Mayo’s Louisburgh TidyTowns Group scoops inaugural ‘Leave No Trace Ireland TidyTowns Award 2019’ with ‘Keep Our Beaches Clean’ initiative.
Shining a spotlight on TidyTowns groups who have gone the extra mile to promote responsibility in the outdoors, Louisburgh TidyTowns last night were presented with their Leave No Trace Special Award in the 2019 SuperValu TidyTowns competition at a ceremony in Galslough Co Monaghan.
New this year, the ‘Leave No Trace TidyTowns Award’ is for any community group who has shown an appreciation for their outdoor environment and has taken action to promote responsible outdoor recreation.
Hundreds of entries were received this year from towns and villages throughout the country in the SuperValu National TidyTowns competition.
Presenting the prize, Leave No Trace Ireland Director John Boyle said:
“This is a fantastic achievement for the ‘Keep our Beaches Clean’ initiative submitted by Louisburgh TidyTowns, Co. Mayo who are very deserving winners. This initiative involves the cleaning of 13 beaches in the Mayo area, collaborating with numerous volunteers, statutory agencies and extensive promotion through social media. The initiative extends to the recycling and up-cycling of materials collected while at the same time raising awareness of the issue of marine litter. Leave No Trace Ireland is delighted to see the large number of entries to the Special Award in its first year. Tonight, all that dedication and effort to the promotion of responsibility in the outdoors has paid off. The voluntary work that people put into their communities brings great pride, a great sense of achievement and great solidarity to those communities”.
