Clean Coasts Ocean Hero Recognition
At a time when we usually celebrate our Ocean Hero Awards, the Clean Coasts team want to take a moment to recognise those groups and individuals who have gone ‘above and beyond’ to protect our coast this year and our long-standing volunteers. The Clean Coasts programme is Ireland’s foremost community-based coastal education programme, which counts on the work of over 1,200 volunteer groups nationwide.
The continued support, engagement and interest from the many Clean Coasts volunteers around the country has been outstanding. We understand that in 2020 it was not possible for everybody to take part in activities and that for some it was incredibly frustrating not being able to get out to those places that they love and normally care for. However, we see the value of sharing examples of the creative solutions that groups have come up with to inspire us all looking ahead to the new year.
Who are our Ocean Heroes?
Every year, Clean Coasts takes time to honour the invaluable contribution Clean Coasts volunteers, groups and communities have made towards conserving our spectacular coastline. The awards, originally called the ‘Clean Coasts’ Merit Awards’, were conceived in 2006, consisting then of only one category, ‘The Clean Coasts’ Group of the Year’. Since then the Clean Coasts’ programme has grown to engage over 1,200 Clean Coasts groups nationwide.
This year has been an unusual one, and because of the limits put on groups to carry out activities in the way they might usually, and the impossibility of holding an awards ceremony in the way they we would like, we are recognising our Ocean Heroes in a different way. For the week of 14th-22nd December 2020 we will share the stories of groups and individuals who have stood out to us as examples of those who have strived to make a real difference in their coastal community, this year and in the long-term.
Ocean Hero Recognition 2020 – Categories
- Against the Odds – Groups who have kept going ‘against the odds’ this year and made a great effort to adapt to Covid 19 restrictions
- Long-term Commitment – Acknowledging our long-standing groups, who have shown dedication and resilience through the years
- Dedicated Individuals – Individuals who have gone above and beyond this year or those who have strongly promoted the #2minutebeachclean campaign
- Outstanding Newcomers – Welcome recognition to newcomers that have joined the Clean Coasts mission and adapted well
Click here to take a look at the Ocean Hero Awards 2019 categories.
Against the Odds
In this category, you’ll see groups who have kept going ‘against the odds’ this year. These groups made a great effort to carry out beach cleans while following government guidelines and restrictions, for example dividing stretches of coastline to be cleaned, setting up online event registration to ensure numbers were capped and putting extra measures in place for sanitisation of equipment.
Cooley Community Alert, co. Louth
This group did an excellent job in 2020, despite the current situation and restrictions: they have followed all Governmental guidelines, adhering to all measures to ensure safe clean ups.
Wexford Estuary Clean Coasts Group
This amazing group joined us three years ago and can count on the work of over 100 volunteers. They have really well organised clean-ups, alternating locations each month depending on where needs cleaning continuing to tailor approach throughout restrictions.
Killiney Bay Community Council
Throughout the summer of 2020, Killiney Bay Community Council hosted a number of beach cleaning events, making sure all health & safety and Covid-19 guidelines were strictly followed.
Keep our Beaches Clean – Mayo
One of our 2019 Ocean Hero nominees, this group was very active this year, although in a different way compared to previous years: instead of their usual big clean-ups, we saw lots of family and household clean-ups this year.
Meath Beach Management Committee
This very active group in county Meath organised an amazing clean up straight after the first lockdown, which got huge numbers, all adhering to Health & Safety guidelines and Covid-19 restrictions.
Ballynamona Clean Coasts Group
During the summer Ballynamona Clean Coasts organised a lot of beach cleans and made sure people were complying with restrictions, following all our tips from our guidance document, like creating the Eventbrite to keep numbers low and to aid contact tracing, etc…
Galway Atlantaquarium
Garry and his team at the aquarium are really committed to their piece of coastline and organised regular clean ups if and when the Covid rules allowed for them. All the clean-ups were organised keeping in mind health and safety guidelines.
Longterm Commitment
In this category, we want to acknowledge groups who have been with Clean Coasts for many years and have impressed us with their dedication and support over time, as well as their resilience through these testing times.
