Local coastal communities unite for dune restoration at Rush south beach

Sunday the 13th of April was a bright and sunny Sunday morning, perfect for volunteers from Rush Tidy Towns, Malahide Tidy Towns, the Donabate/Portrane Clean Coasts group, and An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme to come together for a successful marram grass planting session at Rush South Beach. 

This initiative marks the third consecutive year of dune restoration efforts at the beach, with previous planting sessions showing promising results in stabilising and restoring dune sections.

Under the guidance of Clean Coasts development officer Aidan Gray and Biodiversity Officer Liane Costello, and with all necessary equipment provided by Rush Tidy Towns, volunteers of all ages got their hands dirty planting along the dune systems.  Participants formed into teams to focus on various tasks including extracting and transplanting marram grass, gathering seaweed, watering, and litter-picking.

Much-appreciated refreshments for volunteers at the end of the event were also kindly provided by Rush Tidy Towns. The event not only supported local biodiversity and coastal resilience but also fostered strong community connections and a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.

Aidan Gray, Clean Coasts officer, said ‘This year we are really encouraging connections between Clean Coasts groups and this event really brought that shared coastal effort and concern together for local groups of north Dublin, for practical work but it was also social and a great networking opportunity between groups.”

This event is one of more than 40 Clean Coasts Roadshow events organised around Ireland’s coastline during spring of 2025.

The Clean Coasts Roadshow is a series of informative talks and workshops tailored for coastal communities across Ireland, taking place between January and May each year. This initiative brings together individuals interested in protecting their local beaches, seas, and marine environments.

The Roadshow events cover a range of topics, including biodiversity, dune systems, marine litter, wildlife, sustainable developments, and the work of local groups and organizations. These events also serve as a platform for community groups to discuss practical matters, such as building volunteer capacity, attracting new members, and sharing responsibilities.