Ocean Initiative 2010

32nd Limerick, St. Paul's, Scout Group

2010-04-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

The Scout Group...
"Cleaned the riverbank and public walkway between University of Limerick Boat House and a little beyond the "Black Bridge" about 500m in all. This will be the site for the Special Olympics Kayaking event in June. Collected 20 bags of rubbish plus assorted debris, including plastic table, carpet, bottle of orange with 10p price tag, ." Lorcan Keyes

Newbridge College Canoe Club.......

2010-03-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

"The clean up day was a great success. We had 21 volunteers turn out on the day, we cleaned about 1.5km, both sides of the river, about 9 m3 was collected and removed for recycling by our local autorities. The weather was on our side with nice warm sunshine all day long, and after the clean up we all had some fun on the water with kayaks. As a club we were delighed to be able to take part on the day and would be glad to help out again in the future. " Jim Dillon

Ballyfermot Youth Service - Outward Bounds Amenity Centre

2010-03-26T05:40:00.001-07:00

Excellent work done by everyone who cleaned from the Outward Bounds Amenity Centre.

"We filled two skips which included the 20 bags provided, 2 bikes, ½ a moped, 1 stereo, 6 traffic cones, several barriers & fences,1 dog, an arm chair and much more. 28 people were involved: 6 adults and 22 children (19 between 9 - 14)" Allegra Lalor

A big thanks to Allegra and Ger who cleaned and motivated several clean ups during the week and to all the guys and girls who participated with them. The Canal looks brilliant.

Inny Kayakers

2010-03-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

Well done to the Inny Kayakers both junior members and the slightly older members! for a great collection of rubbish. Around 10 people participated in collecting over 30 bags of rubbish. As per usual there were also other items ready to be dragged out too, including a complete car with registration. The car was just a bit too big for the canadians, so hopefully the county council will remove it soon.

Information provided by Irene Nooney

15 Silverbridge CC members plus local volunteers clean the Slane

2010-03-25T03:24:00.000-07:00

"... We collected about 20 bags of rubbish in total from the get on at Stackallen weir, the river itself and the get out at Slane bridge. The lads filled a whole Canadian canoe and a sit on top with rubbish on the way down the river, from the weirs and islands mainly. The rest of the group collected more from around the get in and take out. .... The council were very helpful and supplied us with extra bags and litter pickers as well as collecting the bags the next day.

We all agreed that it is a great initiative and something that should become an annual event. The locals were really supportive and we rounded it all off with a picnic party in the glorious sunshine. Super day." Eoin Hurst

Phoenix Kayak Club

2010-03-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

A great turn out for the Phoenix Kayak Club, with over 30 volunteers cleaning the River Lee.
Information provided by Emer Toomey.

Ardmore Adventures

2010-03-24T09:09:00.001-07:00

"...... we cleaned Ardmore, while a couple of farmers cleaned nearby goat island and the county council sent out teams to curragh beach and whitting bay. We collected over 40 bags of rubbish from Ardmore and goat island. We had 20 volunteers help out in Ardmore. We are planning another beach clean with the local school in a few weeks. All and all it was a huge sucess and people were amazed at how much was gathered in such a short space of time.

The rubbish was made up of litter, ropes, old fishing nets, plastic etc." Ronan O'Connor

Limerick University CC

2010-03-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

Limerick Uni were joined by Limerick and Nenagh Canoe Clubs to make up, a brilliant, 22 volunteers.

" .......we managed to fill up the extra long wheel base sprinter halfway. Traffic cones, baths, toys, a surprising amount of left shoes, tarps, an oar, a horse jumping cross pole. Plenty of those plastic garlands very high up in the trees after the floods..... the lads had to bring a half full canoe down the S-bend: they were a slight bit wobbly but no accidents. Big thanks to Cat Halpin in the ESB! Definitely doing again next year!"
Kim Siekerman

Lir Canoe Club

2010-03-23T10:14:00.001-07:00

Well done to everyone from Lir who came out to clean on Sunday. The Lucan Weir area certainly surprised the crew with it's quantity of rubbish.

