I would like to thank everyone that came up and helped yesterday, with a special thanks to the team of Google staff that came up from Dublin, especially for the clean up for the day and local Declan McGuinness from local Drogheda pub / club Fusion.

We collected 52 80 liters bags of rubbish cleaning up the strand and the dunes. The rubbish ranged from the usual beer cans, local take away bags / plastic forks / containers, vodka bottle, cigarette ends, various plastics to more unusual socks, tricycles, broken crutch, underwear, car batteries, etc

Thanks to the Meath County Council for supporting us in collecting the bags and bringing them to Sonairte in Laytown, The National Ecology Centre – www.sonairte.ie

Keep an eye out for local residents regular clean ups – Chris

If you wish to join the Surfrider Foundation, check us out here: http://www.surfrider.eu/

The Clare county coucil has just errected a 2m barrier preventing access to the
fanore car park area. This has not only prevented a lot of local people and
beach users from accessing the beach (as some of them only have a van or
jeep) but has already proven to be a hazard today.

Lots of tourist buses and mini buses stop at the beach and are now simply
parking on the busy main road, as well as attempting to reverse on the
narrow main road.

Additionally the guys running the surf school can’t even access their shack
as all they have is van and jeeps. The car par is the only parking space in
the area, this will cause major road issues with the coming summer days.

I’ve sent a mail to clare county coucil as well as the local coucillors and
can only encourage to you do the same:

Contact the local coucillors now!
http://www.clarecoco.ie/your-council/contact-the-council/councillors/ennistymon/

E-mail the Secretary Now!

Cork Body Boarder Rachel Cahalane (16) of the Gtown Surf School Junior Club has qualified for the Irish Junior Surf Team and will be representing Ireland at the European Surf Championships in Portugal this May as a member of the Irish Surf Team. Please support her trip & competition expenses by coming along to a sponsored surf paddle for her on Bank Holiday May 3rd at 11am at Sandycove Harbour just outisde Kinsale in Co. Cork. We are inviting Surfers of all abilities to come along, make a donation and come for a paddle in the sheltered waters of Sandycove, meet Rachel and lets give her a warm send off to Portugal.

This is a tremendous achievement for Rachel to make the Junior Irish Team. Its been a long time since Cork was represented. Rachel is an excellent young surfer with lots of potential and this opportunity will not only help her surfing career but also inspire other Juniors to greater heights.

You can also help by purchasing a ticket for this fantastic Raffle. The raffle will be held at a sponsored paddle for Rachel on Monday May 3rd at Sandycove Kinsale at 11am.

1st Prize of a Rip Curl Wetsuit, Body Board, bag & Fins plus 3 Body Boarding Lessons with Gtown Surf School. Value 350 Euro!
2nd Prize Offshore Surf & Gtown Surf School Goodie Bag.
3rd Prize Gtown Surf School limited edition Tshirt & Gift Voucher.

Hey folks, please sigh the petition to have macro-waste (plastic bottles, cans, butts, etc) recognised by the EU as a major source of pollution of beaches and thus requiring the EU to take action. Click on the image to sign the petition and find out more info. Thanks.