The Grand Canal is a wonderful example of engineering skills of the 18th century. The towpath on either side of the canal has a rustic character, with terraces of small brick houses, wildfowl and swans on the water, and a series of curved 18th-century bridges. As a fantastic amenity in the heart of the south city we should cherish it!
Many members of our local group have felt strongly for some time that we should do something about cleaning up the canal, and so, along with some local residents we took part in the an Taisce National Spring Clean on Sunday 25th April.
We spent a pleasant afternoon strolling along the canal from Dolphin’s Barn Bridge to Suir road. Some of us got more stuck into it, and in the end we collected 6 bags of recyclable waste, about 15 bags of rubbish as well as 4 bicycles, 2 scooters and a pram.
National Spring Clean is Ireland’s most popular, well recognised and successful anti-litter initiative. National Spring Clean traditionally takes place throughout the month of April.
National Spring Clean has been operated by An Taisce since 1999 in partnership with the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government and Local Authorities. You can get more details from http://www.nationalspringclean.org/
We now meet once a month and pick litter at a different bridge. On the second Sunday of every month, at 2pm, we meet for an hour, and try and do our best for a small stretch of the canal.
If you live nearer to the dodder then the canal, our Dublin South Colleagues also hold regular cleanups of the river dodder. We will also feature updates on our website, or you can contact us, and we will put you in touch with them.
You can join us on the second Sunday of any month by checking which bridge we will be starting at and joining us at 2pm.
The information will be on our website www.dublinsouthcentralgreenparty.com or join our text update service by sending a text to 086 7822700, or e-mailing secretary@dublinsouthcentralgreenparty.com