Bull Island Action Group
The Bull Island Action Group is active in keeping one of Ireland most environmentally sensitive areas pristine. It was established in 2004 making it one of our oldest Clean Coast groups.
Bray Coastcare
Bray Coastcare was set up in 2007 when one of the members was walking to Bray Head, noticed the amount of litter and put an ad in a local newspaper about doing a clean-up and 12 people showed up. Since then, they have been organising monthly beach cleans.
Wexford Sub Aqua Club
The Wexford Sub Aqua Club was founded in 1971 in Kilmore Quay, co. Wexford and joined Clean Coasts in 2007 and appointed an environmental officer in the club. In addition to organised beach clean, divers always bring back the marine litter they can safely remove.
Enniscrone Clean Coasts
Enniscrone Clean Coasts Group is a small core of people committed to keeping Enniscrone beach and its environs as clean as possible. Some of the group members go out regularly to walk the beach with a picker and bag to collect what we can – in summer this is generally on a daily basis.
Falcarragh Tidy Towns
Cósta Glan agus Glas An Fhál Carraigh was formed a few years to keep the beaches clean and to let others know about the beautiful local beaches. To date the group has also taken part in the Clean Coasts Roadshow as well as carrying out marram grass planting, recently erecting a nature information board and producing a walk guide for the area.
Spanish Point Community Group
Spanish Point Community Group are a very committed Clean Coasts group of litter pickers and event organisers. They are working on many fronts to improve their local beach and are incredibly inclusive, regularly reaching out to the more disenfranchised in the local community and getting them involved.
Rush Tidy Towns
Rush Clean Coasts group was set up in May 2018. They wanted to tap into locals who could combine their love and enjoyment of our local beaches with the feel-good factor of volunteering in the community.
Margaret Brown (Sandycove Tidy Towns)
Margaret Brown, from the Sandycove Clean Coasts group, is one of the most passionate volunteers who look after our coast. Based in Dublin, Margaret is a former Clean Coasts Ocean Hero, who brought home the title of Long Term Contribution for Clean Coasts by an Individual in 2014.
Dedicated Individuals
This category is all about individuals who have gone above and beyond this year despite Covid-19 restrictions or those who have strongly supported the #2minutebeachclean campaign, also by promoting it on social media to raise awareness about it and be an inspiration for others.
Joan Conaghy
Joan Conaghy is the founder of Cósta Álainn, a Clean Coasts group with members ranging in age from 7yrs to 82yrs old and from all walks of life but with one common goal: To keep our environment free from plastic, glass and rubbish.
Sean Ferguson
For the past five years, Seán has been cleaning beaches along the Wexford coast every morning all year round and he is a huge #2minutebeahclean supporter. He combines his beach cleaning with daily swims and walking his dog early before he starts work.
Mark MacCarthy
Mark McCarty is a Clean Coasts volunteer based in Schull, co. Cork, who works tirelessly with the coast guard and local community to keep Schull safe and beautiful. In 2020, he has been a huge supporter of the #2minutebeachclean campaign.
Subowti
Dave Ludgate from Subowti is a Clean Coasts volunteer and big supporter of our #2minutebeachclean campaign. He is great at removing marine litter every time he is out and about and also at sharing it on social media to inspire others to take action.
Outstanding Newcomers
Here we want to give a big welcome recognition to all the new groups that have joined the Clean Coasts mission in 2020 and not only got on board but also adapted well to current circumstances.
Amigos of the Earth
Amigos of the Earth are a group of Brazilian friends that cares a lot for our future and the future of our planet and nature and this is why they decided to join Clean Coasts in 2020.
Tarryfest
Tarryfest started as a group to organise a weekend festival for their village and now carry out all kinds of activities including numerous clean-ups on the beaches of Achill Island.
Seawaves
Seawaves are a new group that joined Clean Coasts in June 2020 and since then have been extremely active in Ennis and all over the West Clare region.
Leitrim Litter Picker
Martina Healy AKA Leitrim Litter Picker has been busy this year cleaning up her local area and raising awareness on social media and this month writing a blog for our Exposure section.