‘Gather for the Gathering’

Major litter clean up event is launched as

Mayo prepares to welcome visitors for the Gathering 2013.

Gather for the Gathering litter clean up event is launched at Ireland West Airport Knock. Pictured are Sharon Cameron, Environment Awareness Officer, Mayo County Council; Kevin Sheridan, Kilmaine Tidy Towns Committee, Trina Donohue, HR Manager, IWAK; Ann Walsh and Marian Sheridan, Kilmaine Tidy Towns Committee; Bridie Moran and Pamela Flanagan, Westport Tidy Towns Committee

Mayo County Council in partnership with Ireland West Airport Knock and Kilmaine Tidy Towns Committee are holding a major litter clean up of the approach roads to the airport in preparation for visitors to the County in this the year of the gathering. The litter clean up will take place on Sunday morning February 24th and volunteers from across the county are called on to give of their time to participate in the event.

The idea for ‘Gather for the Gathering’ originated with Kilmaine Tidy Towns Committee. Speaking about the event Marian Sheridan from the Committee said “As we often travel the road to Knock Airport we thought it would be a good idea to have it looking beautiful not just

for the gathering but for all times. We are very proud of our airport and want our visitors to have a very good impression of our County when they land. We are delighted that Mayo County Council have taken up the idea and are putting in such an effort to make this venture a success”

Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) strongly supports the event and will provide free car parking and refreshments for those participating on the day. Management at the airport have very kindly offered some great spot prizes to some lucky participants on the day.

Trina Donohue, HR Manager with IWAK welcomes the event - “Ireland West Airport Knock are delighted to support the initiative to ‘Gather for the Gathering’. The wonderful views from the N17 and Ireland West Airport Knock are very impressive and this is a brilliant initiative to ensure the approach roads give a lasting good impression of the region to all our visitors. We are anticipating a busy summer season ahead with new routes to Palma and Malaga as well as to a number of other destinations in the UK and Europe and thus are delighted to support this community initiative. We hope to see as many volunteers as possible on the day.”

Sharon Cameron, Environment Awareness Officer with Mayo County Council is encouraging people to register and take part in the event – “We want to make this one of the biggest litter clean up events to ever take place in the County. Each week many people make a tremendous voluntary effort in collecting litter in their towns and villages - we want all those people and many more to come together for a few hours on Sunday 24th February so that clean roadsides will welcome our visitors this year. Kilmaine Tidy Towns came to me with a brilliant idea and now we must really make it work. I acknowledge the support of IWAK for this event and also for the advice and support of Westport Tidy Towns Committee in the organisation of the event”

‘Gather for the Gathering’ is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 24th February, 2013, from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Those interested in participating in the event can register with scameron@mayococo.ie at (094) 9047360 or mforde@mayococo.ie at (094) 9047443 by Monday, 18th February, 2013

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