Whiskey-barrel litter bins to be unveiled in Moate

Moate Tidy Towns and Moate Partnership are set to unveil a novel use for old whiskey barrels today (Wednesday) as new litter bins across the town at a special launch of the new initiative in Tuar Ard coffee shop at 6.30pm. The idea is the brainchild of Terry Coghlan, a local publican, who came up with the new use for old oak whiskey barrels from nearby Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan. Terry with the help of local man Thomas McCormack from Thomas McCormack Fabrication Ltd came up with a design to convert the barrels into fully functioning litter bins around Moate. There has long been complaints from local people that there are not enough litter bins in Moate given the length of the Main Street and the amount of approach roads. But now 80 of the new distinctively designed bins, bound to be talking point locally and among visitors to the area, will be placed around the town by the council by the end of April. Each bin has been sponsored by a local business, school or church and will incorporate a new sign indicating the name of the sponsors on the bin. Primary and secondary school children were also involved in the process in a bid to increase awareness of the bins initiative with a special competitions to come up with a name for the bin and a slogan for the campaign. The winning entries were Eco -The friendly bin and 'Save our environment from early retirement', both of which will feature on new billboards to raise awareness of the campaign on the entrance to the town. Local people are invited to come and have a look at the new bins and billboards in Tuar Ard coffee shop today (Wednesday) at 6.30pm where they will be addressed by Chairperson of Moate Tidy Towns Ethel Mitchell and Paddy Casey of Moate Partnership. Anybody who would like to help out as volunteer with Moate Tidy Towns is also urged to attend the launch