Clare Water Safety in conjunction with Freagh Castle Clean Coast group in West Clare have beaten off competition from all over Ireland to win the Ocean Hero Beach Clean of the Year Award in recognition of their coastal clean-up near Miltown Malbay in earlier this year.
Operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, the Clean Coasts’ Ocean Hero Awards honour the contribution Ireland’s coastal communities towards conserving the country’s spectacular coastline. Prizes were awarded in 6 other categories this year, namely Individual of the Year, Business of the Year, School of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Event of the Year and Think before you Flush Hero of the Year.
Claire McGrath of Clare Water Safety said, “Winning this award and undertaking cleanups along the coast highlights the strength of a community working together, with over 70 children and adults participating, including locals, members of Clare Water Safety, the 15th Miltown Scouts, Clare County Council, representatives from An Taisce, and Miltown Malbay Tidy Towns Committee, instructors, examiners and Clare County Council lifeguards.”
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.