Love your Beach to kick off National Biodiversity Week

Love your Beach will kick off National Biodiversity Week this year with plenty of fun and facts for all the community.

Galway City Council is once again proudly partnering with Clean Coasts Ireland and Galway’s Atlantaquaria for the event, which starts next Friday, 17 May, at 4.30pm on Ballyloughane Beach with an official opening with the Mayor of Galway City.

This will be followed by a beach clean-up with our Clean Coasts group.

To celebrate the beginning of National Biodiversity Week, Atlantaquaria will be ‘Beach combing for Biofacts’ and discovering the treasures that can be found along our coastlines.

And to cap off the evening, Galway City Council’s Biodiversity Officer Paula Kearney will also be sharing her wealth of knowledge on coastal and marine wildlife and the role of coastal habitats in climate adaptation.

On Saturday morning, Grattan beach will be the venue for a beach clean-up with Galway’s Atlantaquaria followed by a workshop titled ‘Protect our Dunes’, with games.

Dr Heidi Acampora from ATU will also discuss ‘Seabirds and Plastic Litter’ as we continue to bring awareness to the ongoing challenge of single-use plastic waste.

Love your Beach 2024 will finish off on our beautiful Blue Flag Ladies’ Beach in Salthill. A litter pick at 12pm will be followed by a ‘Beach Drum Circle Jam and Beach Mandala Art’ by Lukasz Krzywon.

Once again Love your Beach encompasses art, music, and environmental education to provide 2 days of public appreciation for the wonderful coastline of Galway City.

Speaking about the event, Fergal Cushen, Environmental Awareness Officer with Galway City Council, said that all of these events are free and open to the public, and he hopes as many Galwegians and tourists alike can come and help with the beach cleans.

“There will be fun and insightful talks and it’s a great way to show your love for our wonderful beach amenities.”

For further information on Clean Coasts Ireland or to become a clean coasts group visit: cleancoasts.org. For a full program of events and litter clean ups on your local beach, visit  galwaycity.ie/love-your-beach or email environment@galwaycity.ie