'The Gator' joins East Cork fight against beach litter

Clean Coasts Ballynamona Group in East Cork has just taken delivery of a new €25,000 John Deere ‘Gator’ to help tackle the tonnes of litter that washes up on the coast

Four-year-old beach cleaning volunteer Odhran Ó Tuama at Ardnahinch beach, Co Cork, with 'the Gator'. Picture: Cathal Noonan

A beast of a machine has been deployed to add some extra muscle and pulling-power to beach-cleaning efforts along a 40km stretch of coastline.

As coastal communities brace for an influx of visitors over the coming days after months of lockdown, Ireland’s largest Clean Coast group has unveiled a new €25,000 four-wheeled utility vehicle to help it step up its ongoing fight against the scourge of marine litter.