Cavan Tidy Town's Spring Clean this weekend
The Spring Clean will take place tomorrow and Sunday (April 13) at 11.30am.
The launch of Cavan Tidy Town's annual Spring Clean weekend took place today (Friday) at Tarpey's SuperValu, who sponsor the group.
While today the committee along with members from Cavan County Council stood with their shining new litter picking equipment for a photo, this weekend it will be put to use to clean the county town and surrounding areas.
The Spring Clean will kick off tomorrow (Saturday) at 11.30am when volunteers will clean up the approach roads and the town itself.
Starting at SuperValu, one group will head towards Kingspan Breffni Park, to Railway Road and then to Cavan General Hospital.
The second group will go up to Tullacmongan, St Martin's Estate, John Paul, Cock Hill, down to the Tesco area, Gaelscoil Bhréifne and to Singers.
What makes this year's clean-up efforts different is that there are more young people and schools involved, who will look after these parts of the town.
The next group will be going out to the bypasses, which Cavan Tidy Town's Secretary Paul Lynch described as "so so dirty."
"It's because people are throwing litter out the window of their cars."
"It's irresponsible to throw anything out the window of your car," he pointed out, adding that the most common items found are vapes, fast food wrappers, car parts, clothes, shoes and more.
"You name it it's on the bypasses and it is really really dangerous to clean."
The group takes a "safety first" approach when cleaning the bypasses in particular.
Their new trolleys, also launched today, are "specifically for litter picking" on the approach roads.
"They make it so much easier and safer," he explained.
Meanwhile Sunday's focus will be on the parks within the town.
"We are a really lucky town, we have two fantastic parks," Paul said.
"We have one of the most important rivers in Cavan flowing through Con Smith as well."
He said they will be taking "cans, bottles, chairs, shopping trolleys, you name it" from the Annalee river while also litter picking around the boundary of the park.
The second group of the day will meet at the Green Lough Eco Park which has an "ancient" crannóg on the lake and holds historical value to the town.
Those wishing to join the Spring Clean can approach the members on the day.
"Come over, introduce yourself, you'll get a high vis vest, you'll get a picker, you'll get a black bag and you'll get a cup of coffee."
"Without a doubt we need to thank Cavan County Council, they are our back bone through all of this, they never say no," Paul stated.
Speaking at the launch, Cathaoirleach TP O'Reilly said it's "very very important that we keep things litter free."
"Driving into any town or any village it's your first perception of it," he said.
"You will notice if it's clean and tidy."
He praised the "amount" of work that the Cavan Tidy Towns Committee does along with "all the other towns and villages" across the county.
"It's phenomenal work, it's all voluntary and I suppose we as a council have to support and help them as best we can because they do trojan work."
"If everyone does their little bit it's not an onus task on anyone," he concluded.
On Saturday (April 12) groups will assemble at Supervalu Dublin Road at 11:30am. There will be food and refreshments for volunteers and litter picking for three hours in allocated areas.
On Sunday (April 13) team one will assemble at Con Smith Park (playground) at 11:30am, while team two will assemble at Green Lough Eco Park at 11:30am.