A “clown-led” beach clean in North Mayo won first prize for “Event of the Year” at this year’s Ocean Heroes Awards.
Volunteers from Circus 250, Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo and Scoil Naisiúnta Cheathrú Thaidhg were nominated for the category in An Taisce’s annual Clean Coasts Awards.
The North Mayo group was the winner of five nominees for the prize, having hosted a highly successful “Big Beach Clean” event.
The event was open to the local community, with students from the local school taking part in the clean-up, while Juanita the Clown guided the children in beach cleaning activities.
Comhar Dún Chaocháin normally arrange regular clean-ups on two local beaches – Rinn Rua and Port a' Chlóidh, both of which have Green Coast flags.
The co-op works closely with the local primary school, Scoil Náisiúnta Cheathrú Thaidhg, to raise awareness among local schoolchildren on the importance of reducing and recycling waste.
The co-op believes it is important that young people understand the key role they play in shaping the future of the environment, and both Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo and the primary school have a strong green ethos.
Other nominees for the event category included:
- Ballygarrett Tidy Towns – Cahore Little Tern Project
- Clean Coasts Cobh, Ballymore Community Association and Cobh Tidy Towns – Big Beach Clean and World Ocean Day
- Clean Coasts Ballynamona and St Colman’s College – Little Big Beach Clean
- Cooley Community Alert – Big Beach Clean
Hundreds of nominations were made for the annual awards and the full list of winners is here
