IT’S MY LEAN, GREEN, BEACH CLEANING MACHINE!
AT first glance it may look like a regular tractor, but this is a beach-cleaning machine like no other.
The John Deere Gator has been heralded as the solution to tackling the scourge of marine litter in Ireland.
The country’s largest beach-cleaning group, with more than 300 volunteers, took delivery of the €25,000 machine this week, and they say it is crucial in their battle to tackle the scourge of rubbish left on beaches and washed ashore.
Funded by the Fisheries Local Action Group, the Gator will be used by Clean Coasts Ballynamona to comb the beaches of Co. Cork for litter and carry it away.
Over the past 12 months, the voluntary group has removed more 200 tyres from the Ballybranagan and Ballycroneen beaches.
The new weapon in the fight against seaside waste will help dredge up heavy marine detritus such as old and abandoned fishing nets that wash up on the shore.
Proinsias Ó Tuama, founder of Clean Coasts Ballynamona, said: ‘This is essential equipment for us in tackling the tonnes of litter that washes up on our coast.
‘In 12 months alone we removed over 200 tyres from Ballybranagan and Ballycroneen beaches – beaches that stretch just 1.2km.
‘It will allow us to carry the very heavy bags that volunteers collect back to the car park for safe disposal.’
Mr Ó Tuama added: ‘Pristine coasts are essential, they are not just very important ecosystems. They are also crucial for the local economy, such as the beautiful restaurants, pubs, hotels and B&Bs who are ready to welcome the thousands of visitors who will visit once restrictions lift.’
Clean Coasts Ballynamona cleans more than 40km of coastline of marine litter, which is 1.5% of the Irish coastline. Fouryear-old Odhran Ó Tuama was on hand to supervise the Gator’s latest efforts at Ardnahinch Beach in Co. Cork yesterday.