There were two Donegal winners at this year’s Clean Coasts Ocean Hero awards.
Fanad Coastal Group along with Loreto Community School Milford were crowned winners in the Youth Initiative Award for their project to protect sand dunes at Whiteshore Beach.
Patricia McAteer of the White Harte Bar in Rathmullan was named winner of the Community Champion Business Award for her work as the driving force behind Rathmullan Coastal Care.
Rathmullan Tidy Towns and Coastal Care, and Fanad Coastal Group had both been shortlisted in the Group of the Year category, while Hazel Russell had been shortlisted for the Leadership Award.
Pics –
Above – Students from Loreto Community School Milford, winners of the Youth Initiative Award, with members of the Fanad Coastal Group.
Below – Patricia McAteer of White Harte Bar in Rathmullan, winner of the newly re-introduced Community Champion (Business Award).
Release in full –
An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme announced the winners of the annual Ocean Hero Awards in a ceremony held at the Gibson Hotel, Dublin. This yearly event honours and celebrates the tireless efforts and actions carried out during the year by Clean Coasts groups, individuals, communities, and businesses to protect their local coastline and its surrounding environment.
Each year the Ocean Hero Awards shine a spotlight on the invaluable contribution and dedication of Clean Coasts volunteers, who have gone above and beyond to care for and protect their coastal environment and heritage. The awards, established in 2006 as the ‘Clean Coasts Merit Awards’ and initially featuring only a single category, have grown year on year to include nine categories in 2025, commending 45 groups and individuals nationwide for their outstanding coastal conservation actions.
This year Clean Coasts set out nine distinct categories, and after receiving hundreds of nominations, a total of 45 groups, organisations and individuals made the shortlist for the title of Ocean Hero in each category.
Donegal
In County Donegal five groups and individuals were shortlisted across four categories in this year’s awards, for their ongoing efforts in protecting and preserving their adopted beaches and coastline, with two groups coming out on top in two separate categories.
Fanad Coastal Group along with Loreto Community School Milford were crowned winners in the Youth Initiative Award at the 2025 Clean Coasts Ocean Hero Awards. Over the past year Loreto Community School Milford have worked closely with Fanad Coastal Group to protect Whiteshore beach on a sand dune restoration project through sourcing and funding over 200 metres of natural picket fencing at the back of the beaches, which was installed by students. Students also attended marine workshops, replanted the marram grass and have been monitoring the progress over the past year.
Also in Donegal, Patricia McAteer of White Harte Bar in Rathmullan was named winner of the newly re-introduced Community Champion (Business Award) for 2025. Patricia was described as a driving force behind Rathmullan Coastal Care since founding the group in 2013. Her leadership led directly to the formation of the Coastal Warriors in 2015 and continues to support the group by providing equipment and maintaining the 2-Minute Beach Clean stations. Despite her busy schedule, she remains central to supporting the ongoing action within Rathmullan Clean Coasts.
Making the shortlist in Donegal were, Rathmullan Tidy Towns and Coastal Care and Fanad Coastal Group in the Group of the Year and Hazel Russell, for the Leadership Award.
The full list of 2025 winners were announced as follows:
- Group of the Year Award: Clean Coasts Ballynamona, Cork.
- Leadership Award: Katriina Bent, Tramore Eco Group, Waterford.
- Campaign Ambassador Award: Presentation College & Tralee Tidy Towns, Kerry, for the Think Before You Flush Campaign.
- Youth Initiative Award: Fanad Coastal Group with Loreto Community School Milford, Donegal, for Dune Conservation efforts.
- Community Action Award: Rush Tidy Towns, Dublin, for the variety of environmental actions and activities they have held throughout the year.
- Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Award: Wicklow Lions Club, Wicklow.
- Community Champion (Business Award): Patricia McAteer – White Harte Bar, Rathmullan, Donegal.
- Nature Guardian Award: Ballygarrett Tidy Towns, for the Cahore Little Tern Project, Wexford.
- Emerging Group Award: Dooega Clean Coasts, Mayo.
- Special recognition award: Tomhaggard Clean Coasts Group, who upon salvaging an old chair from the sea turned it into an awareness campaign and fundraiser for a mental health charity. Demonstrating that the sea inspires in many different ways.
