On Saturday, Clean Coasts attended Oranmore parkrun to promote the #2MinuteBeachClean Campaign.
parkrun, a free, inclusive, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate, has no time limit, and no one finishes last.
80 participants, including two aged in their eighties, took part in the parkrun. The winner completed the course, which is hilly, in just 18 minutes.
The Oranmore parkrun takes place at Renville Park, located on the shores of Galway Bay, south of Galway City and Oranmore Town and is open to the public, offers stunning views across the bay towards the Burren.
This beautiful community environment made it an ideal setting to connect with participants to raise awareness about the #2MinuteBeachClean initiative.
This collaboration between the two communities gave parkrun participants the opportunity to chat with Clean Coasts Development Officer for Clare, Limerick, and Galway, Ollie O’Flaherty, and to learn about how they can get involved with the #2MinuteBeachClean Campaign.
The 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.
After the parkrun, many participants stopped by for a chat; organizers were delighted with the high level of engagement. O'Flaherty reported that there was a wonderful community atmosphere at the event, and was full of praise for Bernie, the Run Director on the day.
Anne Marie Kirwan, 2MinuteBeachClean Campaign Officer with Clean Coasts, said: “It was amazing to hear that the participants at Oranmore 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 Galway to spread that message.”
Several lucky participants received #2MinuteBeachClean kits by being the first participants up to the stand to say: “Small Actions – Big Impact”. Each kit included a foldable litter picker, making it easy to keep at hand for whenever the opportunity arises to do a quick two minute clean up.
The parkrun community 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.
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.”
The route for parkrun is 5km and takes place every Saturday morning. Every Sunday morning junior parkrun events take place, which is a 2km route dedicated to 4–14-year-olds and their families.
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.
