Inishowen teams up to clean up

Tidy towns groups, residents associations, sporting clubs and local businesses all turned out on Saturday to do their bit to get the Peninsula in tip top shape for the forthcoming tourist season.

Councillor Rena Donaghey, who has been involved in the Buncrana Tidy Towns Committee since it was set up 20 years ago, was delighted with the wonderful community spirit demonstrated by so many individuals, groups, clubs and businesses on Saturday.

Councillor Donaghey said: “This was the 6th year of the annual Inishowen clean-up and it was a great success. In Buncrana alone we collected hundreds of bags which were swiftly collected by Council staff for proper disposal.

“The Clean-up has grown from strength to strength with new groups and communities taking part each year. For instance this year the North Pole Cycling Club took part and I am getting more and more calls each year asking when the clean-up is taking place.

“It is a great opportunity to clean-up along the main roads throughout the Peninsula and make sure that rural areas are cleared of rubbish. You get a great sense of satisfaction when you see the areas looking pristine and the beautiful landscape emerging in all it’s glory.”

Councillor Donaghey added:“The Inishowen clean-up is a great example of a partnership between the Council and local communities. I would like to thank the Councils Litter Warden Pearse McCrory and all the Council staff who were there to help and support us on Saturday. We couldn’t do this without their support and no matter what we needed they were there to help. And I would also like to sincerely thank Mary McCallion from Inishowen Development Partnership who contacted all groups on her database in the weeks prior to the event and this helped spread the word.

“The local media have also been great and have helped us get the word out that the clean-up is taking place and it is great encouragement for groups to see their work publicised locally.

“Many groups will hold on to their litter pickers and will continue to do clean-ups in their own areas over the summer months and I would like to thank each and every one of them for taking part on Saturday and for their continued efforts throughout the year.”

Councillor Donaghey said: “Ideally, we would like to see this approach extended to all the other Municipal Districts in Donegal and we are happy to share our experiences with any other groups who are interested in doing something similar”.