Mayo environmental group in plea over fires and dumping on local beaches

A Mayo environmental group has raised concerns over fires being lit on beaches in the county and the resultant damage caused to beauty spots.

The Louisburgh-based Keep Our Beaches Clean initiative said while 'wild camping' may be trendy, it is important that campers leave locations as they found them "in order to stop ruining them for all the legit nature loving campers."

"If you don’t know how to light a fire without scorching the land, then why the hell are you lighting one?" asked a post on the group's Facebook page, accompanied by photographs showing environmental damage at two local beaches.

The group pointed out that it is not permitted to light a fire on a beach - and called on Mayo County Council to update the by-laws in that regard.

"It’s 2021, there have never been as many awareness campaigns as there are nowadays, so what is the problem?

"We are volunteers, we do this so everyone can enjoy the beach safely, to protect our marine life and keep plastic out of seas.

"Enough debris washes in to keep us on our toes without it being added to it by those treating the beaches like a landfill.

"If you are a flame happy litterbug, just do us all a favour and stay at home," the post added.