Four year old Odhran O’Tuama, with local volunteers Sally O’Reilly and Tomas Mulcahy, helping to clear fishing nets from Ardnahinch Beach with the help of the new gator. Photo: Cathal Noonan

New machine will help group to clean county Cork beaches

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Our beaches will be in huge demand now that we can travel anywhere in the county and Ireland’s largest beach cleaning group has just launched its new weapon to combat marine litter.

The multi-award-winning Clean Coasts Ballynamona received a new John Deere Gator this week with the support of FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) funding, which will help pull heavy marine litter such as old and abandoned fishing nets that wash up on the shore.

Founder of Clean Coasts Ballynamona Proinsias Ó Tuama said: “This is essential equipment for us in tackling the tonnes of litter that washes up on our coast. In 12 months alone we removed over 200 tyres from Ballybranagan and Ballycroneen beaches - beaches that stretch just 1.2 km. It will allow us to carry the very heavy bags that volunteers collect back to the carpark for safe disposal.”

Mr Ó Tuama added: “Pristine coasts are essential, they are not just very important ecosystems. They are also crucial for the local economy, such as the beautiful restaurants, pubs, hotels and B&Bs who are ready to welcome thousands of visitors who will visit.”

Clean Coasts Ballynamona clean over 40 kms of coastline of marine litter.

Brian Hayes Curtin
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