This summer, the Community Center organised a family day for children with additional needs and their families. There was a Bouncy castle, a sensory room, outdoor activities and hot food and treats. This has been a real success and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to have some fun, meet friends and make new connections in the town. We thank Shay, Sharon and her team for organising this excellent day out !
We were absolutely thrilled to see our dedicated chairperson Maeve Mc Gann from Tidy Town awarded the Jim Quigley volunteer of the year award for 2026 at the Skerries Community Association – SCA AGM on Thursday June 25th.
Maeve has been with Skerries Tidy Towns for 43 years , and has been Chair for the last 10. She was part of the winning team which saw Skerries crowned Ireland’s Tidiest Town in 2016 and we have won gold medals and other commendations over the past 25 years. Her energy is inspiring and Maeve has been at the forefront of the evolving Tidy Towns vision. Now the emphasis is on promoting Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation and Maeve has forged links with other local groups such as Sustainable Skerries, Birdwatch Ireland, Clean Coasts, the Historical Society and Lusk, Rush and Balbriggan Tidy Towns groups.
Maeve was instrumental in the installation of the beautiful mosaic in Floraville to commemorate the landmark Supreme Court win in 1973 by local woman May McGee and her husband Shay. Their win led eventually to the legalising of contraception in Ireland. The unveiling of the mosaic on 30th August last was such a happy day for May, her family and friends and local supporters. Nobody could have guessed that May would pass away after a brief illness on 28th October. Rest in peace May.
Maeve’s nominators emphasised the huge amount of work that she does, be it planning, communicating, physical work, and the very burdensome task of the annual entry. Her work, and the Tidy Towns vision and achievements give a great boost to the morale, and sense of pride in place, of all people living in this town. She is an inspiration to us all. Well done Maeve McGann and thank you.
Twenty children, a week in Ardgillan and a lot of clay, paint, plants, bats and bicycles make for a very special Sustainable Skerries summer project in August. Now in its third year, the idea behind the nature camp is to give children the chance to get outdoors, get creative and have fun in nature.
Over the course of the week, the children took part in a wide range of activities, like nature walks, tree art, yoga, bird watching and lots more. They learned about bats and the important role they play in our ecosystems. They also had the opportunity to start learning about wildflowers with Zoë Devlin’s fabulous plant ID book, Wildflowers of Ireland. Identifying wild plants is a lovely way for children to start noticing what is growing all around us.
Sustainable Skerries believe there is something really valuable about giving children this kind of experience. Children get to understand nature as somewhere to be creative, discover wildlife, make things with natural materials, relax in and enjoy. Sustainable Skerries also hope that an annual camp can help children build curiosity, develop an appreciation for local biodiversity and understand why looking after our environment matters.
The 20 places were snapped up within minutes, which shows the appetite for opportunities like this in our community.
The week was made possible through very generous support from Fingal County Council, which sponsored the project and provided the permits to use the grounds at Ardgillan. That support is essential to running an event like this.
Amy and Edel from Colour and Art (https://www.colourandart.ie/) led the activities and were inspiring, encouraging and kind while giving the children plenty of room to be themselves. Pauline, Ciara and Breda were the Sustainable Skerries volunteers who organised and helped run the event.
And the week didn’t finish in the usual way. On the last day, the children visited an open orchard with Sabine (Skerries Open Orchard Project / Sustainable Skerries) before heading off on a fun cycle with Michael, Dave and Steve of Skerries Cycling Initiative. They cycled down to South Strand, where they enjoyed being outdoors and got to see some of the other community projects happening in Skerries, including the Community eCargo Bike, the Cycling Without Age Trishaw and the Sustainable Skerries Beach Toy Box.
There is something heartening about seeing a group of young children getting excited about birds, wildflowers, trees, clay, bicycles and the beach. They were learning and discovering all week, but it never felt like school.
If you’d like to be among the first to know about such projects, make sure to subscribe to the Sustainable Skerries Email Newsletter!
