On one of the days over Easter, myself and a friend took a spin down to Kerry and ended up on Inch beach. The weather was fabulous and perfect for a good long walk and Inch beach certainly gives you a chance to stretch your legs as it goes on for miles and miles. The top of the beach was busy with family groups whose small children and dogs were equally excited by the sand and sea. As we walked on, the number of people thinned out but a quartet of quad bikes intruded on the melodic sound of wind and wave. Mind you, the din was nothing when compared to a couple of motorbikes whose engines were being revved non-stop by their riders.

We walked on and the wind carried the intrusion of engine noise away into the distance. We’d settled down on the dunes to have a little picnic when we saw a car racing down the sand. It flew past us and the driver did what looked like a handbrake turn further down the beach.

It was hard to know what speed the car was doing, but it was way too fast and unsafe for a beach with lots of people and children. It was also way too fast and unsafe for the occupants, given that the ground conditions were anything but stable.

Anyway, there we were giving out and saying wouldn’t it serve them right if they got stuck in the sand. And, would you believe it, as the driver was making his return journey – and right in front of us – didn’t the bonnet suddenly plunge downwards and the wheels start to spin.

Now, it’s very rare for someone to get their comeuppance right in front of your eyes, but there he was revving like mad as the car wedged itself further and further into the sand.

In normal circumstances, I would have offered to put a shoulder to the wheel and help dig him out. But in my books, getting stuck in the sand, a couple of miles from other vehicles and with the tide fast approaching, was exactly what he deserved.

Meanwhile, as I was idling on a beach in Kerry, all across Limerick over 10,000 people took part in TLC – better known as the Team Limerick Clean-up.

What an amazing turnout, with 700 volunteers taking part in the clean-up around Murroe and 500 turning up in Corbally. It’s estimated that 40,000 bags of rubbish were collected. I’m a great believer in lighting a candle rather than cursing the dark, so congratulations to all involved, especially JP McManus, who sponsors TLC.

Don’t forget, you can do your bit to clean up road verges and public spaces by joining the IFA’s spring clean-up. There are great prizes up to a maximum of €2,500 to be won. All you have to do is conduct your clean-up anytime through April and then be sure to register it on www.ifacountryside.ie

If you need any further encouragement, a recent survey by Volunteer Ireland found that 98% of people say volunteering makes them happier, so there’s no excuse.