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2017 Annual General Meeting

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The 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Skerries Community Association is on Friday 8 September in the Little Theatre, Skerries Community Centre from 8 p.m.

Our pre-AGM leaflet containing a review of our committees’ activities has been printed and should arrive at every household before Friday 8 September. It can be viewed online here.

YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU!

Why not become involved yourself?!?

  • Attend the AGM.
  • Consider volunteering. Are you someone who would enjoy working with one of the SCA committees to make Skerries an even better place?
  • Join the SCA as an ordinary member. It costs nothing and will give the SCA a stronger voice in making the case for Skerries when negotiating with Fingal County Council and other agencies. To join online just go to the Online Membership Form.

Celebrating our Volunteers – Jim Quigley Award 2017

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Skerries is very lucky to have so many volunteers.  These people volunteer regularly in so many different ways.  You only have to ask once and people volunteer to help.  All their efforts make a big difference to the quality of life in the town.

Every year Skerries Community Association gives you an opportunity to nominate any individual or group that you think deserves an award for their work.

Please take few moments to nominate someone or some group that you think deserves an award.  It is essential that you write a paragraph saying why you think that they should get the prize as the judge is outside the town and does not know the individual or group and is dependent on your description.

The prize will be the annual Jim Quigley Award which will be announced at the AGM on 8th September 2017.

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNISE THESE  VOLUNTEERS

Please send your replies to mary.conway@[this domain] or leave it into the Community Centre addressed to Skerries Community Association before 31st August.

Jim Quigley Award 2017

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The Jim Quigley Award for Volunteer of the Year 2017 was awarded to the organisers of Skerries Water Safety Week. The award certificate was accepted by Skerries Safety Week representatives, Máire Jones, Grainne Ward accompanied by Jim Dwyer (Hon. Sec of the Dublin Water Safety Committee).

Have you seen Himalayan Balsam?

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Himalayan Balsam is a pretty pink plant that was first introduced to Ireland as a garden plant, but it soon found its way out of gardens and into the countryside, where it has been spreading rapidly ever since.

In Fingal, its spread seems to be limited to two sites in Skerries, and the Skerries Tidy Towns group and Fingal County Council are keen to eradicate this invasive species.

The plant is an annual with scented, purplish-pink, slipper shaped flowers in June–August. When the large green seed pods are mature they explode when touched, scattering the seed far and wide to start new infestations next year. The seeds float and are spread further by water movements.

 

If you have seen Himalayan Balsam around Skerries when out and about, please let us know. To report Himalayan Balsam locations please email your sightings to biodiversity@fingal.ie

Please try to provide a map or a precise location with reference to the proximity of local features.

“En marche!” in the Canton of Guichen

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“En marche!” is the name and slogan of the new political party of Emmanuel Macron who hopes to revitalise France.  Equally you could apply it to the group of Skerries walkers who have just spent an enjoyable week walking and hiking in the Canton of Guichen.  A 30-strong group of all ages and interests, intent on exploring the walkways and trails, were accompanied by five teenagers, who were able to sample secondary school life during their week-long stay.

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Online volunteering opportunity

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SCA have prepared draft policy documents on:

The draft documents have been prepared by members of Skerries Community Association using online guidance from a number of government Departments and agencies but without input from persons with expertise in the areas involved. Before adopting them as official SCA policies the Board of Directors would like to have the documents reviewed by a person or persons with relevant expertise who could give constructive suggestions to improve the drafts.

​If you have expertise in any of the three areas and would like to review one or more of the documents please email: secretary@skerriesca.com indicating which document you would like to review. ​ This can then be forwarded to you in an editable format such as a Word document.

​SCA wishes to adopt the documents at their next AGM in September and would be happy to acknowledge the contribution of the reviewer(s) who contributes to improving the documents.

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Community Orchestra auditions

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Soundwaves are looking for young people (post-Primary level) to join a Community Orchestra.  Open to all instruments except Piano. Minimum of Grade 2 instrument level is required.

Auditions will be held on Sunday, 18th June, at Keys & Strings School of Music, Skerries.  To book your audition time, call Jing at 087 2264357.

Backfilling of Milverton Quarry to Commence

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Roadstone Limited has recently informed Skerries Community Association that extraction and backfilling operations at Milverton Quarry, which ceased operations in 2009, will commence around end April 2017.

Roadstone will import 1,900,000 tonnes of material into the quarry, at up to 400,000 tonnes per year. At their estimated average of 250,000 tonnes per year, this could mean 20-tonne trucks on our roads six days a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m for more than seven years. Some rock extraction — some trucks also leaving the quarry full — will occur as well.

Should the SCA convene a public meeting where SCA members and, indeed, all Skerries residents would be able to share their views and to look for meaningful answers and action from Fingal County Council and Roadstone? Give us your views at traffic@skerriesca.com.

Aerial view of Milverton Quarry. Photography by Mark Broderick.ie.


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