15/06/18 20 beach cleans in Donegal during Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week

Dunfanaghy Tidy Towns Beach Cleaning System at Tramore Beach.

Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week took place all around the coast of Ireland from 1 to 10 June 2018 and in Donegal alone, over 20 beach cleans took place as well as 2 coastal celebration events.

 Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful also ran their week at the same time to create an all-Ireland response to the issue of marine litter.

This year’s theme was focused on how doing good can also make us feel good. Speaking about the importance of our coast for our mental health, NC Britton, psychotherapist from Donegal had this to say, “With our special connection to the coast in Donegal, we are well aware of how good it is to spend time by the sea. Places like the coast give us the chance to not only connect with our environment but also, through practices such as mindfulness, connect with ourselves.

Taking just 3 minutes every day to notice your breath and check in with how you are feeling, thinking and what is going on around you, increases your wellbeing significantly. Add to this, a #2minutebeachclean and in just 5 minutes of your day, you can affect your wellbeing, community and environment in a wonderful and positive way.”

Free yoga on the beach session with Yogo for my Omies in Rossnowlagh.

Among the groups that took part in cleanups around the coast was Marine Harvest who collected nearly 2 tonnes of marine litter from 7 locations around the county as part of their global cleanup efforts. Other events included free Yoga on the Beach at Blue Flag beach, Rossnowlagh which saw participants not only enjoy a yoga session in a beautiful beach setting but give back with a #2minutebeachclean.

Speaking about the success of Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week, Beckey-Finn Britton, Clean Coasts Officer for the county said, “I am once again blown away by the incredible response to Coca-Cola Clean Coasts Week. The awareness and action taken around the issue of marine litter by individuals, communities and Donegal County Council during the week as well as all year round is a credit to all involved. There are also some great creative responses to areas hit hard by marine litter such as Dunfanaghy Tidy Towns cleanup system at Tramore Beach which I had the pleasure to check out during the week.”

For more on all that happened during the week check out the social media hashtags #CleanCoasts and #DoGoodFeelGood as well as www.cleancoasts.org.

List of Cleanups