Almost 10,000 volunteers took part in clean-ups across all 26 counties during Ireland’s Big Beach Clean, removing an estimated 58 tonnes of marine litter from beaches, waterways, towns and villages.
Clean Coasts groups, community organisations and individuals organised some 500 clean-ups throughout September, with close to 9,700 volunteers taking part nationwide.
The main Big Beach Clean weekend ran from September 18th to 20th, marking the end of the Irish bathing season and coinciding with Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.
Dún Laoghaire Volunteers Join Clean-Up
More than 50 volunteers joined Dún Laoghaire Tidy Towns for a clean-up at Dún Laoghaire Pier, including local Girl Guides and sailors from the Irish National Sailing School. Plastic waste and cigarette butts were among the litter collected from the pier.
Pier Pressure: Dún Laoghaire Tidy Towns volunteers were among more than 50 people who joined the Big Beach Clean at Dún Laoghaire Pier, where plastic and cigarette butts were among the litter collected
Elsewhere, the Irish Coast Guard’s Westport unit collected more than seven bags of litter from Westport Quay, as well as two tyres and three disposable barbecues.
Westport Haul: Irish Coast Guard Westport Unit volunteers collected more than seven bags of litter from Westport Quay, along with two tyres and three disposable barbecues
In Galway, pupils from Claddagh National School joined Clean Coasts and Galway Atlantaquaria at Grattan Beach, collecting six bags of litter weighing 10kg.
Class Clean-Up: Claddagh National School pupils joined Clean Coasts and Galway Atlantaquaria at Grattan Beach in Galway, collecting six bags of litter weighing 10kg
On the east coast, volunteers with Courtown Riverchapel Community Development Group tackled a 6km stretch between Duffcarrick and Poulshone beaches. They were joined by the Courtown-Arklow Coast Guard unit, Courtown Running Club, Courtown Heritage Group and other community volunteers.
Coast Clear: Courtown-Arklow Coast Guard members and community volunteers joined forces to clean seven beaches along a 6km stretch of the Wexford coastline
Citizen Science Records Marine Litter
In addition to removing waste, the Big Beach Clean forms part of an international citizen science programme in which volunteers record the quantities and types of litter they find.
Clean Coasts shares the information collected on its Marine Litter Data Cards with Ocean Conservancy as part of its International Coastal Cleanup programme. According to Clean Coasts, fishing-related waste, cigarette butts and pieces of plastic were the three most commonly recorded litter items during last year's event.
The organisation also encouraged participation away from the coastline this year, with support from An Taisce's National Spring Clean programme. Volunteers in landlocked counties took part in an effort to prevent litter reaching rivers and ultimately the sea.
500 Clean-Ups Across Ireland
Kia Ireland supported the 2026 Big Beach Clean by helping fund equipment and supplies for participating volunteers, while dealerships also joined local Clean Coasts groups during the weekend.
Clean Coasts Programme Manager Bronagh Moore thanked volunteers, local authorities and sponsors for supporting the initiative. “Once again it was great to see thousands of volunteers show up across the country to support the Big Beach Clean,” she said.
“Together we are making a tangible difference in keeping our beaches clean and in protecting our marine life.”
