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The final call has been made for groups and individuals to sign up for this year’s County Clean Up which takes place on Saturday, April 14. This week, several local organisations including Kerry GAA, Kerry IFA and Kerry ICMSA have announced their support and that of their members for the day-long event which takes place with the support of KWD Recycling and Kerry County Council.

The Mayor of Kerry, Cllr John Sheahan, Kerry County Council Chief Executive, Moira Murrell and Tadhg Healy of KWD Recycling came together in Farranfore on Tuesday to urge groups to register as soon as possible to receive their clean-up packs and to arrange litter collection points for the day.

They were joined by the chairman of the Kerry County Board of the GAA, Tim Murphy, the chairman of Kerry IFA, Patrick O’Driscoll, and the chairman of Kerry ICMSA, Mike Teahan. Each of the three organisations are calling on all their members around the county to get involved on the day and to help to clear and collect litter in their own areas.

Full details and registration information are available at www.countycleanup.com or e-mail countycleanup@kwd.ie. The Clean Up coordination team are asking local residents’ associations, schools, youth groups, sporting groups, businesses, families and individuals to get together and gather litter along all routes on the day. Last year, 5,000 volunteers gathered 6,500 bags of litter on a single day in their own localities, which left the county of Kerry looking spick and span.

Organisers say the response so far has been fantastic. They are aiming to make it the biggest ever Clean Up this year and are asking groups to get together and sign up now to take part on the day.

Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr John Sheahan, said the event is all part of ongoing work to promote a clean environment in Kerry and to ensure the county is litter-free and he welcomed the support of groups like the GAA, the IFA and the ICMSA.

Mike Teahan of Kerry ICMSA said it was important for Kerry people to realise that with the joys of living in Ireland’s most beautiful county came certain duties, chief of which was the duty to look after the beautiful environment and both built and natural heritage of the county. Patrick O’Driscoll of Kerry IFA said his members throughout Kerry were delighted to support the Clean Up and he urged the farming community to participate in local clean-ups in their areas on the day. Kerry GAA chairman, Tim Murphy added that GAA clubs and members all over Kerry have been asked to help out on the day. ‘As a grassroots organisation across the county, we are delighted to offer our support,’ he said.