Franks Day: September 17th

Coastwatch designated Thursday 17th Sept 2026 to be ‘Frank’s Day’ in memory of Frank McDonald, our focused, ambitious, mischievous and generous Coastwatch cofounder who passed after a short illness on Sept 5th. 

This was the date when The Irish Times published Frank’s article inviting readers to our first shore survey as pull-out questionnaire on the 17th Sept 1987.  Frank and Karin Dubsky had beavered on it with side line conversations from the philosophical to the practical. The filled out pages posted back gave a first snapshot of the state of our coast outside the very limited official monitoring. The survey became an annual event and Frank checked in on results, launched some and covered actions arising since. 

You can watch the recording of our online 'Frank's Day' meeting below.

Our first Frank’s Day was marked by a 30 min zoom where Kevin O Sullivan, former Irish Times Environment Editor; now contributor, shared his appreciation of Frank from early days in UCD to fellow journalists in the Irish Times and participant on the Climate COPs. His reflections were followed by participant memories including Bernie Connolly, Coordinator, The Environmental Forum & Coastwatch Cork Regional Coordinator, who recalls how his speaking up and writings had inspired the direction of the newly formed Cork Environment Forum and Dr. Trevor Orr, Professor, Civil Struct & Env. Eng, who recalled the guest lectures Frank gave to engineers in TCD. 

Jose Gracia y Calvo, now Spanish Coastwatch coordinator, remembered his early volunteer days and how Coastwatch work quickly went international, an important aspect now focused on between Ceuta and Morocco. Patrícia Tavares Latino Tavares Rocha, Geota, Portugal, Coastwatch coordinator summarised the important work of the Coastwatch international network and shared some good news: Seahorses found in Lisbon, meaning good quality water! Angelica Paiu, Mare Nostrum NGO & Romanian Coastwatch coordinator shared her happiness about the renewed Coastwatch collaboration in Constanta. 

Karin Dubsky noted ‘What motivated Frank in his work guides Coastwatch: wise, transparent informed decision making for a healthy  environment and just society.

The Coastwatch context that needs our citizen participation to ensure 

1. Good, current data and knowledge, collected and shared,

2. Careful reflection on what  that data is telling us in the context of other data, sources, established practice, law and motivations.

3. Planning and executing effective actions to protect, inform, restore our coastal zone from addressing local to international issues and calling out bad practise or policy.  

After the event recording stopped, conversation continued. Marie- Louise Heffernan, Director of Aster Environmental Consultants & Coastwatch Galway Regional Coordinator, proposed that we would give an annual award to someone who had furthered those objectives and invite that person to make a Frank’s Day address. This found general agreement and will be worked on. 

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/4c8400_ff6480b1152e4506ac1e3c43d7f55858/1080p/mp4/file.mp4