Drogheda Rural and Clogherhead Independent Councillor Declan Power has issued a strong appeal to the public following what he described as a disappointing increase in littering across Clogherhead Beach and the surrounding dunes during the recent spell of good weather.
While the majority of visitors used the bins provided and acted responsibly, a significant amount of rubbish including bottles, cans, disposable barbecues, food waste and bags of litter was left scattered across the sand and dunes.
The littering has created hazards for wildlife and placed additional pressure on council staff and local volunteers tasked with cleaning the area.
The issue comes just days after Clogherhead regained its Blue Flag status, joining Port Beach and Templetown Beach in receiving the internationally recognised environmental award.
The local community has worked to restore and maintain the standards required for the Blue Flag designation, making the recent scenes of litter particularly disappointing.
Cllr Declan Power said:
“We are extremely proud of our Blue Flag beach. Those of us who live here know how blessed we are to call this coastline home. But that beauty is diminished every time we get an odd warm day and a small number of people decide that leaving their rubbish behind is acceptable. It isn’t.”
The message to beach users, he said, was clear:
“Come and enjoy our Blue Flag beach but take your rubbish home. You’ve carried it here; you can carry it back. If the bins are full, that is not an excuse to leave waste behind.”
Visitors are being asked to respect the beach, protect the dunes and support the community’s efforts to keep Clogherhead clean, safe and deserving of its Blue Flag status.
Cllr Power added:
“We welcome everyone to enjoy this incredible place but enjoyment comes with responsibility. A clean beach is a shared effort, and we need everyone to play their part. We want people to leave the footprints in the sand not their rubbish.”
