Donegal’s famous piper Christy Murray has restored the beauty of a Raphoe waterfall following an extensive summer clean-up.
The music teacher has spent the last three months clearing litter from the Burnside waterfall.
It wasn’t just an average clean-up though, as the area had gathered dumped goods from at least 60-70 years ago.
Christy, who is a regular feature at Donegal GAA matches, put his songbook down during the Covid-19 lockdown to turn to a new project.
He cleared a remarkable amount of items and waste in a whopping 347 bags, which have now been moved for council collection.
Christy Murray’s clean-up in Raphoe
Christy Murray’s clean-up in Raphoe
Christy’s work on the rubbish mountains uncovered a shocking range of goods.
He revealed the full list finds on Facebook:
- 260 nappies ( + 1 adult nappy )
- 60 bags of ashes
- 30 bags of rubble
- 8 bags of broken tiles
- 16 bags of clothes / shoes / bags
- 7 mattresses
- 4 TVs
- 2 video players
- 3 radios
- 1 microwave
- 1 Christmas tree
- 3 carpets
- 1 rocking horse
- roof felt
- large kitchen for kids
- 1 radiator
- rolls of barbed wire
- concrete slabs
- curtain
- 4 curtain rails
- lamp stands
- 5 wheel trims
- car bumpers and panels
- 1 kids tractor
- 2 shattered windscreens
- 1 car battery
- 3 tins full of used oil
- 1 blind
- 1 large rusty barrel paint tins
- 1 car tyre
- 1 cast iron fireplace
- 3 umbrellas
- 1 duvet
- 2 pillows lino
- 2 fire grates
- lots of cable wire a lot of netting
- 1 large glass table top
- Mangled remnants of other large items
With over 300 metres of road frontage, the Burnside area has been a dumping spot for a long time and safety concerns have arisen over the unprotected drop from the road.
Christy’s outstanding efforts have helped to bring a newfound appreciation of the waterfall site and locals have been quick to praise him for his voluntary work.
“Enjoyed getting this place back to its full beauty and what a gem it is,” Christy said, and he hopes to formulate a plan with the council to make the area safer and cleaner.
It is hoped that Christy’s work will help others appreciate and respect the woodland area in the future.