More than 1,000 pieces of litter were collected from the Salthill shoreline in Galway at the weekend as part of an international "beachwatch" initiative.
Galway Atlantaquaria volunteers braved gale force winds for two hours on Saturday in support of the British Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) annual shore clean.
Some 10 large bags were filled by the volunteers, working on Grattan and Ladies beaches, and participants were given manual "pickers" which can be used to collect litter without risk of contamination.
The MCS said beach litter is more than just an eyesore for thousands of visitors to the shoreline. Litter threatens many vulnerable marine species, and it is estimated that, globally, more than a million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles die every year from entanglement, or ingestion of plastics.
Much of the litter at Salthill, including cigarette stubs, cans and plastics, accumulates in rocks that make up the Prom, and among seaweed. The Atlantaquaria aims to make the clean-up an annual event to highlight the damage caused by thoughtless pollution.
