Five tonnes of rubbish taken from two Cork beaches

Environmentalists have described as “shocking and unprecedented” the discovery of 114 dumped tyres and a Chinese fridge-freezer on a 1.2km stretch of coastline.

The shocking haul was among five tonnes of rubbish removed from Ballybranagan and Ballycroneen strands in East Cork during a massive beach clean operation. It was mounted by 90 transition year students at St Colman’s College in Midleton as part of An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme.

Teacher and Clean Coasts co-ordinator Proinsias Ó Tuama said they plan to go back soon to retrieve at least five more tyres which could not be reached due to the tide.