Affiliated to Muintir na Tíre, registered charity CHY 6865. skerriesca.com. info@skerriesca.com Registered Offices: Skerries Community Centre, Dublin Road, Skerries Co. Dublin
SCA Chair Jane Landy writes: Back in the chair plus arrivals and departures
It’s less than a year since our last AGM (4 October 2021) and Skerries and the world seem to be very different. An end to all Covid restrictions since March 2022 has meant that those committees who rely on holding in-person events have been able to get back to business. Back in September who would have thought that we would be welcoming people fleeing from war-torn Ukraine to our town? (See skerriesca.com/Ukraine for more.) And I find myself (an SCA old-timer) “back in the chair”, which is as enjoyable and fulfilling as ever!
This year, the annual report about the work of the Skerries Community Association and its committees will not be distributed to every household in Skerries. A limited number of printed copies will be available in the Community Centre, in local shops, in the week before the AGM (4th October 2021) and on request by email to chair@skerriesca.com.
Click on the thumbnail below to see the full report with turnable pages.
Skerries Community Association & Committees 2020/21 Report
And if you’d like the links to be clickable, open the PDF here:
Recognition of couple’s volunteering contribution to Skerries life.
On Saturday 9 October 2021 Skerries Community Association (SCA) and Skerries Town Football Club jointly recognised the immense contribution of Michael (Mick) and Noeleen Bolger to community sporting activity in the town. The occasion was the presentation of the Jim Quigley award for volunteer of the year and it took place in the grounds of Skerries Town FC after the weekly Kids Academy coaching session.
Every year SCA invites nominations from residents for the Jim Quigley Award which are then passed to independent judges for assessment.
This year the Judges selected Mick and Noeleen as the winners of the Jim Quigley Award for their years of dedicated work with Skerries Town Football Club. In their written comments, the judges said, “running Saturday morning coaching sessions (the Kids Academy) for up to ninety under-tens for seven months of the year is not an easy task. To do this for eighteen years coupled with involvement with other sporting and community activities including the Community Games at Mosney and the Special Olympics at Croke Park in 2003 requires dedication and commitment second to none.”
Mick and Noeleen set up the ‘ Kid’s Academy” on Saturday mornings with Skerries Town Football Club in September 2003 to provide coaching in basic football skills for five to nine year olds. They felt that children in the early years of their football life need an environment of non-competitive football to learn the basic skills. The Kid’s Academy, or KA as its better known provides such an environment.
The judges remarked that the real winner is the community of Skerries who get such wonderful benefit from the work done by people like Michael and Noeleen.
Accepting the award, Mick said that many others are and were involved in making the Kids Academy a success.
Michael McKenna presented the Jim Quigley award on behalf of the SCA and Owen O’Brien, Chairperson Skerries Town F.C. made a presentation of flowers and champagne on behalf of the club to Mick and Noeleen.
Jim Quigley Award Winners 2021 Michael (Mick) and Noeleen Bolger with Michael McKenna (SCA) and Owen O’Brien, Chairperson, Skerries Town Football Club.
This year, the annual report about the work of the Skerries Community Association and its committees will not be distributed to every household in Skerries. A limited number of printed copies will be available from 10/10/2020 in the Community Centre, in local shops, and on request by email to chair@skerriesca.com.
Click on the thumbnail below to see the full report with turnable pages.
SCA and Committees: Our 2019/20 Report
And if you’d like the links to be clickable, open the PDF here:
Are
you self-isolating owing to health concerns from the Coronavirus?
Home
alone and unable to go to the shops / chemists?
If so,
we are here to help.
We are a group of local Skerries residents, working with the
Skerries Community Association and Age Friendly Skerries, willing to help you.
Our
services include:
Shopping service / collection
Prescription collection
If you are in need of some
assistance please text or call
085 81 28 509
083 01 05 946
Phone
lines are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Disclaimer:
In using this
service, clients understand that this is an informal group of local volunteers.
We will be strictly adhering to health guidelines as outlined by the HSE in
order to protect both the volunteers, and those we will be helping, from any
spread of the virus.
Leaflets with the above text are being delivered by volunteers to Skerries households from 14 to 16 March and are kindly sponsored by the Image Depot Skerries and the Skerries Community Association.
Go Car and Fingal County Council are working with Skerries Age Friendly Town to deliver a new community transport initiative for older people in the towns and hinterland of Skerries, and Howth. This pilot initiative is in response to the recent consultation & transport needs survey carried out in the area, it will run over a four-month trial period & is being supported by the Transport Coordination Unit for Louth, Meath, Fingal.
