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Tralee Tidy Towns in Kerry are nominated for the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award in Clean Coasts 2023 Ocean Hero Awards for their inclusion and embrace of international members from Ukraine, Syria and Algeria.
CLEAN Coasts has announced the shortlist for the annual Ocean Hero Awards and there are a number of Kerry groups and individuals on the shortlist.
The Clean Coasts’ Ocean Hero Awards pay tribute to the exceptional contributions made by Clean Coasts volunteers, groups, and communities in safeguarding our coast and marine life.
Established in 2006 as the ‘Clean Coasts’ Merit Awards,’ the accolades initially featured a single category, ‘The Clean Coasts Group of the Year.’
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Fenit Coast Conservation were nominated in the “Group of the Year Category”. Fenit Coast Conservation are a relatively new group but have a large footprint. Fenit Tombolo is not large but the group tend to it’s dunes with great care. The group run a lot of events, especially around Heritage Week, where they had a suite of events.
Ed Sheldon, a member of the Fenit Coast Conservation group was nominated in the ‘Individual of the Year’category.
Maharees Conservation Association from Kerry are nominated in the Campaigner of the Year category for the 2023 Clea Coasts Ocean Hero Awards for their marine litter themed float at the Castlegregory Summer Parade championing the Think Before Your Flush.
The Maharees Conservation Association were nominated in the ‘Campaigner of the Year’ Category. In 2023, this group stood out for their approach to the promotion of the Think Before You Flush campaign: their marine litter-themed float at the Castlegregory Summer Parade showcased the “Think Before You Flush” message with creative elements like plungers, a wet wipes monster, and a fatberg, provided by Clean Coasts.
Martha Farrell, from the Maharees Conservation Association, was shortlisted in the Individual of the Year Category.
Daragh O’Connor and Timmy Jones – two best friends who live in Maharees – were also nominated in the Youth of the Year Category for their commitment to Maharees Conservation Association dune management and beach cleaning work this year.
Tralee Tidy Towns were nominated in the Equality, Diversity and Inclution category. As the population of Tralee town has become more diverse, with many people moving to Ireland, the group has now members from different countries, including Ukraine, Syria and Algeria, as well as local people and Irish people who call Tralee their home.
Banna Rescue, Banna Coastcare & Presentation Secondary School, Tralee were all nominated in the Event of the Year category, because of their series of events to protect their sand dunes.
Banna Rescue, Banna Coastcare & Presentation Secondary School in Kery are nominated for the Event of the Year award in the Clean Coasts Ocean Hero Awards for their series of events dedicated to protecting sand dunes in their area.
In April 2023, an event was hosted with over 60 people taking part, fencing off the dune area and installing educational signs. Moreover, Transition Year students from Presentation Secondary School Tralee Students and staff joined Banna Coastcare for a second event, planting marram grass in an area that has become extremely eroded, harvesting the grass from a healthy section of the dunes.
Finally, Abby and Chloe Stephenson, two sisters from Banna Coastcare, were shortlisted in the Youth of the Year category.
These two young volunteers have been joining clean ups since 2014, hardly missing an event. In addition to joining group beach cleans, they regularly carry out a #2MinuteBeachClean during their walks on the coast.
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