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Report of Skerries Community Liaison Committee Meeting October 2015

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Tuesday 6th October 2015 – 3:00pm at Prosper Fingal, Skerries

 

Cllr. David O’Connor

Cllr. Grainne Maguire

Cllr. JP Browne

Cllr. Tony Murphy

  

Jane Landy – Skerries Community Assoc.

Geoff McEvoy – Skerries Community Assoc.

Paula Marry – Chamber of Commerce

Ann Doyle – Skerries Tidy Towns

  

Ann Murphy – FCC

John Hartnett – FCC

Aileen O’Connor – FCC

 The meeting was chaired by Councillor David O’Connor

  1. Minutes of meeting held on 23rd June were agreed

Issues Arising

  • O’Connor updated the Committee regarding the proposed Skerries to Loughshinny walkway.
  • Browne informed the Committee that the 2016 Triathlon may try to tie in with the 2016 Skerries Water Festival. He also commented on the need for improved communication between parties regarding the organisation of future events.
  • Geoff McEvoy raised the issue regarding the request for winter storage for boats belonging to Skerries Rowing Club.
  1. Blue Flag update

Ann Murphy outlined the process involved in attaining the Blue Flag and also informed the Committee the reason Skerries lost its Blue Flag was due to 2 individual incidents in 2014.

The Committee queried how and when Skerries could expect to get back the Blue Flag in the future. They also wondered if Milverton Quarry would affect the water quality when it was operational.

Jane Landy asked if it would be possible to contact George Sharpson with a view to recommencing local bathing water quality testing again.

  1. Skerries Town Park update

Aileen O’Connor gave an update on the work that had already been completed and the work that was yet to be done.

Jane Landy requested a written update so it could be put on their Facebook page.

  1. Skerries Town Plan (to include Traffic & Road Safety)

Geoff McEvoy suggested a coordinated approach between Fingal County Council and the Committee is taken in relation to issues of traffic and road safety in Skerries. Instead of individual issues being addressed it might be better to take a holistic approach to the issue.

It was agreed that Fingal County Council would provide the Committee with some maps of the town on which they can hi-light the areas and issues that they feel could be addressed using this approach.

  1. Tidy Towns 2015 – Review

Ann Doyle gave a brief review of the recent Tidy Towns results. She stated that the Tidy Towns Committee were very pleased with the results considering the large number of entrants. She said that for 2016 Skerries needed to come up with a project – maybe something in the area of waste minimisation. She also passed on her thanks to Fingal County Council for all of their assistance.

The Committee passed on their congratulations to Ann and the Tidy Towns Committee.

  1. Strand Street Seating

Fingal County Council said that they would give consideration to a proposal to put a small number of additional seats on Strand Street. The Committee undertook to check with businesses and residents regarding the possible location of these seats prior to presenting Fingal County Council with a number of potential sites.

  1. Provision of additional disabled parking bay on Harbour Road

Ann Murphy said that the Fingal County Council Traffic Engineer would carry out an assessment of the area but that the addition of a disabled parking bay would be done in consultation with the Gardaí.

Councillor O’Connor made an enquiry regarding the uptake and use of disabled parking bays in the town. The Committee said that they would look into this.

  1. Irish language usage (signage, etc.)

Ann Murphy reported that Fingal County Council are compliant with the legislation under the Official Languages Act. She informed the Committee that all Councils have until 2026 to be fully compliant under the legislation.

During the discussion Cllr. Tony Murphy noted that Malahide will pilot a project to standardise shop fronts and signage.

Cllr. O’Connor proposed and it was agreed that this issue would be discussed at the next Skerries Community Liaison Committee meeting as a Headed Item.

  1. South Strand Cycling

Ann Murphy reported that the current signage was the most appropriate for the area and that there was no need for additional signs or to change what was there.

Jane Landy thought that the current signs were still confusing to the public and that something should be done to make them clearer.

Ann Murphy suggested that a sufficient period of time should be allowed for the public to get used to the new arrangement on South Strand. She also suggested that the Committee could reinforce this using their newsletter and also social media.

  1. AOB
  • Jane Landy informed the Committee that Kay Coleman had recently won the Jim Quigley Award for Volunteer of the Year award. The Committee wished to pass on their congratulations to Kay on the award.

The above is the report as circulated by John Hartnett, Fingal County Council, on 12 October 2015. 

Town Twinning Association – Fond Memories of Guichen Trip July 2015

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No sunny skies, but warm welcome for Skerries travellers !

A large group of  Skerries locals  travelled to our twin area, the Canton of Guichen,  from 16th-21st July to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the charter of friendship between our two area. .  Among those who travelled were several,  who had been there at the original ceremonies  twenty years ago.   Accompanying the group were members of Rinceoil Fingal whose musical talents  contributed greatly to the enjoyment of all the events.  We also had the great pleasure of having the newly elected Mayor of Fingal, David O’Connor, with us.

