @5pm	Clean Coasts are delighted to be screening ‘Into the Sea’ as part of Clean Coasts Week. The documentary follows the story of the first surfers in Iran, a story shaped by three young women – Irish pro surfer, co-founder of Waves of Freedom and Clean Coasts Ambassador Easkey Britton, Iranian pro snowboarder Mona Seraji and Iranian diver Shalha Yasini. Together they planted the seed for new opportunities and made history, becoming the first women to surf in Iran. It is the recognition of the power of surfing to transcend social, cultural and gender barriers that inspired Easkey and director Marion Poizeau to found the non-profit organisation, Waves of Freedom which uses the power of surfing as a creative medium for positive social change.
Love Your Coast Photography Competition Launch	Nationwide	13th May	Clean Coasts Love Your Coast Photography Competition will be launched on May 13th.
Marram Grass Planting Day	Carrickfinn	13th May 6pm	Meeting place TBC. Sand dunes act as natural buffers to the forces of the ocean and worth protecting. They are our one of our natural coastal defence mechanisms and protect the land behind the dune area whether agricultural or housing areas. They are also an important habitat for coastal flora and fauna.If you would like to get involved in a Marram Grass Planting Project please email us on cleancoasts@eeu.antaisce.org or call us on 01 40022210
Coastal Blooms	Poulsallagh, Burren	13th May 2pm	As part of the Burren in Bloom Festival there will be a walk looking at the stunning coastal blooms that can be found in the Burren led by biodiversity expert Lynda Weekes with a short talk about the work of Clean Coasts included
Beach Clean and Clean Coasts Talk	Murrevagh beach, Mullraney. Co. Mayo	14th May 6pm	The Mullarney Environmental group are organising a Beach clean on Murrevagh beach and Clean Coasts are going to be there to talk about our work on marine litter and some of the interesting wildlife found on this beautiful beach beach.
Clean Coasts Talk with Donegal County Council	Ballyshannon Library, Co Donegal	14th May 2pm	Lorna Siggins, Irish Times Marine Correspondent‘Our Irish Marine Environment’
A Trip to the Frozen Continent with Jim Wilson	Science Gallery, Dublin 1	14th May 6pm	Jim Wilson works as a wildlife tour guide on small cruise ships in polar regions. This talk will describe in words and pictures aspects of the wildlife, history and scenery from his most recent season in the Antarctic (Nov 2014 – Jan 2015).JIM WILSON is a wildlife writer, international wildlife tour guide and broadcaster. He acts as a wildlife tour guide on small cruise ships specialising in the Polar Regions. He is a former chairman of BirdWatch Ireland and a former director of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. His publications include the best-selling The Birds of Ireland, A Field Guide (2013) and Ireland’s Garden Birds (2008). He established BirdWatch Ireland’s long-running Garden Bird Survey in 1987, he also filmed and produced two educational DVDs Whales and Dolphins of Ireland (2005) for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and The Bats of Ireland (2009) for Bat Conservation Ireland. He has been involved in the study and conservation of Ireland’s natural heritage for over 40 years, with a strong emphasis on education. He is a regular contributor to The Mooney Show on RTE Radio 1.
Clean Coasts Talk with Donegal County Council	Carndonagh Library, Co Donegal	15th May 2pm	Dr. Maurice Clarke, Marine Institute‘The Donegal Herring Fishery: history, threats to survival and looking to the future.’
Beat the Microbead Day	Nationwide	16th May	Clean Coasts will be holding their annual Beat the Microbead Day on May 16th. Microbeads are tiny particles of plastic are ingredients in thousands of personal care products sold around the world. These microbeads, hardly visible to the naked eye, flow straight from the bathroom drain into the sewage system. Wastewater treatment plants are not designed to filter out microbeads and so they end up in our oceans. Sea creatures absorb or eat microbeads. These microbeads are passed along the marine food chain. Since humans are ultimately at the top of this food chain, it is likely that we are also absorbing microbeads from the food we eat. Microbeads are not biodegradable and once they enter the marine environment, they are impossible to remove.
National #2minutebeachclean Day	Nationwide	17th May	Celebrate by donating 2 minutes of your time to Clean Coasts by doing a 2 minute beach clean! Our aim is to engage as many people as possible in this BIG IMPACT initiative. On May 17th we are asking everyone who goes to the beach whether it’s for a surf, swim or walk to do their very own #2minutebeachclean. Take a snap of the litter collected and post your snap on instagram/twitter/facebook with the tags @cleancoasts #2minutebeachclean. It’s as easy as that and be in with a chance to win a Clean Coasts #2MinuteBeachClean t-shirt!
