Category Archives: News

SCA Submission for the next County Development Plan

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Development Plan Consultation April 2015 (1)The next County Development Plan will cover the years 2017 to 2023. That’s a good bit into the future, but Fingal County Council have started work on it. You can read all about the process on the FCC website.

In the first round of consultations, Skerries Community Association was part of a very lively consultative meeting hosted by Fingal County Council in Balbriggan in April.

Issues raised there, and at our Board of Directors meetings, were summarised by our vice chairperson, Geoff McEvoy, and sent in the format of a submission to Fingal County Council in May.

A link to a PDF with the full submission is below; here are the main points:

Cultural Heritage

  • need for a permanent, purpose built performance space in Skerries
  • renovation and renewal of Skerries Library

Infrastructure and Movement

  • active travel (walking and cycling) must continue to be a priority focus
  • provision of cycle lanes and accessible footpaths
  • consideration of local public transport options to further  encourage mobility and prevent traffic congestion in the town centre.
  • overall, strategic approach to traffic management in Skerries
  • completion of promised and planned cycle path between Skerries and Balbriggan

Economic Development

  • Tourism is of increasing importance for the economy of the town – need for more beds to accommodate overnight visitors to festivals etc.
  • Infrastructural support to facilitate a joined up approach to the various water sports and activities that make use of our coastline.
  • Explore options for the Martello Tower, a potential tourism resource that is not being utilised.

Natural Heritage

  • Continued access to clean water and beaches is crucial for Skerries. The recent granting of the waste facility licence at Milverton Quarry has raised concerns in this regard.
  • Effective, sustainable water treatment – address inability of the water treatment plant in Kelly’s Bay to cope with increased water (heavy rains) and water quality in Rush (due to lack of proper water treatment there)
  • Long-term plans needed to address flooding at the Mill Stream.

Settlement Strategy, Placemaking and Communities

  • Facilitate the swift return to use of vacant properties.
  • Support independent living for older people
  • Provide youth facilities
  • Provide open spaces
  • High-quality broadband for all of Skerries and environs.
  • Free public WiFi throughout the town centre is desirable
  • Maintain the green belt between Skerries and the neighbouring towns of Balbriggan, Lusk and Loughshinny.
  • While additional development for housing is probably necessary, all planning and development must be sensitive, sustainable and community focused in order to avoid the mistakes of the past.

Skerries Community Association will continue to engage with Fingal County Council so that the next Development Plan will provide a framework for the points we raised in this submission.

Click on this link to see the full submission:
SCA Development Plan Submission May 2015

Lego Family Fun Day for Soundwaves next Sunday!

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Soundwaves presents Lego Family Fun Day.

Soundwaves, one of the many parts of Skerries Community Association, is preparing for its 11th festival (September 17 to 27) with a fun fundraiser:

Sunday 21 June 2015.  2pm-5pm. Skerries Community Centre.

Don’t miss out on the chance to win one of our many fantastic Raffle Prizes on Lego day, including

  • A pair of tickets for to see Manu Chao In Royal Hospital Kilmainham on the 27th of June
  • A pair of tickets for Paulo Nutini playing in Marlay Park 4th July.
  • Lir Chocolate basket, Jewellery, Beauty basket, Vouchers, Large Airfix model and many more.

Also on the day…

  • Kids of all ages, bring your original Lego creations, display for all to admire and you could be in with a chance to win a prize for your effort.
    Registration  2pm-3pm cost €2
  • This year we have on display three Lego art projects from three of our local primary schools, namely Réalt na Mara, Skerries Educate Together N.S. , and St. Patricks Junior School. The winning school will win a specially commissioned lLego trophy!!!
  • Wheel of Fortune. Every spin guarantees a prize.
  • Face painting and Arts and crafts area.
    Design your own mini figure and be in with a chance to win a prize.
  • Lego Build Off. Everything is Awesome! Work in a team beat the clock and be in a chance to win a prize for your teams build.
  • Also this year.. Calling all Dads!!!
    Fathers Day special Lego build off!!

This event is a fundraiser for the Skerries Soundwaves Arts Festival.

LegoPoster

SCI are inviting you to a Midsummer Madness Cycle on Sun 21 June

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As part of Bikeweek 2015, Skerries Cycling Initiative are organising a fun cycle for cyclists of all ages, taking place on Sun 21 June from 12 noon.

Meet at Skerries Mills (Car Park), and follow the SCI volunteers on an easy cycle (9 km in total, no hills, suitable for all ages and bikes – as long as they are roadworthy!) that will take in Strand Street, South Strand, the Rugby Club, Hillside, the train station, go past Skerries Point to Barnageeragh Cove and back along the coast road to Skerries Harbour, ending at the Sea Pole some time after half one in good time for a quick picnic (pack something nice for yourself and maybe to share) before heading over to the Lego Fun Day, a fundraiser for fellow-SCA-committee Soundwaves!