The theme chosen for the celebrations was ‘Remembering the contribution of those who fought in the Second World War, who laid the future for the Europe of today’.  There was also a group of participants from the Canton’s Polish twin town, Srem .

A whole programme of events was organised for us throughout the five day stay.  One of the most interesting talks was on the enormous contribution  made by Polish soldiers to the defence of Western Europe and the role they played in the war in France.

On Friday morning, we visited the War Graves in the cemetery in Rennes and laid wreaths to remember the efforts made by French, Polish and Irish combatants during World War II.  Of particular interest for us were the graves of George Fitzpatrick, ( great uncle of the Grundy family in Skerries) and Sergeant Ross, ( (who was related to Harry Reynolds of Balbriggan). We also visited a number of retirement homes where we had the pleasure of meeting several of those who had fought for France and hearing their memories of those difficult times.   We were delighted that our musicians came along and entertained the residents with selections of Irish music, which greatly added to the occasion.  A further conference was held on the future of Europe and our responsibilities to ensuring freedom and equality across the Union.

 

Guichen report 1

The twelve young people, six from Skerries and six from Guichen who were involved in the three-week work camp, with the leaders and organisers.

Another highlight was a visit to the work camp in Laillé, where six young local students from Skerries Community College and their six counterparts from the Canton ware engaged in constructing a shelter in the local skate park.  This three-week camp was nearing the end of its second week and we were able to see the structure taking shape.  Everybody seemed to be having a good time and the Irish group were greatly heartened by hearing Irish voices and the addition of some packs of Tayto and Irish chocolate !

guichen report 2

A formal re-signing of our charter of friendship took place in the presence of the eight mayors of the Canton.  The twinning committee had also taken the opportunity to invite many of those who were involved with the original ceremonies in 1995.  We were delighted to have our very own Lord Mayor with us, as David O’Connor looked resplendent in his chain of office.  He took the occasion to present  the Fingal flag to the assembly, which was very much appreciated. This was followed by a lively session with Rinceoil again providing the music and Irish, Poles and French united in Fallaí Luimnigh !

Fun and local games were planned for the Sunday.  Undeterred by the grey skies, everybody enjoyed the afternoon.  Workshops on weaving, galette making and local cider tasting proved very popular, even if the pétanque and other Breton games were a bit hampered by the damp conditions.  A walking tour of local historical sites attracted a number of Skerries walkers, although the falling drizzle did dampen the enjoyment somewhat.

Guichen report 3

A lesson in galette making !

Congratulations to Kay Coleman, Volunteer of the Year 2015!

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The annual Jim Quigley Award for Volunteer of the Year allows the Skerries Community Association (SCA) to acknowledge a local volunteer (or group of volunteers) and give them well-deserved recognition for their work.
This year, the award went to Kay Coleman of Skerries Chamber of Commerce.  Kay was presented with it at the SCA Annual General Meeting in Skerries Community Centre (Little Theatre) last Friday night (11 September 2015).
Kay Coleman, Skerries Chamber of Commerce, receiving the 2015 Jim Quigley Volunteer of the Year Award from SCA Chairperson Geoff McEvoy

Kay Coleman, Skerries Chamber of Commerce, receiving the 2015 Jim Quigley Volunteer of the Year Award from SCA Chairperson Geoff McEvoy

In his introduction to Kay’s work, Geoff McEvoy, chair of the SCA, stressed her long involvement with Skerries Chamber of Commerce and mentioned how Kay is instrumental every year in arranging the Christmas Lights and the St Patrick’s Day Parade.
He said: “This award is a long overdue acknowledgement from her friends, colleagues and community,” and read out excerpts from the many emails the SCA had received on behalf of Kay in the process of finding the right person for the 2015 Award.
Martin Scully, President of the Skerries Chamber of Commerce, commented: “For the past 20 years Kay has been a major part of the Skerries Chamber of Commerce.  She has worked tirelessly through all projects, always with her love of Skerries as her driving force.  We at the chamber can’t think of a more deserving candidate for this award.”
In her heart-felt acceptance speech, Kay stressed her love for Skerries and her joy in seeing so many improvements in our town over the years, through the efforts of local people.

Kay joins a long list of previous winners of this prestigious award, which is given in honour of Jim Quigley, a long-time champion of community development.  Jim was involved with Skerries Development and Community Association (as it was known then) over 22 years; he was Chairperson of the SDCA for ten of those years and worked on many, many projects, including securing a Community Centre for our town.  The annual award is a very fitting way to honour Jim.

Skerries Community Association Annual General Meeting on Fri 11 September 2015

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You are invited to attend the Skerries Community Association Annual General Meeting
Little Theatre, Dublin Road on Friday 11 September 2015 at 8pm.

