A DEDICATED group of environmentally conscious volunteers who have played a huge role in keeping the coastal area in the home place as clean and neat as possible has been honoured with a national award.
The Banna Beach Coastcare Group scooped the Ocean Hero 2021 big beach award in the Clean Coasts competition run by environmental watchdog An Taisce.
The category celebrates the groups who did incredible work over by hosting their own clean-up events despite the challenges of the pandemic.
The Clean Coasts programme can count on the work of over 1,800 volunteer groups and over 37,000 volunteers and the involvement and support of the whole community is essential to achieve the set goals.
The Ocean Hero Awards recognise the invaluable contribution volunteers, groups and communities have made towards conserving the Irish coastline.
“It has been an unusual year, and, like everyone, Clean Coasts and their volunteers have had to adapt. The continued support, engagement and interest from the many volunteers around the country has been outstanding, showing dedication and resilience through these testing times,” said An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Manager Sinead McCoy.
She said the Banna Beach group started out mostly with friends and family in the first year, then a few volunteers from other groups joined and they have continued coming to all the clean ups over the years.
