The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr John Francis Flynn has thanked the 3,500 volunteers who took part in the County Clean-Up across Kerry on Saturday.

Cillian Coleman pictured collecting bags on the County Bounds during the annual County Clean-Up Day on Saturday. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

FULL STEAM AHEAD: Nora Batty' (left) and her sister 'Sheila Batty' leading out the annual County Clean-Up Day Kerry’s biggest annual mobilisation of community groups Tidy Towns committees sporting organisations individual residents and families across the county. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Sean Murphy and his son Luke Murphy of KWD Recycling taking part in the annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Conchubhair Ó Luasa (left) and Luke O'Liathain from Baile Mhuire taking part in the annual County Clean-Up Day organised by Kerry County Council and facilitated by KWD Recycling. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Pádraig O'Donoghue Breda Daly and Peg Coffey from Muckross taking part in the annual County Clean-Up Day organised by Kerry County Council and facilitated by KWD Recycling. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Anna Papa Murphy taking part in the annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Dr Patricia Mangan and John Healy on the Kenmare Road taking part in the annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Kerry County Clean-up ambassador Colm Cooper leading out the annual County Clean-Up Day with Jack O'Connor (left) Paul Neary (Acting Director of Services at Kerry County Council) and Paulette O'Shea. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

‘Nora Batty’ (left) and her sister 'Sheila Batty' leading out the annual County Clean-Up Day with Jack O'Connor (left) Paul Neary (Acting Director of Services at Kerry County Council) and Paulette O'Shea. The County Clean-Up-Day now in its 11th year is organised by Kerry County Council and facilitated by KWD Recycling. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

BREAK FOR THE BORDER: At the County Bounds the competition between Jack Lynch (left) from Cork and Kevin Foran from Kerry was tense at the County Clean-Up Day on Saturday. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Noel O'Reilly (KWD Recycling) and crew taking part in the annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Catherine McGuire and Roan Daly taking part in the annual County Clean-Up Day. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan

Thousands of bags of litter were collected from the roadsides and towns and villages during the annual clean-up which was organised by KWD Recycling and Kerry County Council.

"This was another fantastic turnout for the County Clean-Up and shows how civic-minded many of our citizens are when it comes to keeping the county neat and tidy. Despite the rain showers, people of all ages rolled up their sleeves and got involved from early morning," Cllr Flynn said.

"It would be great to harness the involvement of members of the public on Saturday by getting more people to sign up with their local Tidy Towns group or start a group in their own area and to get people out and about collecting litter more often."

Cllr Flynn thanked KWD Recycling and their team for helping to distribute gloves and bags ahead of the clean-up and for arranging to dispose of the bags of rubbish collected.

Noel O’Reilly of KWD Recycling said they were delighted with the turnout and the positive attitude of all the participants. He thanked and congratulated local volunteer groups for their involvement.

336 bags of rubbish was collected.

Molls Gap to Muckross - 62 bags
Cleeney Roundabout to Farranfore - 51 bags
Kerry Airport to Castleisland - 33 bags
Ballydowney to Halfway to Killorglin - 55 bags
Golden Nugget/Miltown Road/Aghadoe -35 bags
County Bounds to Ballyvourney - 100 bags

"Thank you, to all the fantastic volunteers that helped with the KWD County Wide Clean up on Saturday," Bridget O’Keeffe, Senior Executive with Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, said.

"Overall, this was a great effort."