On Saturday 10th March 2012, Cork County Council and An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme held a Coastcare Seminar for coastal groups located in West Cork at the Westlodge Hotel in Bantry. Presentations were given by Irish Water Safety, An Taisce, Cork County Council, West Cork Development Partnership, Glengarriff Tidy Beaches Action Group, Schull Tidy Towns, Seven Heads Walking Group, and Glengarriff Theatre Youth Group. Attendees also included representatives from Dunbeacon Action Group, Lehanmore Community Co-op, Castletownbere Tidy Towns, Trahalan Beach Development Committee, Ballydehob Community Council, Rosscarbery Tidy Towns, Eyeries Tidy Towns, and Ardfield Tidy Towns. The event also coincided with Bantry’s hosting of An Taisce’s coastal photography exhibition.
Cork County Council’s Divisional Development Officer for West Cork, Gráinne O’ Mahony explained that ‘the focus of this inaugural seminar was to inform communities of the various supports available and discuss how statutory bodies and local communities can work together to achieve shared objectives.’ An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Officer for the Munster region Aidan Gray added that ‘It is so important for coastal groups in Co. Cork to join the nationwide network of registered Coastcare Groups and work together on tackling environment issues like litter problems, but also arrange social events to celebrate and educate on our popular coastlines. This event was a great opportunity to share coastal community experiences, to meet other groups, and for the community groups to know that there is positive support and help from organizations to work together’. For further information on Coastcare, visit www.cleancoastsireland.org
