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).
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!” 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.
For those who may be interested, we have received a copy of Fingal County Council’s Tree Strategy: The Forest of Fingal – A Tree Strategy for Fingal. Note that this is the final document even though it says ‘draft’.
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.
By popular demand, there will be additional auditions for the Community Orchestra held at Keys and Strings, Skerries, on Thursday, 6th July, from 11am at Keys & Strings School of Music, Skerries. To book your audition time, call Jing at 087 2264357
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.
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.
At the launch of Fingal County Council’s 2017 Pride of Place Competition, Nunce McAuley, Martin Russell and Brendan Sherlock representing Age Friendly Skerries accepted a certificate in recognition of the Skerries Age Friendly Town Initiative entry advancing to the 2016 finals.
Receiving certificate for representing Fingal in the 2016 Pride of Place finals
The event took place in The Atrium, County Hall, Swords on Tuesday, February 28th. At the event, all three groups who represented Fingal in the 2016 Pride of Place Competition were recognised for their great achievements.
Raif Costigan of Fingal County Council was MC for the evening and introduced the Mayor of Fingal Darragh Butler, Tom Dowling of Pride of Place Ireland and Paul Reid CEO Fingal County Council who spoke and congratulated all three groups who represented Fingal in the 2016 finals at the Belfast Waterfront last November.
Next up came presentations to the three groups in recognition of participating and representing Fingal. All three groups were invited to say a few words as to their experience of having participated in Pride of Place 2016. Each group were photographed and then group shots were taken.
The Tower singers entertained and refreshments were much appreciated to round off a very enjoyable evening.
Many thanks to all who organised a very pleasant evening
Thanks to the efforts of some dedicated Skerries residents, who collected over 1000 signatures in favour of seating on Strand Street, Fingal County Council has agreed to pilot two benches on Strand Street. They will be located in the area to the south of the bus stop between the bus stop and Gerrys Supermarket. The pictures show f the proposed style of bench.
The Council recently released the attached figures on bathing water quality in Skerries last summer (2013). They were very good indeed. The reasons for this were improvements in the water treatment infrastructure and the very low rainfall levels.
Unfortunately, several years of good readings are needed before we will qualify for a Blue Flag again so although the Council has applied for one, it is very unlikely that Skerries will be awarded it this year. However, we are going to run our Skerries Water Quality project again this summer taking samples of seawater during the bathing season which the Council will have tested immediately, providing more timely information which we will then publicise. If you would like to volunteer as a water tester, please contact us on info@skerriesca.com
Water quality figures for 2012 and 2013:
Click to enlarge
The South Strand pathway is not currently wide enough to safely accommodate cyclists and pedestrians. In order to address this problem, the Council has decided to apply for funding to widen the pathway to 3.5 metres, the required width for safe shared use. In the meantime cycling will be restricted to small children who are learning to cycle. Signage to this effect will appear soon. Click on this link to see a note prepared by FCC for the Skerries Community Liaison Committee recently:
Thanks to the lobbying efforts of the Skerries skate park committee, the Council is enthusiastic about building a skatepark in the town. A probable location is next to the playground on Red Island. The next challenge will be to source the required funding which is in the region of 165k euro.
The Council has committed to repairing the damage caused by this winter’s storms in time for the summer bathing season.