Olivia Kelly and Kathryn Hayes
More than 2,000 Dubliners are expected to get out their rubber gloves and sweeping brushes this morning to help make the city presentable ahead of the Easter Rising commemorations.
Dublin City Council’s Team Dublin Clean Up will see community groups and members of the public picking up litter from 11am-1pm around the city. The council is providing litter pickers, brushes, gloves, bags, and high-vis jackets, and will collect full bags on the day.
Some 2,000 people have registered to take part but other volunteers are welcome to join groups at meeting points in the city and suburbs.
In the city centre, groups will meet at St Catherine’s Church on Thomas Street, St Andrew’s Resource Centre on Pearse Street and at Smithfield Plaza.
Bull Island
Groups are also meeting at the Finglas Village Centre on Seamus Ennis Road, and Vernon Avenue on the Clontarf promenade. A group of 90 people will be cleaning up on Bull Island.
Brian Hanney from the council's waste management division said the event was inspired by last year's Team Limerick Clean Up, a notion which originated during a conversation involving former Irish rugby captain Paul O'Connell and businessman JP McManus that touched on the tidy towns initiative.
The Limerick clean up took place yesterday and some 150 tonnes of rubbish – mostly recyclable – was collected by members of about 450 groups.
“I think some people can make the tidy towns commitment which is once every two or three weeks but for other people once a year – two or three hours in the morning on Good Friday – is a much easier commitment,” said O’Connell.
Mr McManaus said he never thought litter would bring so many people together. “I think it’s more than just picking up litter. There is a great sense of community pride, there’s a love for the city and the county.”
