Volunteers clean up mountains of rubbish along stretch of South Kilkenny road

With almost 40 volunteers out working on the roads in the Tullahought, Lamogue and Lingaun Valley areas, drink cans, bottles, fast food containers and wrappings of all types were reported by every crew on every road as the main items dumped from the windows of passing cars.

The huge community and Tullahought Tidy Town’s offensive that commenced early in the week was escalated on Saturday morning and continued until dusk. During it, the past year’s dumping reflected the changing times, as the amount of Covid facemasks and test kits was substantially down, whilst disposable vape pods and empty tablet boxes showed increases in the colossal array of rubbish collected.

In addition certain areas had black spots of hair spray cans, Lucozade bottles, and bags of drink cans. Elsewhere, plastic boxes for Haribo sweets, Red Bull, Coke and bags of Heineken and Guinness cans were very prominent. Also noted were tied up dog waste bags, an electric cooker, car and truck parts, delivery dockets, batteries, paint cans and an extra-large intercounty sports shirt. It was unusual in many cases to go three steps without seeing litter that one would have to return to recheck.

RECYCLING
As part of the annual litter pick on the worst regional roads that had been cleaned up a year ago, a glass bottle count was made from Billy Hawes to Lamogue Cross on the R698 a distance of just over a mile.

Of the collection - there were 64 clear glass drinks bottles, seven brown, five green, one milk bottle, one marmalade and one honey jar - all bar the milk bottle were recycled while many more were found broken against the ditches. At another site on the R697 it was estimated that over 400 drink cans were located in small bags on a quiet 80 yard stretch.

PRIME BOYS
With everyone thoroughly disgusted and annoyed at the ongoing situation an item found recalled a phrase from the past, that summed up the smart alecky types that got up to all types of devilment and pranks. The modern Prime Boys includes characters of all ages and genders that throw their litter unseen from their cars in quieter areas, destroying the countryside.

Among the items found was a sole Prime Bottle, Blue Raspberry flavour, which is currently the world wide rage in hydrational drinks.

THRUPENNY BIT
With a recycling unit still being awaited in Windgap it was felt that the heavy dumping was slightly reduced as visitors related numerous areas across the country where it was deemed to be far worse.

With less black plastic, twine and farm waste since farm collections began the density of drink containers and fast food items has escalated entirely out of hand.

For the volunteers it was not helped by the extra work created by hedge cutters that shred all ahead of them - even a large ghettoblaster was blasted into pieces.

A solution recalled the very successful Thruppeny bit rebate story, when a silver coin with a hare on it or a 12-sided bronze coloured one was received from the shop on the return of an empty Fanta or soft drink bottle. Costing one shilling full, it amounted to 25% of its value and eliminated all dumping.

COMMUNITY MEITHEAL
Thanks went to all on the great community work that was estimated on Google Maps to be at least 40 kilometres of Kilkenny’s roads and amenities that received a thorough spring clean.

The roads included Skough via Birchwood and Curragawn to Ballygown on the R697, Billy Hawes via Cussane to Lamogue Cross on R698, Lamogue Cross via Lamogue village to Barnatrasna, Skough to Barnatrasna via Tullahought, Barnatrasna via Curragh - The Viewing Tower and Tullahought to Kearns Cross, The Avenue, the Kilmacoliver loop walks and sports pitch, Delaneys Baunreigh through the Slatequarries to Quigley’s Cross, Meallaghmore Cross to the Lingaun River, the Coshel lane in Knockroe and Knockeen, Poulrone and Breagaun Boreens.

Part of a much wider annual community initiative the clean-up links with the volunteers in Ahenny, Clashnasmuth, Faugheen, Kilmoganny and Owning areas and through Windgap to the clean-up already done in Coolagh and Callan.

TEN ALL-IRELANDS
Coláiste Abhainn Rí’s amazing All-Ireland senior C camogie victory after being nine points down saw 10 Windgap camogie players collect All-Ireland medals.

On the day club player Nathania Jackson captained the team from centre-back. For the full report and photos see the sports pages.

CLEAN UP DAY
Windgap Tidy Towns will hold their Annual Community Clean up this Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers are asked to meet on both days at the Lake Area at 10am where Bags, Gloves and Litter Pickers will be supplied.

The main areas for the pick are from, Seskin Lane through Windgap to Lamogue Cross, from Lamogue Cross via Meallaghmore and back to Windgap and from Kildrummy to Butlerswood and the byroads.

All help is greatly appreciated, even if it’s only to pick outside your own premises.