Skerries CoderDojo looking for mentors!

Skerries CoderDojo, the free, volunteer-led monthly coding club for kids from 7 to 17 (and their parents), is going from strength to strength. After two meetings in the lovely upstairs of Joe May’s, that venue became too small, and they have now taken over the Old Schoolhouse (part of Skerries Community Centre), where they will be found one Sunday every month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Advanced Group November 2014 CoderDojo

Advanced Group November 2014 CoderDojo

Now they need more mentors so they can continue coaching the young computer enthusiasts and fill all the space they now have at their disposal. If interested, please contact Sabine at coderdojo@skerriesca.com – you will be offered training if necessary. At the moment, the club is using Scratch and JavaScript. Additional Parent Helpers / Organisers are also welcome.

Intermediate Group November 2014 CoderDojo

Intermediate Group November 2014 CoderDojo

One of the advantages of being in the Old Schoolhouse is that the volunteers can now set up a Café Dojo, where parents (who have to stay on the premises if their children are under 12) can sit and chat and have some coffee / cake. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Café Dojo November 2014 CoderDojo

Café Dojo November 2014 CoderDojo

While the club is free to attend, ninjas (participants) must book in and bring a laptop, and a parent if they are under 12. Bookings for each CoderDojo opens a week before  the event and is done online only, through the Skerries CoderDojo EventBrite page.

Contact coderdojo@skerriesca.com if you would like to be added to their email list, so that you will automatically be alerted when booking opens.

Skerries CoderDojo would like to thank their main sponsor, Ian Cleary of RazorSocia.com, a Rush-based company / website of international renown that evaluates social media tools.

Brendan Sherlock – our Community Person of the Year

Congratulations are due to Brendan Sherlock, one of the Directors of the Skerries Community Association and a long-standing & very active volunteer, for being the recipient of a Fingal County Council Community Person of the Year Award recently.

Apart from his involvement as a Director of the SCA, in our tree-planting committee Crann Padraig, and now the new Age Friendly Skerries Committee, Brendan is an active member of the Loughshinny Motorcycle Supporters Club and the Skerries representative on the Fingal Community and Voluntary Council.

Our Chairperson, Ciara Leonard, writes:

We are very proud to announce that our fellow SCA board member, Brendan Sherlock was honoured at the Community Person of the Year Awards, held by Fingal County Council on Wednesday 5th November 2014 in the Draíocht, Blanchardstown, hosted by Mary Kennedy. Brendan received his award from the mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Mags Murray. Brendan was nominated by ourselves, Crann Phádraig and Loughshinny Motorcycle Club for his many years of service to our community. 

Brendan Sherlock receiving Community Person Award

Brendan receiving his award from the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Mags Murray; far left: Paul Reid, CEO, Fingal County Council; far right: Mary Kennedy.

At Community Person Award 2014 Photo by Kevin Mcfeely

The Skerries Community Association Delegation at the Awards Ceremony, from left to right: Paul Reid, CEO of Fingal County Council; Martin Russell, SCA; Ciara Leonard, Chair, SCA; Brendan Sherlock himself; Mary Kennedy; Mary Conway, SCA; Brendan’s nephew Paul Sherlock; Nunce McAuley, SCA.

At the Community Awards Reception 2014 Photo by Kevin Mcfeely

Ciara Leonard, Nunce McAuley (back to us), Brendan’s nephew Paul Sherlock, Brendan Sherlock, Martin Russell

Photographs of the event: Kevin McFeely Photography, Swords.