National Bike Week

Posted on May 27, 2014 by SMcK

Skerries Cycling Initiative are preparing some great events for the 2014 National Bike Week (14-22 June), including a “Cyclist Photo Safari” (Sunday 15 June, 9 a.m., South Strand, little bridge), a “Rediscover your Bike” cycle (20 km) along quiet roads (Saturday evening, 21 June, from 7.30 p.m.), and their much-loved Family Fun Cycle to Ardgillan Park and back (Sunday 22 June). Send them an email at cycling@skerriesca.com for details and to be added to their email Newsletter (first issue coming soon), or like their Facebook page to stay in touch.

SCI Fun Cycle

Skerries Cycling Initiative are a committee of the Skerries Community Association.

Cycling photo safari on Sunday 15 June-meet South Strand 9 a.m.

Aimed at photographers who cycle and cyclists who photograph, the cycling photo safari will entail a leisurely ride with stops to capture landscapes, beaches and walled gardens in the environs of Skerries. This event will be a nod/celebration in the direction of the Victorian era when the two activities of cycling and photography merged as cycling clubs set up photography sections and photography clubs set up cycling sections to accommodate their crossover members.

Meet on South Strand, Holmpatrick end, near the little bridge, at 9 a.m..

After taking some shots here we can cycle to Barnageeragh beach and then take our bikes over Lady’s Stairs and into Ardgillan where the Walled Garden will open at 9.30 a.m. and the Tea Rooms at 10 a.m.. for well-deserved tea/coffee and scones. After that the world, or at least the environs of Skerries, is our oyster!

Rediscover Your Bike – Saturday 21 June – meet at Sea Pole at 7.30 p.m.

A tour on the day of the Summer Solstice – shall we call it the Giro d’Romance? – along some of the quieter roads around Skerries. This is aimed primarily at adults, including those who have bikes but may not have used them for a while. Starting from the Sea Pole at 7.30 p.m on Saturday evening 21 June; we anticipate returning there at around 9.30 p.m.

Map of route below. Black line shows route out of Skerries to Loughshinny via Lusk and red line shows return route. Hopefully we can stop and enjoy the view of Loughshinny on a pleasant summer solstice evening.

Family Fun Cycle to Ardgillan with a picnic by the Rose Garden. Meet Skerries Mills 12 noon on Sunday 22 June.

Bike Week in Skerries would not be complete without the Family Fun Cycle to Ardgillan. All cyclists are welcome on the Fun Cycle, but children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please note that there is some hill-climbing involved so gears must be working and children should be instructed in their use. (Please check that the bike is in roadworthy condition including brakes, gears, tyre pressure and saddle height).
Children must be capable of using brakes on their bikes as the route includes significant descents in both directions.
The SCI will provide stewards to assist the riders in getting through junctions along the way.

Route to be followed (see Map): from the Skerries Mills car park via Millers Lane to the railway roundabout (1st catch-up pause), under the bridge followed by an immediate right turn up Togher Hill to Milverton Gates (2nd pause) and right again along Ardla Rd. to Ardgillan (3rd pause at the gates). We will have our BYO picnic by the Rose Garden.

For those who want it, a stewarded return to Skerries Mills Car Park will be offered in the early afternoon.

Treasure Hunt TV Show in Skerries

Posted on May 20, 2014 by SMcK

The treasure hunt TV show coming to Skerries this Summer!

Adare Productions sent us the following information and application form:

Calling all treasure hunters!

Adare Productions are looking for families to SHAKEDOWN THE TOWN (SKERRIES), in a brand new TV series for RTÉ One.

SHAKEDOWN THE TOWN command base will roll into Skerries and two teams, each consisting of 5 family members, will compete against each other to crack the clues and be the first to unlock the safe.

Each team will have 3 code breakers, aged 8-14 years old, in the command base. Meanwhile 2 adults will be chasing around their local town trying to gather the numbers for the safe’s combination lock.

Clues will lead each team to several locations in and around Skerries. At each location the teams must complete a challenge to retrieve a number for the safe’s combination lock.

Each family team must have 3 youngsters, aged 8-14 year-olds. So maybe you, your brother or sister and cousin can join forces with two adults, whether that’s your parents / guardians, uncles or aunts.

So if you want to SHAKEDOWN YOUR TOWN, we will be interviewing potential families.

If you would like to apply, please email us at: criona@adareproductions.ie or yvonnekinsella@gmail.com

In the email you need to tell us your name, your contact number and address, along with the names and ages of the other members of the treasure hunt team.

Alternatively, you can call us on 01-284 3877 or 085 8073003.

Giro d’Italia – a Thank-You

Posted on May 13, 2014 by SMcK

On behalf of the SCA, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the Giro D’Italia transit through Skerries.

Photo: Ciarán McKenna

I would like to thank all the Fingal Councillors and those running in the European election for their support in making the route through Skerries poster free. I would also thank all the volunteers for their hard work before, during and after the event.

For the contribution made by Skerries Community Centre to the Cycle against Suicide event, a big thank you.

Photo: David Diebold, Skerries News

To An Garda, Fire Brigade and Ambulance service for their support through the day another big thank you all.

The people of Skerries who came out in large numbers, in such bad weather, and gave great support to all the cyclists.

Photo: Still from a video by M. Russell

Our local media and photographers recorded the event and are very much appreciated.

My biggest thanks goes to the Chamber of Commerce for the manner in which they led the make-over of Skerries to welcome the Giro. This will put Skerries on the map with a world wide audience and will be a big help with future tourism.
My best regards

—
Martin A. Russell

Giro 2014: The world’s second-biggest cycling race is coming to Skerries!

Posted on May 9, 2014 by SMcK

Sunday 11 May 2014 will be a great day for cycling enthusiasts, and a chance to show off your pink and orange T-Shirts!

First the Cycle against Suicide ending in Skerries, thanks to the Skerries Cycle Against Suicide people (ORANGE for that, please, around 11.45 / 12 noon), and then on with the PINK for the Giro Start 2014 hitting Fingal County Council from 1.30 p.m. (though probably a little after that for Skerries).

And all this just two weeks before the annual Irish Cycling Road Race, The An Post Rás, celebrates its 9th consecutive year of ending in Skerries!