Cork students recognised for 'Big Little Beach Clean-ups' at Ocean Hero Awards
Pictured left to right: Cathy Baxter, Director of An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit, Wictoria Rzelunowska, Julia Faber, Lily O’Flaherty and Magdelena Trojan Students at St Colman’s, Proinsias O’Tuama head of Clean Coasts Ballynamona and Conall O’Connor, Representative for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Clean Coasts Ballynamona in Cork with St Colman’s Community College won for the Event of the Year award at the Clean Coasts 2023 Ocean Hero Awards for their Big Little Beach Clean. Pic: J Barker / Naoise Culhane
A series of beach cleans organised by students from St. Colman's Community College in Midleton and Clean Coasts Ballynamona has been declared the winner of the Clean Coasts Hero Event award.
This was one of several awards presented to groups and individuals from all over Ireland at the Ocean Hero Awards ceremony held in Dublin recently to recognise outstanding work to protect their local coastline and environment.
This year's event marks the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the Clean Coasts organisation.
Over the past two decades, the organisation has grown and created campaigns and initiatives to protect and celebrate the beauty of the coast to enable its enjoyment by all.
There were seven dedicated categories in this year's awards with a total of 33 groups and individuals, and the work of each group and individual was showcased during the awards ceremony before the winners were announced.
A number of Cork individuals and groups were nominated across the different sections.
The Cork group which was recognised had run a series of events, entitled the 'The Big Little Beach Clean', in east and west Cork in May and June this year.
These clean-ups were organised to tie in with Cork County Council for their Blue Flag environmental education activities.
500 students took part in the event in east Cork with another 100 students attending the event in West Cork.
As he presented the awards, Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Minister for State, Malcolm Noonan said that real, impactful change could be made for nature at a community level.
"When I engage with community groups in coastal areas and hear their thoughts and views on the marine environment, I know that I am working with an audience that is dedicated to ensuring that we have clean healthy, biologically diverse and sustainably used seas that are resilient to climate change," he said.
"Their on-going efforts play a huge part in helping the whole country to achieve these aims.”
Fáilte Ireland's Environment and Planning Manager Shane Dineen said the Clean Coasts brand was synonymous with environmental excellence.
"The Ocean Hero Awards stand as a tribute to the relentless effort, dedication, and commitment of individuals, volunteers, groups, and the broader community in ensuring the longevity of our oceans," he said.
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