The service will enable older people to continue to be active in their community and to attend hospital, health and wellness appointments. The service will be volunteer led and will be available throughout the week and at weekends depending on availability of volunteers.
To avail of this service you need to
Be over 55 years
Register with Local Link (see address below)
Book in advance by phone, text, email or transport App
Volunteer Drivers Needed
If you are retired and find that you have time to spare, why not become a volunteer driver. If you would like to help get the project started please contact us at Flexibus on 046-9074830 or at the address below
Volunteers will be provided with training and will be Garda vetted before taking to the roads.
Tel: 046 907 4830
Freephone: 1800 303 707
Local Link Louth Meath Fingal 23 Mullaghboy Industrial Estate, Mullaghboy,
Navan, Co Meath C15 WKO9
Tel: 046 907 4830 Freephone: 1800 303 707 Email: imf@locallink.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
Skerries is a good place for people of all ages. This is the result of the work of many – including members of a Skerries initiative, who recently received an Age Friendly award.
In this picture: Back row: Brendan McNicholas 3rd Officer Dublin Fire Brigade; Eithne Mallin – FCC; Louise Edmonds – FCC; Brendan Sherlock – Skerries Community Association; AnnMarie Farrelly – FCC; Nora Owen – Chair Fingal Age Friendly Alliance; Front row: Cllr Mags Murray – Mayor of Fingal; Martin Russell – Skerries Community Association; Mary Conway Skerries Community Association; Bob McAlpine – Vice Chair Fingal Senior Citizen’s Forum Photo: Leo “George” Devitt
The picture of the Skerries / Fingal contingent at the awards ceremony gives you a good idea of the level of cooperation which made this possible. One of the results of their work is the current redevelopment of our Town Park with particular emphasis on making it an environment that is “friendly” to people of all ages.
Age Friendly Skerries is a committee of Skerries Community Association, and more initiatives are underway – keep your eyes open for updates!
The purpose of the first Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards Ceremony, held in Cavan on 20 January 2015 was “to showcase the wonderful age-friendly initiatives from around the country that have contributed to making Ireland a great place to grow old.”
Master of Ceremonies and President Elect of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Aogán O’Fearghaill said:
It is so inspiring to be here today and hear about all the wonderful work going on around the country to make Ireland make our communities more age friendly. The benefits of an age friendly approach will be felt by all members of the community, not just older people. Working towards the goal of age friendliness makes for more cohesive communities.
Other projects chosen for recognition were:
Age Friendly Transport Award – Two Partnership Approaches for Hospital Appointments in Co Meath
Age Friendly Active and Healthy Ageing Award – Intergenerational and Creative Development at MacAuley Place, Naas, Kildare
Age Friendly Business Award – Cavan Age Friendly Business Recognition Scheme
Age Friendly Safety and Security Award – Foxford Safety and Security Project
Age Friendly Communication Award – Kilkenny Age Friendly Communication Plan
Age Friendly Community Innovation Award – Cultaca Supporting Older People, Dundalk
Skerries Town Park Masterplan Consultation is underway now and closes on 27 January: As Part of Age Friendly Action Skerries, Fingal County Council is planning to improve Skerries Town Park. Plans are on display until 13 January.
From the Site Notice.
The plans for the Skerries Town Park Masterplan are available now in Swords & Balbriggan County Offices and in Skerries Library – as well as on the Fingal County Council website, from where we retrieved the documents on this page, too.
Please note that the current masterplan deals with the following aspects:
New Play Facilities including Children’s Playground and Multi-use Games Area
New Adult Exercise Area
Improved Path Network including resurfacing of existing paths, additional sections of footpaths and 3 additional pedestrian entrances
Provision of Wildlife Viewing Deck
Reconfiguration of Sports Pitches
Upgrading of Existing Sports Pitches
Upgrading of Existing Sports Pitches including improving drainage
click on the map to enlarge (opens in a new tab)
The Directors of Skerries Community Association are encouraging everybody, and all groups in Skerries (especially its own committees) to take a good look at the documents and to make any views known to devplan@fingal.ie
[Fingal County Council add: All comment,s including the names and addresses of those making comments, submitted to the Council in regard to this development will form part of the statutorily required report to be presented to the monthly meeting of Fingal County Council. Accordingly they will also be included in the minutes of that meeting and consequently will appear on the Council’s Website.]
Go Car and Fingal County Council are working with Skerries Age Friendly Town to deliver a new community transport initiative for older people in the towns and hinterland of Skerries, and Howth. This pilot initiative is in response to the recent consultation & transport needs survey carried out in the area, it will run over a four-month trial period & is being supported by the Transport Coordination Unit for Louth, Meath, Fingal.
