More than 450 volunteers from Kerry have already registered for this year's Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean, the annual tidy-up that marks the end of the bathing season. Beach lovers across the country remove litter and record data on the most commonly found rubbish, and last year Kerry volunteers alone took an estimated 2.8 tonnes of litter off the county's beaches.
The Big Beach Clean runs from September 18 to 20, and anyone can take part: individuals, families and communities all clean their own local stretch of coast or waterway. The deadline to register an event with Clean Coasts, the An Taisce programme behind the weekend, is September 7. Everyone who signs up receives the materials needed to run a clean and to log what they find using data cards or an app.
The strands on our doorstep, Brandon Bay, the Maharees and Cappagh, are exactly the kind of beaches this weekend protects, and they are at their quiet, golden best in September. If you are staying with us that weekend and fancy an hour of honest work with a view, joining a local clean is a fine way to earn your chowder.