Marine LitterWatch Surveys	Nationwide	All week	Clean Coasts are partnering with the European Environment AgencyMarine litter is recognised as a growing pressure on coastal and marine environments. It has cross border impacts on wildlife and habitats as well as on human activities and health. It is a societal problem that needs our engagement. Reflecting on the need to fill data gaps as well as the aims of involving citizens in environmental issues such as marine litter, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has in conjunction with Clean Coasts and other eNGOs developed the Marine LitterWatch (MLW) app. This approach combines citizen engagement and technology to help tackle the problem of marine litter. Clean Coasts will be carrying out marine litter monitoring on 20 beaches during the week using the app.

Registered Clean Ups

Clean Coasts Group Name	County	Where is clean-up	Date of cleanup	Time of Clean up	Meeting point
Accenture Business Group	Dublin	Bull Island	18/05/2015	10am
On behalf of Balseskin Reception Centre for assylum seekers	Dublin	Portmarnock beach	13/05/2015	1pm	Balseskin Reception Centre
Clare Outdoor Club	Clare	Cregg Beach, Lahinch	18/04/2015	TBC	TBC
Inchydoney Residents Association	Cork	Inchydoney Beaches	13/06/2015	10am to 12pm	Meet up at front of hotel
	Cork	Glouthaune	16/05/2015	10:30	The Rising Tide
Glounthaune Tidy Towns	Cork	Glounthaune village quay and environs (Lee estuary)	16/05/2015	10:30	The Rising Tide Restaurant
	Cork	Schull	13/05/2015
Blackrock Clean Up Group	Cork	Amenity Walks in and around Blackrock Village Cork	09/05/2015	10 – 12 am	Car Park in Blackrock Village
Lehanmore Clean Coasts Group	Cork	Garnish Beach	27/04/2015	11am	Garnish Beach
Rosscarbery Tidy Towns Association	Cork	The Warren beach, Rosscarbery, Co. Cork	13 or 14/5/2015	11:30am	Warren Car Park
Cobh Tidy Towns	Cork	Cuskinny Beach, Carrigaloe beach, Cobh town cambers	09/05/2015	10am	Five Toot Way Carpark
Ardmore Tidy Towns	Cork	Whiting Bay and Ardmore beaches	TBD	TBD	TBC
Scoil Bhríde	Cork	Ballydehob	15/05/2015	11:30am	school
Castletownbere Tidy Towns	Cork	Tom O Brien beach and shore around Castletownbere	08/05/2015	12 noon	Square Castletownbere
Lehanmore Coastcare  Group	Cork	Garnish Beach	06/05/2015	11am	Garnish Beach
1st Year and Green Schools	Cork	Long Strand, Owenahincha, Rosscarbery, West Cork	05/05/2015	Morning	Secondary School
Walterstown School	Cork	Ballybrassil beach, Cobh	29/04/2015	9:30pm	School
Downings Tidy Town	Donegal	Trá Beg, Downings and Tramore Beach, Downings	09/05/2014	11am	Public Car Park, Downings
Community For A Clean Estuary	Donegal	Pocket beaches in the townland of Glenburnie between Moville and Green castle	02/05/2015	10am	bottom of Lafferty’s Lane, Carnagarve
Arranmore Island	Donegal	All beaches on Island	12/05/2015	12 noon	Community Centre
Iasc na Mara Swim Club	Donegal	Main Beach Bundoran to McGoverns car park	19/04/2015	1 to 3pm	Thrupenny pool
Carrickfinn environmental	Donegal	Carrickfinn beach area	03/05/2015	2 – 4pm	Carrickfinn Car Park
Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada	Donegal	Leabgarrow Beach, Arranmore Island	15/05/2015	09:15	Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada
Rathmullan Clean Coasts Group	Donegal	Rathmullan & Kinnegar Beach	16/05/2015	12 noon	Rathmullan Beach Car park
Keep Cruit Island Clean	Donegal	Cruit Island, Co Donegal	10/05/2015	12pm	Cruit Island Bridge
Annagry Tidy Towns	Donegal	Carrickfinn Blue Flag Beach	17/05/2015	10am	Beach Car Park Carrickfinn Beach
Dunfanaghy Tidy Towns	Donegal	Killyhoey Beach	12/05/2015	6pm	Car Park, Killyhoey
Bundoran Tidy Towns	Donegal	Bundoran Mian beach, Bundoran Co. Donegal	09/05/2015	1 – 4pm	Main Beach, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
Inver Clean Beach	Donegal	Inver beach	10/05/2015	11am	Car Park at the beach
