Six nominees from Mayo shortlisted for prestigious awards
An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme is thrilled to announce the shortlist for the 2025 Ocean Hero Award, which pays tribute to the exceptional contributions made by Clean Coasts groups and volunteers across Ireland, who are championing coastal care and protection in their communities.
A total of six nominees from Mayo have been shortlisted across five different categories in the awards and the following groups are as follows: Keep Our Beaches Clean; Baile Slachtmhar Bhéal an Mhuirthead (Belmullet Tidy Towns); Bertra Connected; Achill’s Biggest Beach Clean, Féile Dú Éige, Féile Na Garrai, Circus250, Achill Tourism, Achill Surf Club; Western Care with Keep Our Beaches Clean; and Dooega Clean Coasts.
From humble beginnings in 2006 as the 'Clean Coasts' Merit Awards,' the awards have grown from a single category, to honouring 45 groups and individuals in 9 categories in 2025. Clean Coasts has the great honour and pleasure to engage the support of over 2,500 Clean Coasts groups and 45,000 volunteers nationwide, and the Ocean Hero awards are an annual homage to the great efforts of their dedicated volunteers.
All shortlisted nominees have been invited to attend an awards ceremony luncheon, which will take place on December 5, at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin, to find out the winners in each category. Incidentally, December 5 is also International Volunteer Day. During the ceremony, there will be panel talks and discussions on the marine environment, Clean Coasts campaigns, and the importance of community actions.
Bronagh Moore, Clean Coasts Programme Manager said, “Community groups and volunteers are the heartbeat of An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme. Every year the Ocean Hero Awards affords us the opportunity to celebrate and showcase all the amazing work that these volunteers do, in their own time, all over the country.
“The event is always an inspiring and uplifting occasion that serves as a reminder of the power of community and how together, we can overcome the challenges we face in protecting and caring for our coastline, ocean, marine life and waterways.”