WHILE THE Government was cleaning up Irish banks yesterday, some bankers were cleaning up Ireland as part of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean campaign.
Bankers from HSBC joined Minister for the Environment John Gormley, Jimmy Deenihan TD, Chris Andrews TD, Lucinda Creighton TD, Mattie McGrath TD, and the Friends of the Grand Canal community group to undertake a clean-up of Dublin’s Grand Canal yesterday. Stephen Croughan of HSBC said some 30 people from the bank took part in the canal clean.
Breffnie O’Kelly, a spokeswoman for Friends of the Grand Canal, said the clean-ups have brought together all sorts of people.
“On a typical monthly clean-up, you might have a High Court judge off to pick litter with a cleaner from Romania, or a TD holding open plastic bags for a young musician.”
National Spring Clean manager Emlyn Cullen said the group is “a wonderful example” of how a local community is willing to give time and energy all year round to make an effort to improve their local environment”.
More than 500,000 people are expected to take part in cleaning schemes across the State this month as part of the campaign. Some 4,000 events are planned for the 12th year of the campaign, Mr Cullen said.
Last year, about 1,600 tonnes of litter were collected – 35 per cent of which was recycled.
Every group that registers on the campaign’s website – www.nationalspringclean.org – receives a clean-up kit containing posters, refuse sacks, gloves and clothing protectors.