Communities clean up over 60 miles of road

DIFFERENT communities from around the county were awarded prizes at the PURE Mile Awards held last Tuesday in the Brooklodge Hotel.

The PURE Mile Competition encourages communities in Wicklow and south Dublin to keep a mile stretch of road and the surrounding environment litter and rubbish free.

The awards and certificates were presented by Presented by Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources Seán Kyne, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Pat Fitzgerald and Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Bryan Doyle.

2016 represented the competition’s seventh year and had the largest number of entries yet, covering over 60 miles of road.

Ian Davis, PURE Project Manager said: ‘It was a real pleasure getting to know all of the groups and communities involved in this year’s PURE Mile, walking over 60 miles of road, reading the many books, publications, leaflets, produced on the various areas, and seeing how each group enhanced and improved the places they live in.

‘I am always amazed at the difference a PURE Mile group can make to an area. Tonnes of illegal dumping and rubbish was removed from the counties of Wicklow and south Dublin, and it is a real credit to all of the people who get involved. They dedicate so much energy, time and enthusiasm, and I congratulate all of the groups involved in this years competition.’

Each group received a PURE Mile Certificate and native trees at the awards ceremony. The environmental project is celebrates its tenth anniversary this year and a ten minute short film looking back on all of the projects achievements was screened on the night.

There was strong competition in many of areas for Best Litter Free and Anti-Dumping awards and the new award for Protect an Upland campaigns this year, with hundreds of bags of rubbish, illegal dumping, and litter removed from the landscape.

The 2016 PURE Miles were, Annamoe, Ballyvaltron, Ballintombay/Balinabarney, Ballinafunshoge/Cullentragh Park/Drumgoff/ Ballyboy, Ballyknockan Rathdrum, Ballycoog, Blainroe, Blessington Greenway, Chapel Lane Shillelagh, Conary Mile, Cunard/Glenasmole, Crone Woodland, Donard, Dunganstown/ Kilbride, Glenealy, Glen Heste/Cloughlea/ Manor Kilbride, Killinure Pure Mile, Kiltipper Ramblers–Ballymana Lane/Kiltipper Road/Horan Lane/Kiltalown Lane, Lough Dan Pure Mile, Military Road, Mullinaveige Roundwood, Rathdown Greystones, Sugar Loaf, Tomriland, and the many roads of Kiltegan (Ballinroan/Spinans – English Town/Talbetstown Loop/Woodfield Glen/ Woodfield – Knockavurrig/Graigue Cross/ Kelsha/Newtown Bogroad – Newtown Saunders/Slaney Park/Holden Town/Kilmurray – Brockna/Talbetstown – Tynock – Fort Granite Tynock – Killalish – Tinaclash.

All groups will feature in the 2016 PURE Mile Calendar, with publication due in November or December of this year.