Greener Together:

Greener Together: How Ongar Residents Are Creating a Cleaner Community

At Ongar Tidy Towns, we believe that small actions can lead to big change. Over the past few months, we've seen a remarkable rise in local pride and environmental awareness, all thanks to the growing number of residents stepping up to make a difference. Whether it’s picking up litter, planting pollinator-friendly flowers, or reporting illegal dumping, our community is becoming a cleaner, greener place to live—together.

The recent community clean-up days have seen strong participation from families, youth groups, and local businesses. It's heartening to witness people of all ages uniting to tidy up our green spaces, playgrounds, and footpaths. With gloves on and litter pickers in hand, our volunteers are helping to restore the beauty of Ongar one bag at a time.

We’ve also partnered with Fingal County Council to ensure proper disposal of waste and to raise awareness about recycling and waste reduction. Thanks to this partnership, we now have clearer signage around recycling points and more accessible bins placed in high-traffic areas.

Gardening initiatives have also blossomed this spring. The Ongar Pollinator Project—launched earlier this year—has led to the planting of native wildflowers and bee-friendly shrubs in key locations. Not only do these projects add colour and life to our neighbourhood, but they also support biodiversity and strengthen our local ecosystems.

As we move into summer, we encourage all residents to get involved. Whether it's joining our monthly clean-up, reporting graffiti, or simply making the choice to recycle at home, every effort matters. Together, we are shaping Ongar into a model suburb for sustainable urban living.

If you'd like to volunteer, donate materials, or suggest a project idea, please reach out through our social media or contact page. Let’s keep Ongar beautiful for today and for future generations.

#OngarTidyTowns #KeepOngarBeautiful #CommunityCleanup #GreenOngar #SustainableLiving #FingalPride #PollinatorFriendly #EcoOngar #LoveWhereYouLive

Litter Picking in Ongar: A Call for More Bins and Better Habits

 

This morning, our dedicated Ongar Tidy Towns volunteers were back out doing what we do best—working hard to keep our community clean and beautiful. While we always enjoy coming together and making a difference, today's litter pick raised some ongoing concerns that we feel need to be addressed.

One of the most pressing issues we noticed is the continuing problem of illegal dumping. Since the council moved the public bins from their original locations, we’ve observed a worrying trend: people are still dumping rubbish in the exact same spots where the bins used to be. It’s as if the habit of dropping waste there hasn’t changed—only now, there’s no bin to collect it, so the area looks worse than ever.

We believe this clearly shows a need for more bins, not fewer. Strategically placed bins in high-traffic areas help encourage responsible disposal of waste. Without them, it’s only natural that rubbish builds up, which leads to not only an eyesore but also an invitation for further dumping. It sends the wrong message about the kind of community we want Ongar to be.

Today’s litter pick took us around Ongar Playground, one of the most popular and well-loved parts of our neighbourhood. Sadly, we found a significant amount of litter, including old shopping bags, discarded coffee cups, wrappers, and bits of broken packaging. Some of it had blown into the bushes, while other rubbish was left right by the benches and playground equipment. This isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s also a safety concern for children and families who use the space every day.

We’re calling on local residents to please be mindful of where you leave your waste. If there isn’t a bin nearby, take it home. Better yet, if you see litter, pick it up. These small actions really do make a big difference.

To the local authorities, we respectfully urge you to review the decision to remove or relocate the bins. Let’s look at installing additional bins in key areas like near bus stops, shops, and public parks where rubbish tends to collect. A cleaner Ongar is a shared responsibility, but we need the right infrastructure in place to support good behaviour.

To everyone who came out today—thank you. Your time and effort are what keep Ongar looking its best. We’ll be back out again soon, and we encourage anyone who wants to get involved to join us.

Let’s work together to make litter a thing of the past in Ongar!

#OngarTidyTowns #LoveWhereYouLive #LitterFreeOngar #Dublin15 #CommunityCleanUp #OngarPlayground #StopIllegalDumping #MoreBinsPlease #TidyTownsIreland #KeepOngarClean #LocalHeroes #VolunteeringMatters

Car Park Clean-Up at Dunnes Stores – Thank You!

 

Car Park Clean-Up at Dunnes Stores – Thank You!

This week, we’re shining a spotlight on the successful clean-up at the Dunnes Stores car park in Ongar, and we’d like to extend a big thank you to the management company responsible for acting so quickly once we raised the issue.

Last week, several concerned residents alerted Ongar Tidy Towns about a growing litter issue around the car park near Dunnes Stores. Overflowing bins, loose packaging, discarded coffee cups, and food wrappers were blowing across the parking spaces, creating an unsightly and potentially hazardous environment for shoppers and visitors.

As a community group committed to maintaining a clean and welcoming Ongar, we reached out directly to the property management team for the retail area. To their credit, they responded within 24 hours. On-site staff arrived promptly with cleaning equipment and removed all the scattered waste. The bins were also emptied and secured to prevent future overflow.

This is a great example of how communication and collaboration between community volunteers and local stakeholders can bring about positive, visible change. The clean-up not only restored a cleaner look to a central shopping hub but also reinforced the importance of shared responsibility in keeping Ongar tidy.

We encourage residents to continue reporting litter issues. Whether it’s near retail outlets, in public parks, or on residential streets, the quicker we act, the easier it is to prevent rubbish from piling up or blowing into nearby green spaces.

Let’s all keep in mind:

• Use bins provided, and if they’re full, take your rubbish home.

• Don’t leave bags or boxes beside bins—they attract pests and wildlife.