Text and photo credit: Sustainable Skerries
From 10 to 15 July, Skerries Town Twinning hosted 24 visitors from Brittany. Activities included a tour of the new library and an exchange of books. We held a seminar in Prosper Fingal entitled “Building Community” with contributions from Jane Landy (Skerries Community Association), Miriam Carroll (Forget-Me-Not Café), Breda Shankey (Tidy Towns), Dave Beattie (SYSS), Catherine McMahon (CPR/AED), Stephanie Bourke (Skerries Historical Society), John Coleman (Rockabill Film Society and the Trishaw Initiative). Máire Jones gave an insight into her own volunteering activities. Philippe Gourronc from Guichen presented a very interesting look at comparable services available in France.
Sunday, and another fine sunny day, marked a visit to the Battle of the Boyne centre, at Oldbridge. Coincidentally, it was the 12th July, the day of the famous battle. A tour of the gardens, an audio-visual presentation and a picnic made for an interesting day.
Monday provided another interesting excursion – thanks to Fingal County Council the visitors and hosts were welcomed to the newly restored Bremore Castle in Balbriggan. Kevin Halpenny provided a very interesting talk on the Castle followed by a walking tour of our neighbour’s historical heritage.
In the evening, the weather provided a stunning background for a celebration dinner in Skerries Sailing Club. To add to the atmosphere a group of local musicians, led by Carol Keane, and local dancers featuring world champion Seoidín Handibode provided entertainment for a great evening.
Tuesday morning saw the group heading to Dublin for a visit to Leinster House. This had been organised for us by Deputy Rob O’Donoghue, who was our host for the morning. An added surprise, was an unexpected encounter with Michel Barnier (former Prime Minister of France). Following the visit, the French visitors took the opportunity to explore Dublin’s historical and shopping areas. Our friends returned home on Wednesday 15 August.
On Wednesday 2 September we held a social gathering in Skerries Harps which was attended by over 30 people including most of our host families.
A great weekend was had with the visit of our French friends once again – all lovely encounters in gorgeous weather. The teamwork from the committee all worked out very well. Many thanks is due to all our host families.
Text and photo credit: Town Twinnning
Churchfield residents Susan Mulcahy, Cait O’Donoghue, Andrew O’Byrne, Siobhan Carr and Donal Darcy with Breda Shankey, dep Chair SCA, and Mayor Tom O’Leary.
There was a great turnout in the Harps on Thursday 20th Nov for the annual Tidy
Towns Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Night.
Chair Maeve McGann opened the event by welcoming all, including Mayor Tom
O’Leary, and TD Grace Boland, and remembered May McGee, who sadly passed away
on October 28, 2025.
The mosaic in Floraville, commissioned by Skerries Tidy Towns, with the support of the
Community Association and the Chamber of Commerce, will remain as a fitting tribute
to this brave woman.
Maeve reminded us of Skerries’ strong position in this year’s national competition,
coming second in Dublin, only five points from the overall winners Carrick on Shannon, and winning our 25th consecutive Gold Medal.
She pointed out that Skerries’ strength lies in the great work not only being done by Tidy Towns but by groups such as Sustainable Skerries, the Cycling Initiative, the
Community Garden, and the people who Adopt a Patch in their neighbourhoods or on
the beaches.
She encouraged people to sign up either to Adopt a Patch or to join us on the weekly
work parties, and to sign up for the Pollinator Plant giveaway next year, the purpose of which is to encourage pollinators throughout Skerries.
Gerard and Siobhan Boylan of Skerries Frameworks with Mayor Tom O’Leary and artist Kristina Keegan
Light refreshments were provided, and the winners of this year’s local awards were
announced.
The winner of Best Presented House in an Estate was Theresa McManus of Kelly’s Bay Weir. The adjudicators commented on the abundance of colourful pollinator friendly
planting, including at the kerb area, and the maximising of a relatively small space with
brightly coloured planters.
Theresa McManus, Kelly’s Bay Weir, with Marian Forde (STT) and Mayor Tom O’Leary
The Best Presented Non-Estate House was ‘Glenbeigh’, on the South Strand. This
award was sponsored by the Progressive Credit Union. When seen in early August the
garden was a riot of colour, including the bees’ favourite, a thriving fuchsia bush. Well
done to Therese and Brian Sherwin.
Wildcat Lane in Mourne View was judged the Best Presented Laneway. This lane had
been quite run down but has been resurfaced and the walls painted and containers with
creepers and flowers have been planted. This was thanks to the hard work of the
Mourne Estate Residents Association, who have made the lane a pleasant place for all
to use, going to and from Scoil Realt na Mara or to the beach.
