Cleaning up the Mournes
Belfast Royal Academy pupils Samuel Nelson, Katie McCambridge, Katie Watt and instructor Jonathan Cummings gathering rubbish in the Mournes. INNT 51-215 CON.
PUPILS from Belfast Royal Academy have taken part in the school’s 23rd annual sponsored clean-up in the Mourne Mountains.
The 109 young volunteers and 36 adults, many from the Newtownabbey area, braved wintry conditions to remove several tonnes of refuse including an abandoned car; television; pram; assorted household goods and more than 40 tyres.
The team was welcomed to the area by South Down MP, Margaret Ritchie, MLA Chris Hazzard and chairman of Newry and Mourne Council, Mickey Coogan.
Master-in-Charge, John Reilly MBE, Belfast Royal Academy, has been organising the clean-up since its inception 23 years ago and has said that, since then, they have cleared over 140 tonnes of rubbish.
“Belfast Royal Academy’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Centre makes use of the Mourne Mountains for expedition work on 12-15 weekends per year,” he said.
“Our pupils have benefited so much from taking part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Mournes are a particular favourite amongst our pupils.
“They are always delighted to be giving something back and showing their appreciation for this stunning beauty spot.
“The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award promotes a sense of responsibility amongst its participants, and we see this every year when we have around 150 volunteers who give up their Saturday morning and afternoon to take part.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Newtownabbey
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
