Clean Coasts Officers visited St Anne’s parkrun on July 11 and Poolbeg parkrun on July 25.
Participants had the opportunity to chat with Clean Coasts Officers to learn about how they can get involved with the #2MinuteBeachClean Campaign and Clean Coasts.
It was a gloriously sunny morning on the 11th of July when 456 participants took part at St Anne’s parkrun.
St Mary’s Parkrun, Mary Kate and Anne Marie
Some participants were visiting from Australia and Dubai!
In fact, it is quite common for people to plan their holidays around parkrun locations!
In Poolbeg, on the 25th of July, 262 parkrunners enjoyed a slightly cooler run with some small toppling waves visible in the bay. There were 70 first timers on the day and visitors from the UK and Norway!
There was great engagement with the #2MinuteBeachClean stand at both events and at St. Anne’s parkrun the Officers were greeted and assisted by members of Raheny Tidy Towns.
2 members of Tidy Towns even ran the course, proudly wearing their Raheny Tidy Towns high-vis vests.
At Poolbeg, members of Portobello Tidy Towns were very helpful.
Several lucky participants received #2MinuteBeachClean kits at each event by being the first participants up to the stand to say: “Small Actions – Big Impact”.
The initiative builds on the shared values of parkrun and Clean Coasts. parkrun communities understand better than most just how valuable two minutes can be.
Volunteering is also something they place a high value on, meaning the message of the #2MinuteBeachClean really resonates with them.
Every small action contributes to healthier local environments and cleaner coastlines. On both occasions, the egg cases of sharks and skates were on display at the stand.
This generated a lot of interest and sparked conversations.
parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate.
The route for parkrun is 5km and takes place every Saturday morning.
Every Sunday morning[ML1] , junior parkrun events take place, which is a 2km route dedicated to 4–14-year-olds and their families.
parkrun is positive, welcoming, and inclusive; there is no time limit, and no one finishes last.
Everyone is welcome to come along.
This inclusive and welcoming environment makes it an ideal setting to connect with participants to raise awareness about the #2MinuteBeachClean initiative.
The #2MinuteBeachClean campaign aims to encourage people to take just two minutes to collect some litter while they are out and about, snap a photo, and share it on social media to show just how easy it is to make a difference.
Jenny Branigan, Territory Manager for parkrun Ireland, said: “parkrun has always been about bringing people together for the benefit of community wellbeing, and we’re proud to expand that focus to include caring for our environment. Collaborating with Clean Coasts allows us to inspire parkrunners to take simple, impactful actions to keep the environment they parkrun in free from litter. Together, we can help protect the beautiful spaces we’re so fortunate to run, walk, and volunteer in every week.”
Anne Marie Kirwan, 2MinuteBeachClean Campaign Officer with Clean Coasts, said,
“It was amazing to hear that the participants at Laytown Beach parkrun were so enthusiastic about the campaign. This is exactly what we hope to achieve from this collaboration. The collaboration highlights how community action can support both wellbeing and environmental protection. parkrun is a fantastic example of community spirit and positive action. The #2MinuteBeachClean Campaign is all about showing how small actions add up to big change, and we are delighted to connect with parkrunners in Dublin to spread that message.”
For more information about how you can take part in parkrun visit their website, and for more information about the #2MinuteBeachClean Campaign visit the Clean Coasts website.