A GROUP of 42 volunteers gathered at Spanish Point beach last Wednesday for a large-scale beach clean-up and litter survey.
Organised by Clean Coasts in collaboration with Transition Year students from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point and the local Spanish Point community group, the clean-up is part of the ongoing efforts of the Free LitterAT project, a European initiative under the INTERREG Atlantic Area programme, aimed at tackling marine litter along the Atlantic coastline.
The project involves collaboration between Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and France, focusing on waste management within the fishing sector and engaging coastal communities in vital actions such as beach clean-ups and marine litter surveys.
The volunteers collected an impressive 80kg of waste from Spanish Point Beach on the day, with the data from the litter survey being recorded for use in the Free LitterAT project. This citizen science effort will contribute to the development of best practice guidelines and marine litter simulation models, offering essential insights to policymakers working to address environmental challenges.
Ollie O’Flaherty, Clean Coasts Officer for Clare, expressed his satisfaction with the event’s success, saying, “It was fantastic to see all the students enjoying the survey and actively participating in such impactful citizen science action on the beach in Spanish Point on a sunny day”.
Angela Gammell, a member of the Spanish Point Community Group told The Clare Echo “we greatly appreciated the help from the school students and their teachers. We were very impressed with their knowledge and awareness of environmental issues”.
The data collected from this event is part of Clean Coasts’ ongoing work to tackle marine litter. It aligns with the findings from their Big Beach Clean initiative, which in 2023 saw volunteers collect 15 times more fishing-related waste along Ireland’s western coastline compared to the previous year. This highlights the urgent need for continued, targeted action to reduce marine litter.
In addition to its beach clean-up activities, Clean Coasts offers the Clean Coasts Roadshow, a series of workshops and talks designed for coastal communities across Ireland. The Roadshow, which runs from January to May each year, serves as a platform for local groups to discuss topics like marine biodiversity, wildlife, sustainable developments, and how to build volunteer capacity. It also provides an opportunity for community groups to share responsibilities and attract new members in their efforts to protect local beaches and seas.
The Free LitterAT project and the Clean Coasts Roadshow are essential components of Clean Coasts’ long-term commitment to preserving Ireland’s coastal environment and engaging communities in meaningful action.
Alongside this beach clean-up organised as part of the Free LitterAT Project, the Spanish Point community Group also runs their own ‘Big Beach Clean-Ups’. The group runs two clean-ups a year, one during national spring clean week in April and a second one at the end of the holiday season in September.
In addition to these clean-ups the Spanish Point Community have spearheaded a number of projects such as walking maps, audio guides and community events to enhance the area. Between the months of April to August, the group also organise weekly maintenance sessions to weed the flower beds around the area, paint the public furniture at the beach and “to look after all the little things that keep the place looking good” explained Angela.
Due to the effort put in by the members of the Spanish Point Community Group, the organisation was named joint winners, with Ennsicrone of the Clean Coast Community Group of the Year 2024.