After the official business, our annual Jim Quigley Award will be presented to the Skerries Volunteer of the year 2015.

This year, there will be vacancies on our Board of Directors – if you’d like to help “Make a great town even better,” why not run for election? Nomination forms can be obtained at  the reception desk of our Community Centre and must be with our secretary c/o the Skerries Community Centre by Tuesday 8 September at the latest. You must be a member of the Association to go forward as a director. You can become a member at the Community Centre (Reception Desk) or by signing up online. Membership is free, and open to all over 18s who are living in Skerries.

See above for some of the fun of last year’s AGM!

Present Directors 2015 small

SCA Directors at the annual Strategy Day in Ardgillan in March 2015 – not in the picture: Jane Landy, Ernestine Woelger, Michael McKenna, Nunce McAuley

The Skerries Community Association Ltd. is an umbrella group comprising many committees, made up of several hundred volunteers, devoted to making the quality of life in Skerries even better. Skerries Community Association is also the parent organisation of Skerries Community Centre. In legal terms, the SCA has the structure of a Company Limited by Guarantee. We are, of course, not-for-profit – but we still must comply with all relevant legislation and requirements for companies.

Our board of fifteen directors has the same responsibilities as that of a Board of Directors of any company. In addition to these duties, directors are almost always members of committees as well and form an essential link between the Board and these committees. It is an interesting and very rewarding role.

A key role of the SCA is to support the work of its committees, and to facilitate the emergence of new committees and projects. The committees which are part of Skerries Community Association are (in alphabetical order):

  • Age Friendly Skerries Committee
  • Crann Padraig
  • Skerries CoderDojo
  • Skerries Community Centre Board of Management
  • Skerries Cycling Initiative
  • Skerries Guerrilla Gardeners
  • Skerries Rás End Stage Committee
  • Skerries Reaching Out
  • Skerries Skatepark Committee.
  • Skerries Soundwaves Festival
  • Skerries Tidy Towns
  • Skerries Town Twinning Association
  • Sustainable Skerries

Chair’s Report (Geoff McEvoy)

I write this report in the slightly uncomfortable position of having become Chair only one month ago. I cannot therefore proceed to report on the work of the SCA without giving all due credit to my predecessor Ciara Leonard, who brought such enormous energy and enthusiasm to the role of Chair.

We are an umbrella group for the committees listed above, and their achievements in the past year are detailed elsewhere in this report. We also work alongside a great many of the other organisations and clubs that make Skerries what it is. On behalf of the entire board I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who volunteers their time to enrich the life of our town and make Skerries such a great place to live.

We could not fulfil our role without the support of, and a good working relationship with, Fingal County Council and our elected representatives at local and national level. The Skerries Community Liaison Committee has been a terrific forum for effective and constructive engagement with the County Council. I sit on this committee with my colleague Jane Landy. We meet on a quarterly basis and anybody living in Skerries can submit an item to be discussed. But the work of the SCA is a year-round process and I would like to thank our elected representatives and council officials for being consistently available and supportive.

There are a few highlights of the past year in Skerries I would like to dwell on for a moment.

  • August marked the Centenary of the Old School House. My colleague Mary Conway and her team did great work organising the event to mark this occasion. A huge turnout reflected on the history of our town with readings, songs, photographs and letters from pupils from 1914 to 2014.
  • This year also saw a wonderful addition to the new Floraville Community Garden in the form of the seals sculpted by local artist Paul D’Arcy. Great thanks is again due to the Chamber of Commerce for their work in bringing this amenity to our town, and also for their continued work on the Patrick’s Day Parade and the annual Christmas Lights.

Special congratulations to one of our newest committees, Age Friendly Skerries. Earlier this year they won the Environment award at the Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards ceremony in Cavan, and their information pack launch last month was attended by over 170 people.

I was involved this year in the SCA’s submission in two projects, the Fingal Development Plan and the Town Park Masterplan. Both of these projects are ongoing and both will be the focus of a lot of our work in the year ahead.

  • The Fingal Development Plan is a great opportunity to shape the goals and aspirations that we have, not just for Skerries, but for the whole of Fingal and the role of our town in achieving those goals. This 99-week process allows everyone to have their say in the strategic plan for Fingal and it has only just begun. The SCA is looking forward to being an active part in that process.
  • As part of Age Friendly Action in Skerries, Fingal County Council launched the Masterplan for the Town Park. This was approved by the Council earlier this year and I was delighted to see many of the suggestions in our submission reflected in it. There is plenty of work ahead for the SCA in contributing to and enhancing the proposals it contains.

