Update: Govt must 'lead from the top' to fight littering at our rivers, beaches and harbours

Almost half of Ireland’s waterways are littered, with landmark areas of Cork Harbour and a popular tourist spot on the Wild Atlantic Way labelled litter blackspots, a new survey has found.

Update - 1.46pm: An environmental group is hoping the new EU Directive on plastics will reduce rubbish on our waterways.

More than 80% of Irish shores on rivers, beaches or harbours have one or more plastic bottles on them.