" LIR Canoe Club - had 15 volunteers and they collected over thirty bags , a shopping trolley , two bikes, a trike and a big For Sale sign amongst other things". Conor Ryan.

A big thank you to Michelle Nolan who co ordinated the rubbish collection with South County Dublin.

ICU Liffey Centre and Rockhoppers attacked the Liffey....!

2010-03-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

"Liffey Centre & Rockhoppers - River Liffey from Wren's Nest to Training Centre. We had 30 volunteers and collected 50 bags of rubbish, a shopping trolley , a bike, a few chairs, a few broken paddles and oodles of cans and bottles. Thanks to all who took part including Hillary and Eoin from Youth Kayak School". Conor Ryan

Thanks to Fingal County Council who came to the centre to collect all the rubbish.

Sligo Kayak Club Cleans the Garavogue!

2010-03-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

"Ten members from the Sligo Kayak Club turned out for the clean up of our local play spot the Garavogue River. The day was a terrific success - with nearly thirty full bags of rubbish collected! A big thank you to all club members who participated and also the kind people of Sligo County Council and the Garavogue Bar for taking care of our rubbish afterwards. Many people have already commented on the noticeably cleaner riverbank which will no doubt provide a much safer and cleaner recreational space for kayakers and the general public alike."
Caroline Finn

Gweebarra....

2010-03-22T07:41:00.001-07:00

Well done to Gweebarra Canoe Club who got cleaning on the Gweebarra Estuary.

"On the day we had 8 club members and one member of the public turn up, we did 3km in 2 hours and took out 15 bags of litter !! " Grainne

Apparently some club members are very excited about some newly acquired items!! Recycling at it's best.

Information provded by Grainne Breslin

Donegal Canoe Club...

2010-03-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

"We cleaned the River Leannan, County Donegal from Ramelton Weir down to Ramaelton Town slipway, where the Leannan joins Lough Swilly. We met at 1pm in Ramelton to meet the low tide at 3pm. .......the Leannan was very low so we could really get into all the nooks an cranny's. It was a gorgous day, although a bit warm in dry gear and washing up gloves!We used my canadian as the garbage truck collecting 12 bags plus road cones, plastic oil drum and a few plastic buckets and got to the slipway at 4pm. All that was left to do then was take the photo and grab a quick pint in Conways. Thanks though to those helped, Vince, Mary, Frank, Aoife, Ken, Danny, Davey, June, Anne, Gary and Roisin." Paul Reed

Galway and NUIG Kayak Clubs

2010-03-22T06:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the guys in Galway who tackled the Eglington Canal......

"This is a photo we took at the end of the canal clean up in Galway yesterday - Galway Kayak Club and NUIG Kayak Club combined effort. We had more folks during the day, this was most of the group that lasted until the end. Shopping trollies, buggies, traffic cones and the usual bottles and cans. We also had a photographer from Galway Independent turn up at the end and there should be some PR in that paper middle of the week. " Dermot

Thomastown Paddlers

2010-03-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

Over 16 Bags of rubbish were collected by the Thomastown Paddlers during the morning.

" We certainly under-estimated the amount of rubbish out there! We collected 16 bags, 1 traffic cone and one ring bouy......... but we may return to it at another time. Truely was an eye-opener to the amount of waste that ends up in our rivers". Donnacha Brennan

East Coast Sea Kayaking

2010-03-22T04:42:00.000-07:00

9 members of the club set out from Bullock Harbour to do a loop around to Muglins, Dalkey Island, Colliemore and back to Bullock. Rubbish from this route was pushed into hatches, strapped to the deck and towed from the Kayaks, all in all an interesting sight, interesting enough to attract attention from a passing RNLI boat!! Over 20 bags of rubbish were collected from the coastline, harbours and from the Island itself. Thanks to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown council who promised to collect the rubbish from Bullock Harbour this morning.