I thank those colleagues who are stepping down from the Board for all their work: As well as my predecessor Ciara Leonard, they are Zaneta Wright (who did such sterling work as hon-sec), Maxine Watson and Martin Russell. Martin will be well known to many as a former Chair of the SCA and a tireless activist for his community. As a director on the Board it was a pleasure for me to enjoy the benefit of his support, experience and friendship.

It is with great sadness that we remember the passing of our friend and colleague George McCormack this year. George was a long standing member of the Board whose knowledge and dedication to Skerries will be deeply missed.

Finally, I want to repeat that it would not be possible to include in this report a mention of all those who deserve it. So apologies to those left out and, on behalf of the SCA and the Board, I want to thank everyone who gives their time to enriching our town and especially those countless volunteers involved in our association for helping to make a great town even better.

Geoff McEvoy, Chairperson, Skerries Community Association
Contact: Geoff.McEvoy@skerriesca.com

Stay in touch!

Nearly every day, the SCA Newsflash containing information on local events as well as “small ads”-type content and notifications, is mailed to subscribers. To subscribe, send an email with the subject “Newsflash Subscription” to info@skerriesca.com. You will be added to both the daily Newsflash and the Quarterly SCA Newsletter, which highlights the current work of our committees.

We do our best to keep the Facebook page and the website, www.SkerriesCA.com  up-to-date and relevant. Sabine McKenna is the director with responsibility for our online presence, and you can contact her at web@skerriesca.com or via the Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/SkerriesCommunity

Skerries Community Centre

The last two years have been very busy and rewarding years for Skerries Community Centre-. During this time the Centre and the Old School have gone through a big transition, including replacement of the showers and toilets, the heating in both buildings and the windows in the Old School, improvements to the garden and repainting the Old School. Next steps include a new logo for the Centre and extra toilets in the Old School.

All the painting and gardening improvements are thanks to the staff of the Centre, especially the CE workers, who are taking great pride in how the Centre looks. All staff are now wearing uniforms, which makes them easy to identify.

This year we purchased extra equipment for children’s activities, such as a bouncy castle, an inflatable 40-foot obstacle course, and ten bubble football outfits. These purchases have been very successful for our camps, which have been full all year. Our children’s parties are also getting very popular. (Contact the Centre at 01-849 0888 for information.)

Shay Fanning, Chair, Board of Management, Skerries Community Centre. Contact: info@skerriescommunitycentre.ie

Age Friendly Skerries Committee 

An Age Friendly Skerries Information Pack was launched in August 2015. The Information Pack was developed to address the information needs of older people in the town, in particular our most vulnerable older people. It not only provides vital details on emergency services but also provides information on clubs and leisure activities for older people and will be an asset for all.

Other projects either  supported or initiated by Age Friendly Skerries include the upgrade and enhancement of the Town Park, follow-up on the recent Walkability Study with Fingal County Council (FCC),  the roll-out of OPRAH (Older People Remaining at Home), a HSE  initiative, and of a befriending programme to alleviate social isolation via Crosscare;  the setting up of, and support for, Carers’ Meetings in association with the Carers’ Association, and the “Message in a Bottle” Initiative.

We are doing the above in partnership with FCC (Eithne Mallin) who is coordinating the delivery of other age friendly services in Skerries by a number of organisations. FCC is supporting us by providing information about sources of funding and useful contacts etc.

Mary Conway for Age Friendly Skerries.
Contact: agefriendly@skerriesca. com 

Skerries Tidy Towns Committee

We are eagerly awaiting the 2015 results of the National Tidy Towns Competition on 28th September.  Watch out for Nationwide on RTE that evening and hopefully you will spot Skerries. In 2014 we won the County Award and a Gold Medal in the competition, and were only 4 points behind the winner Kilkenny. So it really is nail biting time now.

Community involvement is very important.  The bird and bat nesting boxes made by Foróige and placed in appropriate locations by our local BirdWatch Ireland group, together with the multiple green flags obtained by the local schools, and the Adopt-a-Beach scheme, count in a big way.  Well done and many thanks to all.

The fifth year of Adopt-a-Patch was re-launched in March 2015, and there are now 50 patches adopted. We need a few more volunteers so if you think you can help, do contact us.

Our work programme runs from early February until September each year. Our regular work parties meet on Monday mornings at 9.30 am in our store on Quay St – new faces always welcome.

Many thanks to all our volunteers and for all the support the Committee receives from residents and businesses in Skerries.

Maeve McGann, for Skerries Tidy Towns.
Contact: tidytowns@skerriesca.com

Skerries Reaching Out

Skerries Reaching Out was set up to identify, using reverse genealogy, those who left Skerries, tracing them and their descendants worldwide, proactively engaging with them and inviting them to reconnect with their homeland.  We also assist anybody seeking information on any past or present relative living in Skerries. We are a member of the Ireland Reaching Out Community – www.irelandxo.com.

