Big cleanup by residents

There was an eclectic haul of litter taken from the Pinkeen Stream in Kilcullen during the weekend cleanup of the stream and the relief road to Cnoc na Greine estate by area residents.

Supermarket trollies, discarded fencing, lengths of timber, estate agent signs and a large Fine Gael election poster (Gillis/Daly) were among the small mountain of detritus collected from the stream and its banks. And several little hills of mud and rotting leaves were cleared from the roadside.

"It was quite disgusting," said resident Ray DeCourcy, who was knee-deep in the stream.



In all, some 26 residents took part in the operation, which was led by the Cnoc na Greine Woods Residents Association as part of the National Spring Clean. They were joined by residents of Cnoc na Gréine estate.

The total weight of leaves, litter and builders’ rubbish -- left there since the estate was built -- came to 700kg.

“We were delighted with the turnout,” said Andrew King, chairman of Cnoc na Gréine Woods Residents Association, adding that there is still more work to be done to get the area finished.

He said the residents would prefer if the Council had the road in charge as it needs ongoing maintenance. "The construction firm, Roseberry Construction, who developed Cnoc na Gréine currently has responsibility for maintaining the road, but they don’t seem to have done anything since they left the area.”



The Kilcullen clean-up was assisted by Kilcullen Community Action (KCA), Kildare County Council and National Spring Clean. The collected rubbish was taken in to the Silliott Hill centre free of charge.

KCA, which incorporates Kilcullen Tidy Towns, had previously written to estate agents whose signs ended up in the stream, but received no reply.

Brian Byrne.