• If you see consistent issues, don’t hesitate to report them to Ongar Tidy Towns or directly to Fingal County Council or management companies.

We’re stronger when we work together. Thank you again to the management team at Dunnes Stores, the residents who raised the alarm, and all those who regularly take the time to pick up a stray wrapper or two.

We’ll continue to keep lines of communication open with local businesses to ensure Ongar remains a safe, clean, and attractive place to shop, walk, and enjoy.

#CleanCarPark #OngarRetailCare #ThankYouDunnes #CommunityCleanUp #OngarTidyTowns #LitterFreeOngar #Dublin15 #TidyTogether

Massive Thank You for Ongar Playground Clean-Up!

 

Massive Thank You for Ongar Playground Clean-Up!

This week we want to give a huge thank you to our community members who brought a local issue to our attention and to the incredible Park Ranger from Fingal County Council who swiftly stepped in to help clean it up.

Last weekend, someone dumped multiple black sacks of rubbish near the bin at Ongar Playground. Unfortunately, birds and wildlife pecked the bags open overnight, scattering litter all over the park—including plastic wrappers, leftover food, and sharp items. It was a heartbreaking and frustrating sight, especially for families visiting the area.

Thankfully, early Monday morning, a vigilant resident emailed Ongar Tidy Towns, and we immediately raised the issue with Fingal County Council. We’re thrilled to report that the Park Ranger arrived within hours, assessed the scene, and quickly and professionally cleaned up all the waste.

This act was more than just a tidy-up—it was an effort to protect our local children, our wildlife, and our community pride. Our public spaces are at the heart of Ongar life, and the council’s rapid response meant families could return to enjoying the playground safely and cleanly.

We want to also thank our community members who reported the incident and everyone who continues to speak up when they see fly-tipping or inappropriate waste disposal. This is what community is all about—looking after one another and our shared environment.

Let’s take this moment to remind everyone:

• Please dispose of waste responsibly.

• If a bin is full, don’t leave bags beside it.

• Report dumping to Fingal County Council or Ongar Tidy Towns.

• Encourage your children and neighbours to take pride in our green spaces.

Moving forward, we’ll continue to work closely with the Council to monitor hotspots and advocate for better signage and surveillance. We’re also exploring options for hosting an awareness day about illegal dumping and how we can all help reduce it.

Thank you once again to the Park Ranger and the fantastic team at Fingal County Council. And thank you to YOU—our amazing Ongar community—for your eyes, your voices, and your care.

#ThankYouFCC #OngarPlayground #ParkRangerHeroes #CleanOngar #CommunityPride #NoMoreDumping #OngarTidyTowns #Dublin15

Positive Changes in Our Community: Fingal County Council Acts on Bin Replacement and Graffiti Removal

It’s great to see positive action happening around our community! Fingal County Council has recently stepped in to replace the damaged bin outside our local school, ensuring that the area remains clean and encourages proper waste disposal.

At the same time, the Council also tackled graffiti in another part of the community, removing unsightly tags that had been affecting the appearance of our shared spaces. While the graffiti wasn’t at the school itself, it’s fantastic to see these issues being addressed across different parts of our area.

These improvements help create a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming environment for all of us, especially for the children, parents, and teachers around the school who rely on these spaces every day.

We’d like to thank Fingal County Council for their fast response and ongoing commitment to keeping our public spaces clean and well-maintained. It’s a great reminder that when the community raises concerns, positive changes can happen.

Let’s all continue to play our part in keeping the area litter-free and reporting any issues when they arise. Together, we can make our neighbourhood an even better place to live and learn.

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Social Media Caption:

Big thanks to Fingal County Council for replacing the damaged bin outside our local school and removing graffiti elsewhere in the community. Small changes make a big difference! Let’s keep our neighbourhood clean and welcoming for all.
Read more on our blog!

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Hashtags:

#FingalCountyCouncil
#CommunityCleanup
#TidyTowns
#PrideInOurPlace
#LitterFree
#WorkingTogether
#PositiveChange
#CleanCommunity
#OngarD15
#LocalAction

New poster campaign

 

New poster

Join Our Ongar Tidy Towns Volunteer Team!

Role: Community Support & Environmental Volunteer

Location: Ongar, Dublin 15

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Make a Difference in Your Community!

Ongar Tidy Towns is looking for passionate, community-minded volunteers to join our friendly team. If you love Ongar and want to help keep it clean, green, and beautiful, this is your chance to get involved!

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Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Social Media Support:

  • Help us create fun, positive posts to share our clean-up days, tree planting, and local wins!

  • Engage with our lovely online community and help spread the word.

• Keep Ongar Clean:

  • Get involved in litter picking and community clean-up events. Every little helps!

  • Help spot and report illegal dumping or graffiti in our area to the council.

• Tree Planting & Biodiversity Projects:

  • Join us for tree planting and pollinator-friendly planting days. Let's green up Ongar together!

• General Help:

  • Help with small admin tasks like keeping records, counting funds raised, or supporting grant applications.

  • Support your fellow volunteers, make new friends, and have some laughs along the way.

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What You’ll Need:

• A big smile and a passion for making Ongar even better

• A few hours of your time when you can spare it

• Basic phone or social media skills (optional but helpful!)

• Willingness to get stuck in – from litter picking to helping with local events

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Join us today – let’s keep Ongar clean, green, and community proud!

Interested?

Pop us a message on our social media or email us at 

Ongartidytowns@gmail.com 

Street Fest on Sunday 25th of May, come join us!

 

Street Fest on Sunday 25th of May, come join us!