Local community groups go the extra Mile for environment
By Aura McMenamin
At the annual PURE Mile Awards, community groups working in South Dublin areas were recognised for their environmental efforts in the Dublin Mountains.
Every year, the Pure Mile Committee encourages communities and groups living in rural upland areas in South Dublin and Wicklow to nominate a mile stretch of road (approx. 1.6km), and keep this area litter/rubbish free.
RECOGNITION: PURE Project Manager Ian Davis and Wicklow County Council Cathaoirleach Edward Timmins present Donie Anderson, Sean Lee, Myles Murphy and Pat Lee of the Hill Road, Cunard PURE Mile with the Best Anti-Dumping Initiative Award at the PURE Mile awards night which took place in the Brooklodge, Macreddin
The groups ranged from the beautiful Valley of Glenmalure in County Wicklow, to The Hill Road in Cunard South Dublin, stretching across the mountains of Golden Hill in Kilbride, to the coastal area of Brittas Bay.
2017 was the eighth year of the PURE Mile competition, and over 50 communities, groups, and organisations dedicated themselves to improving and enhancing over 150 miles of road in the Dublin/Wicklow uplands.
There were 13 awards presented by Minister for Health Simon Harris and Wicklow county councillor Edward Timmins on the night with cash prizes reaching a total of €5,000.
The Award for The Best Anti-Dumping Initiative and a cheque for €500, went to the community of The Hill Road, Cunard in Bohernabreena. According to PURE, the group’s work has led to a dramatic reduction in illegal dumping and fly-tipping.
The Clean-Up the Uplands Award went to a walking group who removed over 150 bags of rubbish in a one-day upland clean-up, which started at Kilakee Car Park in South Dublin and went all the way to the Sally Gap in County Wicklow. The group received a cheque for €250 on the night.
Joe McNamara, a member of the walking group stated: “Our group regularly walk in Wicklow/Dublin Uplands and we were appalled by the amount of litter dumped in the area, which is mainly thrown out of cars.
PURE Project Manager Ian Davis and Wicklow County Council Cathaoirleach Edward Timmins present Maurice Wallis, Joe McNamara and Tom McNamara of the Glencree Walking Group and the Stone Cross to Kippure PURE Mile with the Clean-Up the Uplands and Highly Commended Award at the PURE Mile awards night
“Working with PURE, and by adopting this stretch of road, and doing this clean-up, is our way of keeping the uplands pure and clean, the way it should be.”
The Highly Commended Clean-Up the Uplands Award went to The Stone Cross to Kippure Pure Miles who received a €250 cheque.
The group, which is based on the county boundaries of Dublin and Wicklow, organised a clean-up from The Stone Cross in South Dublin and travelled to Kippure Bridge in County Wicklow, which resulted in the removal of over 100 bags of rubbish tyres, fridges and furniture from the area, which is prone to illegal dumping.
PURE Project Manager Ian Davis commented on the night: “It always amazes me the amount of commitment and dedication the South Dublin groups have to cleaning up the South Dublin rural regions and I congratulate all of the groups involved in this years competition and I look forward to working with more groups in 2018.”
