Two Clare beaches have been deemed to be ‘moderately littered’ in the latest litter league rankings.
The Irish Businesses Against Litter Coastal Report shows both Lahinch and Doolin have fallen short of ‘clean to European norms’ status, however Mountshannon managed to attain clean status.
The An Taisce Report claimed there was a ‘virtual absence’ of litter at the the east Clare location.
The presence of some dog foul waste was noted along with the absence of bins in which to dispose of dog waste, however, overall Mountshannon was deemed befitting of a location with Blue Flag status.
Nationwide cigarette butts, sweet papers and fast food wrappers were the most commonly disposed pieces of litter.
These items were noted in the car park and promenade in Lahinch along with both wooden and plastic eating utensils, while the rock armour was said to be harbouring coffee cups plastic bottles and fishing rope fragments.
The report claims that despite the high rate of signage related to dog fouling, not the same emphasis was placed on litter.
Meanwhile, signage at Doolin was said to create a positive first impression although some signs were ‘somewhat faded’.
The An Taisce Report claims the presence of cigarettes and food related items such as lollipop sticks, fast-food wrappers, coffee cups and plastic bottles within the car park were too prevalent to be deemed clean.
It was noted that ‘a more thorough approach to the cleaning of same could easily address’ the levels of litter, while, like Lahinch, fishing related items at the tide line contributed to its ranking as ‘moderately littered’
