Litter Challenge award winners are named but fly-tipping is continuing

CORK County Council recently hosted an awards ceremony for prizewinners in the Divisional Anti-Litter Challenge Awards 2018.

The Western Division winners were announced at a ceremony at Dunmanway Swimming Pool.

The competition, now in its 22nd year, sees Tidy Towns groups and community organisations compete to keep their local environment clear of litter.  

Unlike the Tidy Towns competition, the sole emphasis of this competition is on litter, providing an opportunity for all communities to compete on a level playing field.  

Therefore, communities who feel they may not have a chance in the Tidy Towns competition can still hope for success in the Anti-Litter Challenge. What it means is that communities whose members are willing to walk the roads and pick up litter have a chance of winning.

A total of 84 villages in total took part in this year’s competition in the Council’s three divisions. Awards were given as follows: Category A: 1st Place in Category A, and winner of €1,000: Drinagh; 2nd Place in Category A, and winner of €750: Rossmore; 3rd Place in Category A, and winner of €500: Eyeries; Best Improver in Category A, and winner of €250: Ardfield.

 Drinagh, as winners of Category A, progress to represent the West Division in the Villages County Final.

Category B: 1st Place in Category B, and winner of €750: Ring; 2nd Place in Category B, and winner of €500: Crookhaven; 3rd Place in Category B, and winner of €250: Drimoleague; Best Improver in Category B, and winner of €200: Goleen.

Ring and Crookhaven are promoted to Category A for the 2019 competition.

Meanwhile, locals were horrified when several large bags of rubbish were discovered in one of West Cork’s most popular tourist spots.

The bags were taken by a local man out of the stream on the side of the main Tragumna to Skibbereen road this week and reported to the litter warden.

The bags were dumped into the stream which is one of the county’s most scenic areas, a short distance from the popular beaches of Tragumna and Tralispean and on the Wild Atlantic Way touring route.