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Bring water, it might be a hot day.

MidSummer Cycle 2015

Bikeweek SCI

Tidy Towns ask: Join Cleaner Communities Competition!

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Skerries Tidy Towns Committee write:

Entry forms are now available for the Fingal County Council “Cleaner Communities Competition”.
They can be downloaded from the Fingal County Council site, click on the link below or phone 018905453.
There are entries accepted from both Commercial and Residential.
Commercial includes: presentation of premises, Waste Management Initiatives, Energy Management Initiatives and Biodiversity.
Residential includes: best presented gardens, thatched cottages, estates, apartments, community centres.
There is also an award for Green Business: special effort to be environmentally friendly.
This is our own county competition and we as a town have lots to offer so please download a form and enter your residential area, house or business.

http://www.fingalcoco.ie/…/c…/community-clean-up-and-awards/

Bike Repair and Maintenance Course organised by two of our committees

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Fix that bike! Want to learn how to fix punctures and brakes and lots of other practical stuff to keep your bike working safely and efficiently?
Two of the committees of Skerries Community Association have come together to bring you this course:
Sign up now for a free bike repair and maintenance course coming to Skerries in May. The course is open to Skerries residents over sixteen years old and is being organised by Skerries Cycling Initiative and Skerries Tidy Towns.
The course involves six sessions and will take place on Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings (9am-12 noon) over a three week period starting on Tuesday 5 May and ending on  Wed 20 May.
Any questions? Contact Michael, Skerries Cycling Initiative, via  cycling@skerriesca.com
Sponsored by Fingal County Council under the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Grants scheme
bike in front of harbour

Reports from Skerries Community Liaison Committee March 2015

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REPORTS FROM SKERRIES COMMUNITY LIAISON COMMITTEE

AttendanceCllr David O’ConnorCllr. J.P. BrowneCllr. Grainne Maguire

Jane Landy – SCA Rep.
Pat Reen – Prosper Fingal

Ann Doyle – Skerries Tidy Tows

Kay Coleman – Skerries Chamber
Guests

Ray Ryan – S.C.I

Apologies:

Cllr. Malachy Quinn, Geoff McEvoy S.C.A.,

 Martin Sweeney – FCCAileen O’Connor – FCCBernard Kenealy – FCCAnn Murphy – FCC

John Hartnett – FCC

Meeting held on March 24th 2015
Town Park, Skerries – Update

Aileen O’Connor reported that the Council put the plans for the Town Park on public consultation requesting submissions from the people of Skerries.

As part of the public consultation, 53 submissions were received. All submissions will be considered in the preparation of a report that will be presented to the elected members at the Balbriggan / Swords Area Committee Services B meeting in April.

Skerries to Balbriggan Cycle Route – Update

Martin Sweeney provided an update to the proposed Skerries to Balbriggan Cycle route. There has been a lot of work carried out to date and lands have been acquired for the project. Although a portion of grant funding has been awarded by the N.T.A. the overall delivery of the project is reliant on further funding being provided. This funding has not yet been identified.

Fingal County Council will look to seek approval from the elected members to commence the Part 8 of the Planning Act & Regulations in relation to the scheme which will include the preparation of detailed drawings and costings and a public consultation period.

Signage on Promenade on South Strand

The Council will be placing signage on the promenade on South Strand restricting cycling on this pathway over the coming weeks. The signage is being installed as a direct result of cyclists who are not having regard for other users, especially elderly and mobility impaired users.

The signage will be placed at either end and at all entrance points on the track. When the signage is being installed, a press release will issue to local Councillors, Skerries News, Skerries Cycling, SCA etc. It will be emphasised that these measures are being taken to address inconsiderate adult cycling on the pathway, and it is not the intention to restrict or prohibit young children from cycling on the pathway.

Sit Down on Strand Street

The Committee members again discussed this difficult issue and have recommended that one of the benches be repositioned on Strand Street. This recommendation is being evaluated by the Operations Department and hopefully work can take place in the coming weeks.

Special Works Programme 2015

The elected members recently adopted the special works programme for the Operations Department. The following works relate to the town of Skerries;

Restoration  Improvement  2015 – Road Reconstruction

Thomas Hand Street, Skerries          300M             €75,000

Restoration Maintenance  2015

Convent Lane, Skerries (MO)            200M             €28,000

Millars Lane, Skerries (MO)               200M             €20,000

SPECIAL  WORKS  2015   

Footpaths and Drainage works –    Millverton, Thomas Hand St, Strand St & Millars Lane       €44,000

Traffic Management Schemes

Skerries Dublin Road between roundabout and

Townparks Distributor Road Junction        €23,000

Parks and Open Spaces

Skerries      Cormorant Bed                       €8,000

Kelly’s Bay path                                       €5,000

St Patrick’s Day Parade

The Committee wished to thank Kay Coleman for her help and involvement in this year’s parade.