Killybegs Community Council	Donegal	Lough Heada and Fintra Beach, Killybegs	02/05/2015	dependent on tide	Lough Head, Killybegs
Forbartha Port Arthus	Donegal	The Pier at Port Arthur	TBC	11am	The Pier at Port Arthur
	Dublin	Balbriggan Town	TBD	TBD	n/a
Sandycove Clean Coasts Group	Dublin	Sandycove	TBC	11am – 1pm	Sandycove
Portmarnock Community Association	Dublin	Velvet Strand, Portmarnock	16/05/2015	10am	Meet at Kiosk on seafront Portmarnock, directly beforehand. Watch out for people in yellow bibs. All Welcome
Bull Island Action Group	Dublin	North Bull Island , Dublin Bay	16/05/2015	11am – 1pm	entrance to Dollymount beach. Cross from the mainland over the wooden bridge
Da Green Frogs	Dublin	Sandymount	15/04/2015	2 hours	Forget The Gym Sandymount, Dublin, Co. Dublin
Scoil Mhuire	Dublin	Howth Strand	08/05/2015	9am	Scoil Mhuire
Skerries Adopt-a-Beach	Dublin	Skerries south strand and Skerries North Strand	10/05/2015	2 – 4pm	Lifeguard hunt on the south beach
Port Malahide Sea Scouts	Dublin	Malahide Outer Estuary / Malahide beach	16/05/2015	10am	Malahide Scout Dean
The Burrow Residents Association	Dublin	Portrane Beach	17th May	Afternoon	Carpark area opposite the Brook Pub
Donabate and Portrane Tidy Towns	Dublin	Donabate beach adn Portrane Beach	26/04/2015	2pm	Supervalu Car park
Sandymount and Poolbeg Clean Coasts Group	Dublin	Sandymount Beach	09/05/2015	11am	South Wall car park
Headway	Dublin	Bull Island	22/05/2015	10am	Bull Island Interpretive Centre
The A Team	Galway	Streamstown Point, Connemara	10/05/2015	3pm	Clifden ecoBeach camping & caravanning Park
Duirling Centre	Galway	Spiddal/ Carraraoe	08/05/2015	2pm	Spiddal beach or Carroraoe beach
Loughrea Tidy Towns	Galway	The shorline of Loughrea Lake, Co Galway	09/05/2015	11am	Car Park of Childrens Playground, Gort Rd, Loughrea, Co Galway
Inishbofin Clean Coasts Group	Galway	Inishbofin Island Beaches	TBC 23/24/25 April	3- 6pm	Community Centre
24th Galway Sea Scouts – Cub Section	Galway	Dead Man’s beach near the Harbour Enterprise park	11/05/2015	7pm	Scout Unit in Harbour Enterprise Park
Comhar Caomhán Teo	Galway	An Trá Inis Oírr	06/05/2015	11am	An Trá
Maharees Clean Coasts Group	Kerry	Castlegregory beach; Maherabeg Cut; Brandon Bay; Kilhannig	09/05/2015	10am/11am/1pm	Castlegregory beach; Maherabeg Cut; Brandon Bay; Kilhannig
Coiste Bhaile na nGall	Kerry	Mirioch Beach, Ballydavid beaches	16/05/2015	12 noon	Carpark, Ballydavid
Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium Clean Coasts & Maharees Clean Coasts	Kerry	The Warren, Maharees, Co. Kerry	10/05/2015	11am	Sandy Bay Car Park
Baile an Reannaigh	Kerry	Muiríoch Beach Baile an Reannaigh Ballyferriter Co.Kerry.	17/05/2015	10am	Baile an Reannaigh
PayPal Dundalk Green Team	Louth	Blackrock Beach	16/05/2015	2pm	Meeting at the large car park beside the Bring Banks just past Centra. Lower slip road .
Blackrock Tidy Towns	Louth	Beaches and foreshore in Blackrock, Co. Louth	13/05/2015	10am	Lower car park, Blackrock
Clogherhead Development Group	Louth	Little Strand, Clogherhead, Co. Louth	13/05/2015	7pm to 8:30pm	Car park of Little Stand
Costa Aláinn	Louth	Termonfeckin to Baltray	09/05/2015	2pm	Car Park
Belmullet Tidy Towns	Mayo	The Docks and end of Quay Street	TBA	TBA	The Square, Belmullet
Ardagh residents	Mayo	Shoreline at Ardagh, Newport	9, 10/05/2015	TBC	Bourkes Cottage
Kildanat Gleaners	Mayo	Achillbeg	16/05/2015	10am	Achillbeg – Rocky beach
	Mayo	Port a’ Chlóidh Beach	17/04/2015	10am – 2pm	At Port a’ Chlóidh beach head
	Mayo	Carramore, Louisburgh Co. Mayo	09/05/2015	10am	Carramore beach carpark
Kilcommon RSS	Mayo	Rinroe beach	07/05/2015	10am	Entrance to Rinroe point
Baile Slachtmhar Bhéal an Mhirthead	Mayo	Quay Street and surrounding area, Belmullet	TBC	TBC	Office
Kilcummin Community Group	Mayo	Lacken Strand	17/05/2015	10am	Lacken Back Strand, Kilcummin side.