We have been of assistance with several family enquiries during 2014. One such request in is seeking any information on any present McKibben relatives in Ireland or indeed Skerries (originally the McKibbens from Balcunnin, Skerries).  If anybody is interested in joining us to proactively research and assist Skerries’ descendants to trace their ancestors do get in touch.

John Coleman, Skerries Reaching Out.
Contact: skerries@irelandxo.com

Skerries Guerrilla Gardeners

SGG has been working with other local voluntary groups to engender awareness of sustainability issues in Skerries schoolchildren through practical action. In Skerries Educate Together, a new outdoor learning pavilion and amphitheatre was completed this year.  Landscaping and planting is now well in hand due to super work by parents committee. The Local Agenda 21 Partnership Fund grant from Fingal County Council purchased topsoil, plants and other materials needed to create this wonderful outdoor learning space.

Community Centre entrance and carpark: SGG was delighted to work with the gardening staff and management of the Community Centre, Tidy Towns and Skerries Allotments to secure shrubs and plants to create an attractive, colourful landscape around the Centre.

Michael McKenna for Skerries Guerrilla Gardeners
Contact: gardeners@skerriesca.com

Crann Pádraig

Crann Pádraig Skerries is an environmental group which promotes and encourages the planting of broad-leaf trees. Happily Skerries is planted as best as possible with such trees. Requests for plants will always be considered from Clubs and Societies. (However Crann Padraig is not a substitute for commercial purchase. Individuals are not catered for.) Please note that permission must be obtained before any planting on either  public or private land is undertaken.

Brendan Sherlock for Crann Pádraig
Contact: crann@skerriesca.com

Skerries Town Twinning Association

Our big undertaking in 2014 was the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Twinning Ceremony in Skerries in August, when we welcomed 41 visitors from the Canton of Guichen for a four-day visit.  We offered a range of activities for the visitors to highlight our shared Celtic heritage. In Spring 2014 we had organised an exchange of photographers.  This led to a wonderful exhibition entitled ‘Through Each Other’s Eyes’ in Skerries Mills.

We had two projects in July of this year – a return trip of almost 40 participants, including a group of traditional musicians from Rush, to Guichen in July and our participation in an international youth camp in July, for which six students from Skerries Community College travelled to France for a three-week camp, constructing a shelter in the public skateboard playground in Laillé, one of the main towns in the Canton of Guichen.

We’re always ready to welcome new initiatives. We have had approaches from the local badminton club in Laillé with a view to organising a visit to Skerries, so we will start to work on this soon.   If you have any ideas for joint projects with the Canton of Guichen, why not get in touch with us and we’ll see how we can progress them?

Geraldine McQuillan, Secretary, Skerries Town Twinning Association; contact: towntwinning@skerriesca.com

Skerries Rás End Stage Committee

The An Post Rás is Ireland’s number one cycling event. It is an annual, eight-day, stage race around Ireland. In 2006, it finished in Skerries for the first time. In 2015, the committee celebrated 10 years of the Rás finishing in Skerries, and arranged yet another successful street party to welcome in the Riders. The sun shone, and a large crowd awaited them at the picturesque seaside town, bringing 8 tough days in the saddle to a stirring, atmospheric end.

Jonathan Grimes, for the An Post Rás – Skerries Stage End Committee. Contact:  skerriesrasendstage@gmail.com

Skerries Cycling Initiative

Our bike repair and maintenance course, run at the Well Fit gym premises at  Skerries Shopping Centre over six mornings in May, was initiated by Skerries Tidy Towns with funding by Fingal County Council and the Department of the Environment under the Local Agenda 21 programme. Bike mechanic Paul Callan from The Rediscovery Centre, a social enterprise based in Ballymun, conducted the sessions. All 10 participants enjoyed the course and now feel confident about tackling bike repairs.

Our Midsummer Madness Bike Week Fun Cycle on 21 June was a trip around the town and local housing estates exploring lesser known paths and laneways, and it ended with the traditional picnic.

During the last year we made submissions to Fingal County Council on 30 km/h in residential areas, cycling in Town Parks and the draft County Development Plan. We continue to press for the completion of the cycle track from Balbriggan to Skerries, and for greater awareness of the importance of cycling to a number of areas, including the development of tourism in Fingal. To receive our regular cycling newsletter, just send an email to cycling@skerriesca.com.

Ray Ryan, Chairperson, Skerries Cycling Initiative.
Contact: cycling@skerriesca.com

Skerries Soundwaves Festival

Our 2015 festival kicks off on 17th September and continues until the 27th. We had our Lego Family Fun Day in June, and great fun was had by all at the display area, the Lego build off, the Wheel of Fortune and the Schools Art Display.

