Festivalgoers at St Patrick’s Park over St Patrick’s Day weekend (15th and 16th March) were treated to the dazzling sight of a giant rainbow installation created from recycled drink cans.
The eye-catching structure, created by our Irinish chapter in partnership with Loreto College, was designed to shine a light on the power of recycling. Made from over 1,500 recycled cans, the installation returned for a second year following its success in 2024, reinforcing the message that recycling plays a crucial role in protecting our planet.
Over 20 recycling ambassadors, including the ‘Canny Mascot’ dressed head to toe in more than 300 cans in the colours of the Irish flag, also engaged with festivalgoers to spread the word about the importance of recycling.
The ambassadors, including 15 pupils from Loreto College, spent the weekend collecting cans in their recycling backpacks, with the deposit value of these cans donated to Capuchin Day Centre, a local charity that helps those experiencing homelessness, providing them with shelter, hot meals, food parcels, medical services, counselling, and shower facilities.
Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager for Every Can Counts Ireland, said: “It’s been great to partner with St Patrick’s Festival and pupils from Loreto College for the second year in a row to brighten the skies of Dublin with our rainbow installation.
“By playing a part in the fabulous St Patrick’s Day Festival, we hope our installation has not only added some extra colour to celebrations, but also inspired people to think about the benefits of recycling their drink cans.
“Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and every empty drink can could be recycled and back on a shop shelf in as little as 60 days. The people of Dublin and Ireland can all play their part in this process by ensuring they recycle all of their used drink cans by returning them via the Deposit Return Scheme.”