Life buoys, a walking aid, and a buggy among “outrageous” rubbish found in Longford beauty spot

Longford Tidy Towns have given an insight into the “outrageous” and "disgraceful" volume of litter removed from the Royal Canal.

In addition to rubbish, Tidy Town members found a discarded walking aid and even a buggy in the water. 

Sharing the photos to their social media, the group wrote, “Our second weekend tackling outrageous littering and dumping at the Royal Canal. We even had to remove a walking aid.” 

Rubbish including a traffic cone and a walking aid were cleared from the canal

Only a week earlier they removed from the canal what they described as “a disgraceful level of litter” which included a buggy that had been dumped in the water. 

Speaking to the Longford Leader, Longford Tidy Towns chairman Michael Keenan said, "It's very frustrating to see but this is happening in every county, not just Longford. Over the years, it's been predominantly cans, bottles and other paper materials being dumped."

"In the last few weeks, we've seen life buoys in the water, the purpose of which is to help someone who could fall in and drown so it's shocking to see those being thrown around like that. We also found a walking aid which was astonishing to see."

"On occasion, we have found tyres thrown in. We're all very frustrated about it and no one seems to be tackling it."

"We go there as volunteers because we regard the Royal Canal as an important part of the town and a local facility that people should enjoy. It's a shame that it's happening but it's happening all over Ireland and not just in Longford."

Michael Keenan pulls a buggy from the canal. Pic: Longford Tidy Towns

The rubbish displayed in the photos prompted disgust and anger over the littering, but also immense gratitude for the good work of those clearing it.

One person wrote beneath the social media post, “Well done to you you all but I think it's a scandal to see so many people dumping their rubbish everywhere and those people having to clean up after them some people honestly have no shame” 

Members of Longford Tidy Town remove litter, including a traffic cone, from the canal 

Another person commented beneath the post, “Great work everyone. It’s a disgrace to see that level of dumping.”

Last December, a local resident found 2 life buoys removed from their stands and thrown into the water. 

Una Devine told the Longford Leader, “The canal is such a lovely amenity for the town, it’s really sad it’s being used as a dumping ground.” 

Two life buoys were taken from the stand and discarded in the canal. Pic: Una Devine

Una added, “I walked a short section of it from the Market Square at Christmas, and I couldn’t believe the amount of rubbish in it.  All the buoys had also been ripped out and thrown in.” 

“Thanks to the Tidy Towns for cleaning it up, and indeed all they do for Longford, they do an amazing job. But they wouldn’t have to do it in the first place, if there was more respect”.  

A discarded bicycle tyre in the canal. Pic: Una Devine