Among the events planned for September are an Art Trail with artwork displayed in 10-15 prominent locations around the town; our schools programme with artists and story tellers; the Mills Gig, featuring the Walls, Darling, and The Fontaines; a classical music night in Holmpatrick Church with Fingal Chamber Choir, strings, and more; our fourth Soundwaves Minecraft Project, with a week of online creativity followed by a Minecraft-themed wrap party; a new play from Sunday’s Child; a night of Music and Poetry in the Mills; our largest ever street party, with a bouncy castles, youth orchestra, Mr. Toots the tourist train, Clap Handies, street games, the rock trailer, and more. The Finale will be the annual fireworks display in the harbour. See http://skerriessoundwaves.com  for our full programme.

Gráinne Enright, chair, Skerries Soundwaves Festival
Contact: skerriessoundwavesfestival@gmail.com

Sustainable Skerries

Sustainable Skerries has had a good year, with the Community Harvest Group membership remaining stable, and also with many people expressing interest in availing of the local, organic produce boxes next year. In community food garden news, a great team has been formed to facilitate the development of a community food garden within the Town Parks area, thanks to all who signed the petition. Plans are underway to host Sustainable Living workshops within the next few months; topics we hope to cover include foraging, mending and up-cycling and also waste.

Zaneta Wright, Chairperson, Sustainable Skerries
Contact: sustskerries@yahoo.ie

Skerries Skatepark Committee

Over the past year the Skerries Skatepark Committee have been working closely with the community, Fingal Co Co, local councillors and politicians to create a viable proposal for the addition of a skatepark for Skerries.  We are delighted that in July of this year the first major hurdle was crossed with the allocation of a site near Skerries Mills by Fingal Co Co as part of the Town Parks Masterplan. The next phase and new focus now is to investigate all forms of possible funding in order to keep the project moving. The Skerries Skatepark Committee would like to thank everyone involved in the process for the support and help to date.

Mat May, for Skerries Skatepark Committee.
Contact: skatepark@skerriesca.com

Skerries CoderDojo

It’s hard to believe that a year ago, this committee didn’t even exist! Skerries CoderDojo is a monthly coding club for kids aged 7 to 17 including those with no previous coding experience.

The first “dojo” (club meeting) took place in September 2014. Over 30 helpers, organisers, and mentors ensure that the 70+ “ninjas” can get hands-on experience with coding during our monthly sessions.

Bookings for our monthly sessions (which are free, but participants must bring a laptop and a parent if they are under 12) open about a week before the event on our Eventbrite page. The monthly sessions take place on the second Sunday of each month, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the Little Theatre. As well as being an SCA committee, we are also part of the international CoderDojo movement.

We’re always on the look-out for helpers, especially for mentors who’d like to pass on their coding skills to the next generation!

Sabine McKenna, chair, Skerries CoderDojo
Contact: coderdojo@skerriesca.com

Soundwaves Festival Update August 2015

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Right now, Skerries Soundwaves Festival is undoubtedly our busiest committee, as the festival itself is coming up in September! Gráinne Enright, chairperson of the committee, writes:

[The following was written in preparation for our Skerries Community Association AGM, which will take place on Friday 11 September 2015, 8 p.m., in the Little Theatre.]

Skerries Soundwaves Festival

LegoPosterSkerries Soundwaves is in its 12th year now, and continues to go from strength to strength. We had our Lego Family Fun Day in June, and great fun was had by all at the display area, the Lego build off, the Wheel of Fortune and the Schools Art Display.

Our 2015 festival kicks off on 17th September and continues until the 27th. Some events planned for this year include:

– An art trail with artwork displayed in 10-15 prominent locations around the town

– A schools programme, with artists and story tellers going into local schools

Soundwaves 2015 poster

– A large concert at the Mills, featuring the Walls, Darling, and The Fontaines

– A classical music night with choirs, strings, and more

Soundwaves Minecraft 2015– Our fourth Soundwaves Minecraft Project, with a week of online creativity followed by a Minecraft-themed wrap party on Sunday

– Our largest ever street party, with a bouncy castles, a youth orchestra, Mr. Toots the tourist train, Clap Handies, street games, the rock trailer, and more.

– A children’s opera: Hansel and Gretel

– Sunday’s Child Drama Company will put on their latest play

– An inclusive drumming workshop, now in its third year
– The annual fireworks display in the harbour

See  http://skerriessoundwaves.com  for our full programme.
Contact: skerriessoundwavesfestival@gmail.com

Gráinne Enright, chair, Skerries Soundwaves Festival

 

Skerries Cycling Initiative June 2014 to August 2015

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Skerries Cycling Initiative also reviewed the last year, getting ready for the Skerries Community Association AGM on Fri 11 September 2015. The chairperson, Ray Ryan, writes:

Our activities over the last year or so included:


SCI 2015 SCI at Rás 2015Bike repair and maintenance course. Ten people attended the bike repair and maintenance course we organised at the Well Fit gym premises at  Skerries Shopping Centre over six mornings in May. It was initiated by Skerries Tidy Towns with funding  by Fingal County Council and the Department of the Environment under the Local Agenda 21 programme. Bike mechanic Paul Callan from The Rediscovery Centre, a social enterprise based in Ballymun, conducted the sessions. All participants enjoyed the course and now feel confident about tackling bike repairs.

