Skerries was the overall winner of the National TidyTowns Competition 2016.

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Skerries TidyTowns had another successful year, gaining 13 extra marks in the TidyTowns Competition and another gold medal. Our small committee couldn’t cover everything under the 8 specific headings involved in the entry form, so we would like to thank everyone who contributed to the betterment of the town. If we know about your work it gets a mention in the entry form. Special thanks to the Men’s Shed who complete a list of work for us each year. Thanks too, to the local schools that support us through their work for their green flags.

Throughout the year we maintain street bollards, railings, seats and perennial beds. We clean road signs regularly. Graffiti is removed almost as soon as it appears. The constant problem of litter is tackled with the help of our hardworking Adopt a Patch volunteers. Beach clean-ups help to keep our beaches clear of litter. At our behest new bins were installed at several locations around the town.

The SEAL project, Skerries Everyone Against Litter, which we launched in St Patrick’s senior school last year, has been extended to Scoil Realt na Mara and Skerries Educate Together School.

At our instigation bottle banks have been installed in the Mills car park, replacing the unsightly and unsafe ones on the Barnageeragh Road.

As a result of our Reusable Cup Campaign, cafes in Skerries reported a 10% increase in the use of Keep Cups. Skerries TidyTowns was nominated as a finalist in the Pakman Awards 2022 for Waste Prevention as a result of this campaign. Most cafes now give a small discount when a reusable cup is used.

We worked with Fingal County Council to develop an audio guide for Skerries. This fascinating guide to the town can be heard by searching for “Abarta Heritage”, Skerries audio guide on Spotify, Apple podcasts or Audible.

At our behest members of BirdWatch Ireland Fingal Branch completed surveys of the Ballast Pit, The Mill Stream area and the South Strand and reported on the birds found in each area.

To support Sustainable Skerries Large Carder Bee Project, we funded a biodiversity corridor, extending from the railway station/Ballast Pit to the Town Park along St Patrick’s Close, Millhill, Greenlawns and the Dublin Road. Three pollinator plants were offered to residents in these areas.

We ran a competition in Skerries Community College for projects based on Biodiversity and Sustainability. The winners in the biodiversity section will introduce a composting area, a bug hotel and bee-friendly plants to the school. The winner in the sustainability project will make draft excluders for the doors and install draft excluding tape to the windows in the coldest areas of the school.

The “Stream Huggers”, an offshoot group of STT, look after the Town Park area and endeavour to keep the stream rubbish free.

• Each year Skerries TidyTowns sponsors awards for the best kept premises in the Town.
  • “Best Kept House and Garden” in an Estate.
  • Best Presented Business in the Town
  • Best Window Display
  • An Accessibility Award for the most Accessible Business in the Town.
• Our “Best Kept Estate” competition is sponsored by Skerries Community Association.
• Best Presented non Estate House and the Best Floral Display on a Business in the Town is sponsored by The Progressive Credit Union.

All houses, estates and businesses in the town are automatically entered into the competitions.

If you would like to become involved in the work of Skerries TidyTowns in any way, maybe by adopting a patch or joining our work parties, we would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact us via email tidytowns@skerriesca.com, through Facebook or by speaking to any member of the committee, or just come along to our work party on Monday afternoons at 1.50pm at the old fire station on Quay Street K34 VW50.

Self-Guided Walking Tours

Skerries Tidy Towns have published a number of self-guided walks. A wildlife trail through our town called Safari in Skerries. Two others which you can also see on the website are Slí na Sláinte, a 4km signposted walk around our town, and the Historical Trail.

The information panel entitled ‘Holmpatrick Graveyard—a description‘ is available to download using this link: http://arrow.dit.ie/beschreoth/65/

Skerries TidyTowns is strongly committed to the protection of the environment, enhancing and maintaining the town’s character and working towards a sustainable future for the town.

We acknowledge the great contribution the residents and businesses of the town have made to the success of Skerries in the National Competition.

Page last updated on 16 November 2023