The Clean Coasts Roadshow visited Louth to mark Earth Day with a beach clean and coastal conservation talk at Seabank, in collaboration with Dromiskin Tidy Towns, PayPal and Fairways Hotel.
More than 50 volunteers took part in the event on a sunny but windy morning, joining forces for a coastal action day organised as part of the roadshow. The day began with a talk from Clean Coasts Regional Development Officer for the North East, Aidan Gray, who spoke about Earth Day, the impact of marine litter and the role communities can play in tackling pollution.
A skip provided by Louth County Council was filled with multiple bags of litter collected during the clean up. Most of the waste consisted of small plastic items, although larger materials such as rope, tyres and metal were also removed. Volunteers were later provided with refreshments by the Fairways Hotel.
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.”
David Thornton from PayPal said, “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!”
The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a national series of talks and workshops held between January and May each year, bringing together coastal communities interested in protecting beaches, seas and marine environments.
Events cover topics such as biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife and sustainable development, while also providing an opportunity for local groups to share ideas, build volunteer capacity and encourage greater community involvement.
