Duncannon Community Comes Together for Beach Clean and Marine Awareness Day

On Easter Saturday, 4th April, the community of Duncannon, County Wexford, came together to host a beach clean and environmental education day as part of the Clean Coasts Roadshow series. This event marked the second “Grá don Trá” initiative held in the village this year, with Duncannon Village Renewal and Duncannon Tidy Towns once again joining forces, supported by Clean Coasts. The initiative brought local volunteers together for a community spring clean where they removed litter and marine waste from the beach to help care for their stretch of coastline at Duncannon Beach.

Alongside the beach clean, the day also featured a strong environmental education element. An interactive display of educational resources encouraged community engagement and raised awareness of local marine and coastal habitats. Community members of all ages took part, enjoying the opportunity to learn more about the marine environment and discuss its importance for biodiversity and coastal communities. A number of interesting marine specimens were also on display, including the empty egg cases of sharks and rays, commonly known as “mermaids’ purses”, which had been found along local beaches.

During the event, the Clean Coasts team and community members also highlighted the importance of protecting the marine environment by adopting responsible waste disposal and flushing habits, as promoted through the “Think Before You Flush” campaign. The Think Before You Flush campaign works with communities across Ireland to raise awareness about the environmental impact of flushing unsuitable items down the toilet. These practices can lead to blockages in wastewater networks and treatment plants, sewage overflows, and sewage-related litter reaching beaches and natural habitats.

Items such as wet wipes, cotton pads, and dental floss are among the ‘Dirty Dozen’ - the twelve most commonly flushed items in Ireland. Others include hair, medicines, tampons, food waste, contact lenses, condoms, cigarette butts, and cotton bud sticks. Research shows that more than one in five adults in Ireland admit to regularly flushing items that can cause blockages and damage wastewater systems and the marine environment. Unlike toilet paper, which is designed to break down quickly, these items do not biodegrade easily and can have lasting environmental impacts.

Róisín Fitzgerald from Clean Coasts said “It was fantastic to see such strong community spirit and collective action in Duncannon at their latest ‘Grá don Trá’ event. Initiatives like this not only help protect our beautiful coastline, but also give people of all ages the opportunity to learn more about the marine environment and how small everyday actions, such as responsible litter management and thinking before you flush, can make a real difference.”

Uisce Éireann’s Head of Wastewater Operations, Nuala Woods commented, “It’s great to see communities taking time to protect their local environment. Every day, items like wet wipes and cotton buds are incorrectly flushed, causing blockages in wastewater infrastructure and increasing the risk of sewage overflows that can impact our rivers and coastlines. Through our partnership with Clean Coasts, we’re delighted to work with communities like Duncannon to highlight the link between what we flush and what can end up on our beaches and in our rivers.”

The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a series of informative talks and workshops tailored for coastal communities across Ireland, taking place between January and May each year. This initiative brings together individuals interested in protecting their local beaches, seas, and marine environments.

The Roadshow events cover a range of topics, including biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife, sustainable developments, and the work of local groups and organizations. These events also serve as a platform for community groups to discuss practical matters, such as building volunteer capacity, attracting new members, and sharing responsibilities.