Hundreds of people from all over Donegal are set to be out and about this weekend taking part in community clean-ups as part of the 2019 Big Donegal Clean Up.
Groups in Buncrana, Carrowmenagh, Dunree, Moville, Greencastle, Culdaff, Manorcunningham, Newtowncunningham, Killea and Carrigans will be out on Saturday (6 April) as part of the Inishowen Community Clean-up initiative while the St. Johnston Community Clean up will take place for a week from Monday 8th April to Saturday 13th April.
Elsewhere clean-ups will also be taking place on Saturday 6th April in Donegal Town, Ballybofey and Stranorlar, Crossroads and Killygordon, Tullyvinny near Raphoe, Ballymacool in Letterkenny, Knather in Ballyshannon, Loughside in Letterkenny as well as the Breaghy area of Ramelton.
On Sunday 7th April groups in Dungloe, Rossnowlagh, Leitirmacaward and Dooey beach will be out in force while Glenties Tidy Towns committee are holding their clean-up on Thursday 4 April from 10am to 1pm. Killybegs are also hosting a week-long community clean up this week.
The Green Campus Group in LYIT will be doing a clean-up of the nearby roads on Thursday 4th April while other groups including Donegal YMCA are planning a clean-up at Magheraroarty beach on 3rd April.
Various schools are also getting in on the action with Scoil Naisiunta Mhin Teineadh De, Scoil Naomh Brid Muff, Kerrykeel National School, Scoil Choluim, Ballyheerin, Killaghtee National School Dunkineely, Monreagh National School Carrigans and Gartan National School planning clean-ups in their respective areas.
Last weekend clean-ups took place in Redcastle, Manorcunningham, Cranford, Glenmaquin and Arranmore Island as well as in Glenveagh, Convoy and Castlefin. And clean-ups are also planned the following weekend with large scale clean-ups planned for Fanad, Portsalon, Kerrykeel and Rosnakill on Saturday 13 April.
A further clean-up is planned for Dungloe on Sunday 14 April while the Falcarragh clean-up is planned for the 20th April. Clean-ups are also planned for the Glebe (21st April) and Glenoughty (2nd May) areas of Letterkenny.
The Rathdonnell/Trentagh Community Clean Up takes place on Saturday 13th April
Meet outside Harley’s Trentagh at 10am and bring litter pickers/ gloves if possible. Refreshments served afterwards.
Cathaoirleach Cllr. Seamus O’Domhnaill is delighted with the response to this year’s Big Donegal Clean-up.
He said “It never ceases to amaze me the sense of community we have here in Donegal and this response simply reinforces this for me. There is no way that the Council would have the resources to keep every road and public area in the county clean, and that’s why the work that these people do is so important.
“These people are our unsung heroes and are the backbone of our communities and they should be highly commended for all the work they do. While this work is very important from a tourism perspective, it is about more than that. It is about caring for our own environment and about the pride we have in our own communities and I would ask our illegal dumpers and litter bugs to take a minute and think about the effort these people are making.
“Every piece of litter that is thrown out of a car window must be lifted by someone, every bag of rubbish that is dumped illegally must be collected by someone. I would ask you to think again. Your reckless action is endangering natural habitats and creating an unsightly mess that reflects badly on everyone in the community.”
Get involved
Anyone who would like to take part in any of the clean-ups mentioned can find more information on times and meeting points at bit.ly/DonegalCleanUp.
There is still plenty of time to take part in the Big Donegal Clean Up by organising a clean-up in your own area. All you have to do is call the Council on 074 91 53900 or call into to any Council office to register. Donegal County Council provides bags, pickers and high vis vests and then collects the rubbish from designated points at agreed times.