The Rás End Stage street party and the fine weather gave SCI a great opportunity to talk to people about improving cycling infrastructure in and around Skerries. The need for a safer cycling route between Skerries and Balbriggan came up many times. People really want to see this happen soon.
We were delighted  that twenty eight  new subscribers signed up to our email Newsletter on the day. To receive it yourself, just send an email to cycling@skerriesca.com.

SCI 2015 fun cycleBike Week Fun Cycle. Our Midsummer Madness Fun Cycle on 21 June was a trip around the town and local housing estates exploring lesser known paths and laneways as well as Town Parks, the Ballast Pit path and Distributor road. We returned from Barnageera Cove via the coast road and finished with a picnic at The Seapole.

 

Submissions to FCC. During the last year we made submissions on 30 km/h in residential areas, cycling in Town Parks and the draft County Development Plan. We continue to press for the completion of the cycle track from Balbriggan to Skerries, and for greater awareness of the importance of cycling to a number of areas, including the development of tourism in Fingal.

Cycling on South Strand As a group working for better cycling facilities in Skerries we had mixed feelings about the proposal to ban cycling along the South Strand path. However we are convinced, having heard many accounts of accidents involving walkers and cyclists that the path is not suited to adult cycling given the potential for conflicts with other users. However, Fingal County Council accept that young children, properly supervised by a parent, may cycle on the path.

Ray Ryan, Chairperson, Skerries Cycling Initiative.
Contact: cycling@skerriesca.com

Skerries Town Twinning Association – A Review of the Last Year

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As all our SCA Committees are preparing for the 2015 AGM (Fri 09 September 2015, 8 p.m., Little Theatre), they look back over the past year or so. Here is what Geraldine McQuillan of Skerries Town Twinning Association wrote:

IMG_6915We have had a busy time over the past twelve months.  Our big undertaking in 2014 was the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Twinning Ceremony in Skerries in 1994.  The festivities took place in August and we welcomed 41 visitors from the Canton of Guichen for a four-day visit.  The emphasis was on our common Celtic Heritage and we tried to include a range of activities for them, including workshops in set-dancing, celtic embroidery and traditional music.  We had a lovely tour of Ardgillan Castle and Gardens and a guided walking tour of the town.  One of the fun items was a boules contest. To commemorate our original twinning events in 1994, we unveiled a plaque on Red Island to mark the anniversary.   A day long trip to Kilkenny city gave them a taste of another heritage town. IMG_6870

Alongside these events, we ran a separate programme of sports and cultural activities for the twelve children who were among the group.  It was an exhausting, but very enjoyable few days and we are most grateful to the many individuals and groups who lent their cooperation for the event.

twinning 01Earlier in the Spring 2014 we had organised an exchange of photographers.  Three Skerries photographers visited  the Canton of Guichen and in return, two photographers from Guichen came to Skerries. This led to a wonderful body of work entitled ‘Through Each Other’s Eyes,’  which we had the pleasure of exhibiting in Skerries Mills.

Guichen 2015 ceolWe had two projects this summer – a return trip to the Canton in July and our participation in an international youth camp held in Laillé in July.  We had almost 40 participants in the July trip, including a group of traditional musicians from Rush.  Apart from this, six teenage pupils from Skerries Community College travelled to France for a three-week camp, also in July.  Their project was to construct a shelter in the public skateboard playground in Laillé, one of the main towns in the Canton of Guichen. They worked with six local teenagers, sharing the work, meals and leisure time activities with their French counterparts. A good time was had by all.

Guichen 2015 mayor

David O’Connor, the Mayor of Fingal, in Guichen.

 

We’re always ready to welcome new initiatives. We have had approaches from the local badminton club in Laillé with a view to organising a visit to Skerries, so we will start to work on this soon.   If you have any ideas for joint projects with the Canton of Guichen, why not get in touch with us and we’ll see how we can progress them?

Geraldine McQuillan, Secretary, Skerries Town Twinning Association; contact: towntwinning@skerriesca.com 

Guichen 2015 group picture

Skerries Tidy Towns Committee look back on the last year

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In the run-up to the SCA AGM on Fri, 11 September 2015, all committees are reviewing the past year. Here is what Maeve McGann wrote about the work of the Tidy Towns Committee:

Another busy year for Skerries and we are eagerly awaiting the 2015 results of the National Tidy Towns Competition. These will be announced on 28th September.  Watch out for Nationwide on RTE that evening and hopefully you will spot Skerries.

