The Ryan family are going to great lengths to support this year’s Big Donegal Clean Up and to lend a hand to the hundreds of individuals and groups around the county who come together each year for their community clean ups.
Danny, Jordan, Keane and Alannah were on hand this week to help out the Donegal County Council Litter Management Team launch the 2017 Big Donegal Clean Up.
“We are delighted to have the Ryan family supporting the Big Donegal Clean Up this year,” says Cathaoirleach Cllr. Terence Slowey
“They are great ambassadors for Donegal and their ‘get up and go’ attitude is a great tonic for all of us. The Ryan family are not just wonderful sports people but are also rooted in their community and this is what this initiative is all about. The Ryan family brought a great sense of pride to Donegal when they competed in Irelands Fittest Family last year and this initiative is about building on this sense of pride and making our county the cleanest in Ireland”.
Last year’s Big Donegal Clean Up was a great success with over 300 community groups from all over Donegal taking part and Suzanne Bogan Waste Awareness Officer with Donegal County Council believes that this year is shaping up to be another successful year.
“We already have in the region of 100 groups signed up for the An Taisce National Spring Clean campaign and the Donegal Clean-Up so we are confident that we will achieve similar numbers this year.”
“The interest from communities is brilliant and it will all help in making Donegal litter free and allowing us to put our best foot forward for the forthcoming tourist season”.
“Donegal relies heavily on the tourist industry and the beauty of the county’s landscape and natural environment is without doubt our unique selling point. Rubbish and litter can be a major blight on our environment and portrays a very negative message for Donegal.
“So hat’s off to all those individuals and groups across Donegal who take it upon themselves to clean up their area. Donegal is a large county and unfortunately the Council cannot keep the county litter free on its own. That’s why the work of these individuals and groups is so important and vital to us”.
This campaign sees the Council supporting individuals, groups and organisations in organising their own clean-ups. The Council provides bags, gloves and litter pickers and arranges for the collection of the rubbish once it has been bagged.
“We are seeing an increase in the number of individuals who are taking it upon themselves to clean up their local area when they are out walking. So we would be urging people when they are out walking to bring a bag with them and pick up litter as they find it along their walk. The Council is more than happy to help with gloves, litter pickers and bags and we will also collect the rubbish once it is bagged”.
To sign up for this year’s Big Donegal Clean Up call 074 91 53900 or visit www.donegalcoco.ie . You can also register with An Taisce’s National Spring Clean campaign by calling (01) 4002219 or online at www.nationalspringclean.org.