Sarah Jane Donnelly’s salon ‘Hair’ in Strand St was judged the Most Accessible
Business. There is plenty of room inside to turn a wheelchair or mobility scooter, access
to the wash basins is easy and the staff are very considerate.
Sarah Jane Donnelly of “Hair” salon, Strand St with Marian Forde (STT) and Mayor Tom O’Leary
Best Visual Display went to AnnMarie Dowling Smith of Whizz Kids in Strand Street.
This award was also sponsored by the Progressive Credit Union. The adjudicators
commented on how there is always something eye-catching in the window displays
which change according to the season, cultural or sporting events.
Churchfield was awarded a trophy, sponsored by Skerries Community Association, for
Best Presented Estate. Their 10 person Residents’ Association works tirelessly on
improvements to their green areas, their approach road and lane, as well as organising
social events for children and for the more mature residents. They have also organised
the installation of a Defibrillator and a course is to take place shortly to give residents
the skills to administer CPR and to use the Defibrillator. Their very informative
Facebook page also got a mention. Well done to all in Churchfield!
This year’s winner of the Best Presented Premises was Skerries Frameworks in Church St, owned by Gerard and Siobhan Boylan. The prize, an original painting of the premises, was presented by the artist Kristina Keegan, and sponsored by Tidy Towns. This bright, colourful and exceptionally well-kept business was a well-deserved winner for its positive contribution to the streetscape of Church Street.
Marian Forde of STT, AnnMarie Dowling of Whizzkids and Mayor Tom O’Leary
So now thoughts turn to preparing for our entry into the 2026 National Tidy Towns
Competition! The Committee will always welcome new joiners and are also open to
suggestions and new ideas from the community in Skerries.
We can be contacted by email: tidytownsskerries@gmail.com
As ever, the ongoing financial support by so many local people is much appreciated. If
you would like to contribute, please log on to our iDonate page,
https://www.idonate.ie/event/SkerriesTidyTowns25
Or donations can be given to any Committee member or left in an envelope for us at the
Reception Desk in the Community Centre. Thank you again, your support makes all the
difference!
Skerries Tidy Towns,
Protecting the Environment
A Committee of Skerries Community Association
Members of the Skerries Eco Team in the community garden at Skerries Wind Mills. Photograph: Alan Betson/Irish Times
In September, Skerries received the accolade of the Greenest Town in Ireland 2025 in The Irish Times / Electric Ireland Greenest Places Awards.
The judges praised Skerries for its community-driven environmental action, its creativity and the way sustainability is woven into everyday life. From biodiversity and waste reduction to renewable energy and education, Skerries stands out as a town that leads by example.
Just consider the biodiversity-friendly planters, bee gardens, bike stands, water refill points, rainwater collection systems and the Skerries Eco Town Wall – all perfect examples of a town that understands the importance of sustainability.
In the Irish Times, it was noted that “the people of Skerries have created a pollinator corridor that runs from Skerries Mills to Ardgillan. It organises groups of local children to gather and remove plastic from the beaches. Here, as in other communities such as Inagh in Co Clare, community buildings including town halls and GAA centres have put in solar panels, replaced pitch lighting with LED, and installed water refill stations”.
The “simple but brilliant idea of creating a Beach Toybox” also received high praise from the Irish Times. The Beach Toybox does what it says on the tin: it’s a big box of all the essentials that children love to play with at the beach, it’s free to all, and it saves people from buying more toys every summer. Use them as you please, just make sure to return them to the box when you’re finished.
Behind every project in Skerries is a passionate network of volunteers and community groups working together with purpose and pride. These include Sustainable Skerries, the Skerries Community Association, Skerries Cycling Initiative, Skerries Tidy Towns, the Skerries Community Garden, Skerries Autism Friendly Town and the Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative and Skerries Men’s Shed.
If you’re interested in becoming more sustainable in your daily life, email sustainableskerries@gmail.com.
Congratulations to Skerries Tidy Towns for yet another triumph in the national competition! Skerries was awarded County Second and a Gold Medal!
For full report, click here
