St Colman’s students helping Ireland clean up its act

It is heartening to learn that young people, encouraged by their mentors, are taking arms against the seas of litter despoiling Ireland, writes Damien Enright

The students of St Colman’s Community College, Midleton recently removed over 12 tonnes of marine litter from the shores of east Cork, particularly Ballynamona Beach near Ballycotton and the wetland behind it. Their work in protecting local beaches and promoting environmental issues in their school and community has deservedly won them the Ocean Hero School of the Year Award 2015.

The litter problem on our lovely green isle grows worse every year. On the island from which I am sending this dispatch, La Gomera, in the Canaries, discarded litter is never seen. Ireland is the most litter-ridden nation in Europe. It is shameful and I say it with regret.