End 28th March 2015

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The Liaison Committee is an informal meeting of community groups (including the SCA) and Fingal County Council officials. The committee meets four times per year and any resident of Skerries can request for a topic to be discussed.

The SCA representatives on the committee are Jane Landy (jane.landy@skerriesca.com) and Geoff McEvoy (geoff.mcevoy@skerriesca.com)

 

Launch of 2015 Skerries Adopt-A-Patch

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Skerries Tidy Towns Committee, in association with Fingal County Council and Supervalu, re-launched “Adopt-a-Patch” at Skerries Mills last Tuesday (24 March 2015).

This successful scheme is now in its fifth season. New and continuing volunteers take charge of an open space, laneway or pedestrian area, and keep it clean and litter free. Fingal County-Council provide bags, and collect full bags from convenient points around the town. Our local Supervalu act as the depot for new bags, gloves etc.

Frances Owens and Breege Madden, the Tidy Towns “Adopt-a-Patch” coordinators, thanked all their volunteers. They added: “With your help, Skerries continues to achieve a high place in the national Tidy Towns competition.”

It was particularly good to see a strong contingent from Skerries Community College, who are ever increasing their involvement in the community. They regularly cooperate with SCA committees – Soundwaves, for instance, hugely benefited from a good number of Transition Year volunteers during their festival last September.  The SCC students have adopted a patch around the Community College.

 

Patch 2015 (1) Patch 2015 (2) Patch 2015 (3) Patch 2015 (4)

If you would like to join those who already have adopted an area, contact y member of Skerries Tidy Towns Committee, in particular Frances Owens (087 241 7017) or Breege Madden (087 770 0449).

  • Big areas can be divided between a number of volunteers.
  • The area can be cleaned at a time that suits you.
  • Gloves, bags and a picker will be provided.
  • Fingal County Council will collect bags from convenient points

Photographs: Brendan Sherlock, SCA.

Jim Quigley Volunteers Award 2015 – Call for Nominations

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SCA VolunteersVolunteers are the glue of our community. Every year, Skerries Community Association awards a prize to an individual or a group of volunteers.

This year the nominee can be a young person, an adult, or a group – the only thing that matters is that they are deserving prize winners!

This prize is awarded every year in appreciation of volunteering work done in Skerries. You can read more about Jim Quigley and the prize, as well as see a list of previous winners, on our website.

Please forward nominations with as much information as you can giving the reason why you would like this person/group to get the prize.

The judges are outside the Town and need guidance on what the nominee does to help them make a fair decision.

Nominations to mary.conway@skerriesca.com  before the last day of May 2015.

 

Skerries CoderDojo in March

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The volunteers of Skerries CoderDojo (one of the many committees of Skerries Community Association) made it possible once more – over 70 “ninjas” (young coders) attended the monthly CoderDojo (or computer-coding workshops) in our Old School last Sunday, 8 March 2015.

There are some 30 mentors and helpers involved in this project, all giving their time free of charge. Thanks to their main sponsor, RazorSocial (based in Rush), their venue is paid for for the moment, but there are many other costs to cover, such as mentor training,  child protection training, materials and (some) equipment (they borrow as much as possible).

Normally, sessions take place on the second Sunday of the month. Every month, tickets for this free event can be reserved. It is safest to book them on the Sunday before the event, when they go live at 5 p.m., as there can be waiting lists. An email to coderdojo@skerriesca.com is all it takes to be put on their mailing list & to be alerted in good time before the next session!

 

Tidy Towns: Adopt-a-Patch

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Skerries Tidy Towns (a committee of Skerries Community Association) invites you to the relaunch of their ‘Adopt-a-Patch’ scheme at Skerries Mills on Tuesday, 24th March between 2.30 and 4 p.m.

We hope our existing volunteers will continue the wonderful work they do in helping to keep Skerries litter free and welcome new volunteers to Adopt-a-Patch. Come along and check out the areas we hope individuals and families will adopt!

  • Big areas can be divided between a number of volunteers.
  • The area can be cleaned at a time that suits you.
  • Gloves, bags and a picker will be provided.
  • Fingal County Council will collect bags from convenient points

Could you spare an hour or two each week to keep a space clean and litter free? If you can, please come to our relaunch and register.

Contact any member of Skerries Tidy Towns Committee, in particular Frances Owens (087 241 7017) or Breege Madden (087 770 0449)