Keep Keel Clean Coastcare group	Mayo	Keel beach, Achill	02/05/2015	noon	Keel beach carpark
Claggan Island Clean Coasts Group	Mayo	Claggan Island	09/05/2015	12 – 4pm	Claggan Strand
Ballina Beverages	Mayo	Ross beach Killala / Moy River Ballina	TBC	TBC	Ballina Beverages
St Mary’s Primary Trim	Meath	Mornington beach	14/05/2015	10:45am	Mornington beach
Clean Coasts Raughley	Sligo	Raughley area, Sligo	17/05/2015	10:30am	Raughley cross Road
North West Sea Kayaking Clean Coast Group	Sligo	Rosses Point Sea Channel / Scenic Route water edge	15/05/2015	7;30pm	NWSKA club base at Sligo Yacht Club
North Sligo Playground	Sligo	Streedagh Beach	24/04/2015	2pm	Streedagh Beach
Lissadel Clean Coasts Group	Sligo	Lissadell Beach, Co. Sligo	16/05/2015	2pm	Coilte carpark at the main beach Lissadell
	Sligo	Strandhill and Cullenamore	16/05/2015	11am	Meeting at the Cannon Strandhill
Rosses point Tidy Towns	Sligo	Rosses Point Beach	17/05/2015	2:30pm	Rosses Point Beach Car Park
LEAP Project	Sligo	Easkey Shoreline/ Beach	02/05/2015	12 noon	Easkey/Roslee Castle
Abbott Nutrition	Sligo	Strandhill Beach	15/05/2015	1pm	Meet at Canon on Strandhill Prom
Bonmahon Tidy Towns	Waterford	Bonmahon Beach & Tra na Mho headland & beach	06/05/2015	7pm	Top beach entrance
Ring Peninsula Community Group	Waterford	Beach on the Ring Peninsula	02/05/2015	11am – 1pm	The car partks of the Cunnigar, Baile na nGall, Polla Phúca Helvick
Poulshone Coast Care	Wexford	Poulshone Beach and Road	10/05/2015	3pm	At the beach
St Ibars NS	Wexford	Curry lie beach and the Raven	23/05/2015	12noon	The Raven Point
St Kearns Rowing	Wexford	St Kearns shoreline, Saltmills	15/052015	7pm approx.	St Kearns shoreline at training session
Hook residents Committee, Hook Head Wexford	Wexford	Slade village and beach	During the week 8to 17 May (15th ? )	Tide Dependent	Village castle
Kilmuckridge Tidy Towns	Wexford	Morriscastle Beach, Co. Wexford	15/05/2015	6pm	Morriscastle Carpark, Co. Wexford
Wicklow Coast Care	Wicklow	Broad Lough / The Murrough / Wicklow Town	16/05/2015	4pm	The Murrough Car Park Wicklow Town, beside the new Playground
St Gerard’s Junior School	Wicklow	Bray Harbour	20/05/2015	10:45am	St Gerard’s Junior School
	Wicklow	Greystones Beach	TBC	TBC	TBC
Campaign Against Dog Dirt	Wicklow	Kilcoole beach car park	08/05/2015	10am	Kilcoole beach car park
St Francis National School	Wicklow	Newcastle beach	09/05/2015	11am – 1pm	Station House, Newcastle
Gealscoil Chill mhantáin	Wicklow	Brittas Bay	01/06/2015	TBC	_
Sea Life Coast Care Group	Wicklow	Bray Harbour, Strand Road, Bray	16/05/2015	3pm	Bray Harbour (at the Anchor)

ENDS///////

Clean Coasts

Clean Coasts Ireland is owned and operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland. It is funded by the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government, Coca-Cola and Fáilte Ireland. It has been operating in Ireland for 11 years and engages 437 Clean Coasts groups and thousands of beach users. The Green Coast award is also part of the Clean Coasts programme and is an award for beaches that have excellent water quality but may not have the necessary built infrastructure to be eligible for the Blue Flag award. www.cleancoasts.org

Coca-Cola
“Coca-Cola HBC Ireland is part of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Group, named by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index as the industry leader amongst beverage companies in the 2014 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). Since 2001, it has also listed in the FTSE4Good Index, the London Stock Exchange’s index of companies that meet environmental and social criteria. The company won the award for Green Manufacturer of the Year at the 2015 Green Awards. Investing in the community, minimizing environmental impact and ensuring resource sustainability in areas such water, energy and packaging is a key focus for Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has also invested in an innovative green-tech Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant at its Irish production facility in Lisburn – the first quad-generation CHP plant in Britain or Ireland.”