Clean Coasts joined the Tramore parkrun community on Saturday, July 4, to promote its #2MinuteBeachClean campaign, encouraging participants to take small actions that make a big difference for the environment.

The collaboration gave runners, walkers and volunteers the chance to meet Clean Coasts Development Officer for Wexford and Wicklow, Roisin Fitzgerald, and learn how they can get involved in the campaign.

The scenic 5km Tramore parkrun begins near the old lifeguards’ hut, following the promenade before continuing along the track overlooking the Back Strand. A total of 158 people took part on the day, including visitors from across Ireland, the UK, the US and Australia.

The event also highlighted the work of two local Clean Coasts groups, Tramore ECO Group and Tramore Tidy Towns, whose volunteers were either helping to run the parkrun or carrying out a beach clean at the same time. Tramore ECO Group meets every Wednesday at 11am for beach cleans and also takes part in sand dune conservation and biodiversity projects throughout the year. Tramore Tidy Towns organises regular town clean ups and weekly beach cleans every Sunday at 10am.

Several participants received #2MinuteBeachClean kits after being the first to visit the Clean Coasts stand and say the campaign slogan, “Small Actions, Big Impact.” Each kit included a foldable litter picker, making it easy to carry out a quick clean up whenever the opportunity arises.

The partnership is a natural fit, as the parkrun community understands the value of just two minutes and shares a strong culture of volunteering and community action.

parkrun is a free weekly community event where people of all abilities can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. Every Saturday, participants complete a 5km course, while junior parkrun events take place every Sunday, offering a dedicated 2km event for children aged four to 14 and their families.

With its welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, parkrun provided the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the #2MinuteBeachClean campaign, which encourages people to spend just two minutes collecting litter, take a photo of their efforts and share it on social media to inspire others.

Jenny Branigan, Territory Manager for parkrun Ireland, said:

“parkrun has always been about bringing people together for the benefit of community wellbeing, and we’re proud to expand that focus to include caring for our environment. Collaborating with Clean Coasts allows us to inspire parkrunners to take simple, impactful actions to keep the environment they parkrun in free from litter. Together, we can help protect the beautiful spaces we’re so fortunate to run, walk and volunteer in every week.”

Anne Marie Kirwan, #2MinuteBeachClean Campaign Officer with Clean Coasts, said:

“It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm from the Tramore parkrun community. This collaboration shows how community action can support both wellbeing and environmental protection. parkrun is a wonderful example of people coming together to make a positive difference, and the #2MinuteBeachClean campaign is all about demonstrating how small actions can add up to meaningful change. We’re delighted to work with parkrunners in Waterford to help spread that message.”