Galway Bay beach clean-up ahead of race

JUST A week away from the scheduled arrival of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, a three-day beach clean-up begins this evening around Galway Bay.

The voluntary effort is being hosted by Galway Atlantaquaria as part of an annual international event.

Local communities have been invited to spend an hour picking up debris at designated times during the weekend.

Up to 140,000 people are expected to visit Galway during the two-week Ocean Race stopover in Galway from next Friday – the first time the international event has taken in an Irish port of call.

The fleet is preparing to leave Boston for its rapid Atlantic crossing tomorrow evening.

Liam Twomey of Galway Atlantaquaria has appealed for a special effort in advance of the fleet’s arrival to make a “silent, but effective and measurable improvement” to Galway’s shore environment.

Members of Galway Dive Club have also volunteered to carry out an underwater clean-up in Rinville on the south of the bay and Salthill to the north.

The Galway aquarium has been running annual beach clean-ups for a number of years, along with other Irish organisations – such as Coastwatch and the Irish Surfing Association.

The concept caught on in Ireland some years ago as part of a British Marine Conservation Society initiative.

The Marine Institute is assisting with the first clean-up today at 2pm at Rinville beach outside Oranmore, Co Galway.

Further clean-ups organised by the Atlantaquaria, lasting a maximum of 90 minutes, take place at Ballyloughane beach, Renmore and Claddagh beach tomorrow at 3.30pm, and on Sunday at Salthill beach at 3.30pm and Silverstrand and Grattan beach at 4pm.

The Irish Surfing Association is urging its members to tackle their local beach with bags and gloves on Sunday, and Garretstown Surf School, Co Cork, is providing cleaning materials and coffee for any willing volunteers throughout the day.

For more details, telephone Galway Atlantaquaria on 091- 585100. The Irish Surfing Association’s website is at www.isasurf.ie