In 2014 having won the County Award and a Gold Medal in the competition, we closed the gap on the overall winners. We are now only 4 points behind last year’s winner Kilkenny. So it really is nail biting time now.

Tidy Towns Awards 2014 01

At the Skerries Tidy Towns Awards, December 2014

Community involvement is an important element in achieving marks in the national competition.  The bird and bat nesting boxes made by Foróige and placed in appropriate locations by our local BirdWatch Ireland group, together with the multiple green flags obtained by the local schools, and the Adopt-a-Beach scheme, count in a big way.  Well done and many thanks to all.

Patch 2015 (4)The fifth year of Adopt-a-Patch was re-launched in March 2015, and there are now 50 patches adopted. We do have a few more looking for volunteers to adopt them so if you think you can help contact us through Facebook or speak to any member of the committee.

Our work programme runs from the end of January early February until September each year. We have regular work parties on a Monday morning meeting at 9.30 am in our store on Quay St – new faces always welcome.

Many thanks to all our volunteers and for all the support the Committee receives from residents and businesses in Skerries.

Maeve McGann, for Skerries Tidy Towns.

Contact: tidytowns@skerriesca.com.

Skerries Community Centre – Update August 2015

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Shay Fanning, Chair, Board of Management, Skerries Community Centre, writes:

The last two years have been very busy and rewarding years for Skerries Community Centre–during this time the Centre and the Old School have gone through a big transition. In the Centre, the ladies and gents showers and ladies and gents toilets have been completely refurbished. The heating in the centre and old school have been changed from oil to gas. Most of the windows in the Old School have been replaced with timber double glazed windows that are in keeping with the building’s appearance. The front and side of the Old School is getting a completely new coat of paint.

We are also in the process of getting a new logo for the Centre. We have planning permission for extra toilets in the Old School and we are just waiting to see if our grant application is successful.

The garden around the Old School has got a total overhaul, the flower beds in the car park are also getting a makeover, the next part is for the tree beds running parallel to the Dublin Road to get a facelift…

I would like to point out that all the painting and gardening improvements is thanks to the staff of the Centre, especially the CE workers, who are taking great pride in how the Centre looks. All staff of the Centre are now wearing uniforms, which makes them easy to identify.

bouncy castle community centre August 2015This year we purchased extra equipment for children’s activities, such as a bouncy castle, an inflatable 40-foot obstacle course, and ten bubble football outfits. These purchases have been very successful for our camps, which have been full all year. Our children’s parties are also getting very popular. (Contact the Centre at 01-849 0888 for information!) bubble football Community Centre 2015

 

 

 Contact: info@skerriescommunitycentre.ie

Launch of Age Friendly Skerries Information Pack

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On Tuesday 25th August, the Skerries Age Friendly Town Working Group launched an Information Pack for people over 65 years. Cllr David O’Connor, Mayor of Fingal launched the Booklet in the Skerries Harps GAA Club to an audience of more than 170 people. The Information pack was developed to address the information needs of older people in the town, in particular our most vulnerable older people. It not only provides vital details on emergency services but also provides information on clubs and leisure activities for older people and will be an asset for all.

It will be distributed to all of the established estates in the hope to reach will get most of the older people. The information pack is also going to be available in Skerries Library and in the Citizens Information Office, New Street, as well as at Reception in our Community Centre.

Click into the pictures to see them in full-screen mode; click on “close” to return to the blog post. Photographs by Brendan Sherlock and John Coleman.

Jane Landy, one of the Directors of Skerries Community Association and involved with the age-friendly project from the start, reminded the audience that of the aim of Skerries Community Association – to help to make a great town even better.

Jane continued: For many years we aspired to do more for older people in relation to this but the challenge of understanding exactly what to do and how to do it proved very daunting. We realised that whatever we did, we had to be part of something bigger. So when we learned that our old friend Eithne Mallin of Fingal County Council was looking for a town in Fingal to become “Age friendly”, we asked her if Skerries could come on board and she agreed. It is fantastic to hear of all the groundwork that has been done over the past two years since the initial research started. I am delighted to say that three of our directors Mary Conway, Brendan Sherlock and Nunce McAuley have been involved from the beginning.

On behalf of the SCA I want to congratulate everyone who has participated and say how delighted we are to work with Fingal County Council, the HSE and the Age Friendly Association on this important and innovative programme. We wish you the best of luck with it and look forward to realising our collective aspiration to make Skerries a great place in which to live, work and grow old. 
For more information on the Age Friendly Skerries initiative, see this page with information on the Age Friendly Skerries Committee as well as this collection of posts about it.