Two Clare coastlines have dropped their positions in the latest anti-litter league survey.
The annual survey of coasts and inland waterways by Irish Business Against Litter shows Lahinch and Doolin are both deemed ‘littered’.
The latest annual IBAL survey has classified two North Clare beaches, Lahinch and Doolin, as littered, while the inland waterway Mountshannon has been deemed ‘moderately littered’.
The study of 33 areas nationwide revealed the most littered areas to have cleaned up but the majority of beaches are falling short of clean status, despite the unsettled summer meaning lower visitor numbers.
The An Taisce report states there was a ‘definite litter presence at Doolin.’
Almost all of the litter was food related with pizza boxes, coffee cups, plastic bottles and cans being some of the main contributors while cigarette butts was the most obvious non-food related litter.
The report goes on to say that the majority of the litter was found around the perimeter of the carpark and on the stoney area.
The report on Lahinch beach found that other than food related litter, marine litter such as nets, fishing line and cages were major factors in visible rubbish.
The main beach was considered generally fine but it was the prom, rock armour and car parks which brought down the overall litter grade.
An Taisce stated that both beaches were ‘certainly more heavily littered’ than in the 2022 survey.
Meanwhile, “Mountshannon missed getting the top litter grade due to there being too many small food and alcohol related items strewn about.
Overall, IBAL found there was a 50% rise in clean sites overall but the survey again found our coastal areas to be more littered than our towns.
The An Taisce report for Mountshannon stated:
“Mountshannon missed getting the top litter grade, with too many small food / alcohol related items strewn about. Recent grass cutting resulted in ‘chopped up litter’ as grass was cut before the litter was removed. The recycle facilities were freshly presented, however one unit had a crack towards the base on the right hand side. Car parking area, litter bins, visitor information notices, litter bins, life-belts, etc were freshly presented. One of the dog fouling notices along the walkway had been defaced. As well as the food related litter, the most obvious items were cigarette butts. Evidence of BBQs included burnt grass and some disposable BBQ waste.”
The An Taisce report for Doolin pier and harbour stated:
“There was a very definite litter presence at Doolin – certainly more than in the 2022 survey. Signage was very clear and legible but there didn’t appear to be any specific notices relating to littering and based on the amount of litter present, there is very much a need for same. Almost all of the litter was food related e.g. pizza boxes, plastic bottles, cans (alcohol and mineral), coffee cups, sweet papers, food utensils etc. Other items included tissue paper. The most obvious non-food items were cigarette butts – not just isolated butts but several accumulations throughout. The majority of the litter was around the perimeter of the car park and on the stoney area. The dog fouling amenity beneath the large signage was in good condition.”
The An Taisce report for Lahinch beach stated:
“The main beach area at Lahinch was generally fine with regards to litter but it was the prom, rock armour and car parks which brought down the overall litter grade. The area was certainly more heavily littered than in the 2022 survey. Heavy levels of alcohol / mineral
cans, fast-food wrappers, plastic bottles, plastic utensils, sweet wrappers, dog-fouling and cigarette butts, with lower levels of other items were present. There was a variety of marine related (along with food items) litter trapped in the rock armour near the promenade e.g. fishing crates, lines / nets / ropes etc. A somewhat filled black sack was discarded by a Big Belly bin with other items accumulating on top of it. The older blue style bins look very ‘tired’ and risk the contents being extracted by birds – there didn’t appear to be any signage associated with them. This is in contrast to the freshly presented Dog Fouling facility which was in very good order. There was the remains of several fires in the grass near the top car park.”
