Underwater Lough Lene clean up to mark World Water Day
A collaboration involving Clean Coasts, Alpha Dive Sub Aqua Club, the Local Authorities Waters Programme (LAWpro), and Collinstown Action Group undertook an underwater clean-up at Lough Lene on Sunday, to mark World Water Day.
On the morning, Cathal Flood from LAWpro also gave a talk on water bodies, the importance of the lough, and water studies; four bags of rubbish were collected by Collinstown Action Group and members of Castlepollard Tidy Towns around the lake shore; and Alpha Dive SAC collected lots of rubbish from in the lake.
Clean Coasts officer Aidan Gray said: “The day was a great collaboration between the groups, and a lot of waste was collected, along with a great talk by LAWpro. The lake has a lot of activity from different groups – swimmers, fishing, kayaking, divers, and locals enjoying the beautiful views.
“With all that traffic, of course there can be an accumulation of rubbish, so it was so important for the community and invested clubs to do a deep clean of the great amenity resource on our doorstep.”
World Water Day, March 22 every year since 1993, is an annual UN event focusing on the importance of freshwater. Its aims focus on taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of the dDay is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a series of talks and workshops tailored for coastal communities across Ireland, taking place between January and May each year. It brings together individuals interested in protecting their local beaches, seas, and marine environments.
The roadshow events cover topics, including biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife, sustainable developments, and the work of local groups and organisations.
The events also serve as a platform for community groups to discuss practical matters, such as building volunteer capacity, attracting new members, and sharing responsibilities.