Information provided by Alan Horner

UCD Canoe Club

2010-03-22T04:36:00.000-07:00

The Clonskeagh Bridge area of the Dodder is now minus a very big skip load of rubbish. 15 members of the canoe club cleaned up a 500 metre section of river and bank. Most of the rubbish was collected from the bank while canadian canoes cleaned from the river. Thanks again to the council who are collecting the rubbish this morning.

Information provided by Matthew Enright

Trinity Kayak Club

2010-03-22T04:30:00.000-07:00

Trinity Kayak Club collected over 20 bags of rubbish from the Sluice area. As well as rubbish they managed to find bikes, trollies, traffic cones etc..... Fantastic. With the help of South County Dublin County Council, this rubbish is now on it's way to a better place.

Information provided by Aine Shuilleabhain

News Flash ....... it's started !

2010-03-16T03:53:00.000-07:00

Allegra and the crew from Ballyfermot Youth Services have already been out cleaning the canal with more action today (Tuesday) and Friday. They have been in canoes and on the banks with rakes, pitch forks etc and are desperately trying to fill a very large skip.... BRILLIANT !

Rubbish Disposal....

2010-03-10T03:54:00.000-08:00

We would like to thank the following county councils for agreeing to collect the rubbish from the clean up sites:

Sligo County Council
Kilkenny County Council
Westmeath County Council
Waterford County Council
Cork County Council
DunLaoghaire Rathdown Council
Meath County Council
Dublin City North
Dublin City South
Fingal County Council
Donegal County Council
Limerick County Council
South County Dublin
Galway County Council

Participants to date..... thank you for taking part !

2010-03-04T04:35:00.000-08:00

Liffey – Newbridge Newbridge college Jim Dillon
Liffey – Lucan to Shakelton Lir KC Keith Symes
Liffey – Wrens to Canoe Centre and beyond ! Bridging Club Conor Ryan
Liffey - Wrens to Canoe Centre and beyond ! Rockhoppers Ariane Forster
Liffey - Sluice Trinity KC Aine Shuilleabhain
Clonskeagh Bridge, Dodder UCD Matthew Enright
Tolka DCU Ken Hynes
Canal, Park West Ballyfermot YS Allegra Lawlor
Boyne, Silverbridge KC, Eoin Hurst
Castleconnell, Shannon Limerick Uni, Limerick CC, Nenagh Kim Siekerman
Castleconnell, Shannon 32 Limerick Scout Group Colm Slevin
Garavogue River Sligo KC Caroline Finn
Eglington Canal Galway, Galway Kayak Club, Dermot
Eglington Canal Galway, NUI Galway, John Brady
Owenashad, ? WIT KC Mike
Ardmore Strand, Ardmore Adventures, Ronan O'Connor
Thomastown, Nore Thomastown Paddlers Donnacha Brennan
River Lee, Phoenix Kayak Club Emer Toomey
Storm Beaches, Donegal Gweebarra CC Grainne Breslin
Leannan River Donegal CC Paul Reed
River Finn Letterkenny IT Canoe Club Jessica Conneely
Inney River Inny KC Irene Nooney
Dalkey Island East Coast Sea Kayaking Alan Horner

2010-03-04T04:13:00.000-08:00

We hope that this initiative will be enthusiastically received by the paddling community and that we can all work together to make our Waterways a more pleasant place for all recreational activity as well as a more sustainable environment the flaura and fauna that live there. This is a great opportunity to play a large role in the promotion of environmental awareness and sustainable living as well as promote our sport in Ireland. One of the Surf Rider foundations major goals is not only to clean up existing macro pollution in large international campaigns, but to educate and promote practices which prevent the pollution getting into the waterways in the first place. An example of this is we currently in discussions with Surf Rider to see if they can help us find the source and a possible sustainable solution for the presence of Weils Disease in some of the Irish Rivers.

Benny Cullen