You may have been wondering what we have in store for you for this year’s Skerries Eco Festival. Here is a first taste!

The Three Days, Fri 27 / Sat 28 / Sun 29 September

We’ll have a super opening night with a talk on biodiversity in our very own green lung, the Townpark, by ecologist Niamh Burke, and one on sustainability and children’s toys (and other consumer products) by the wonderful toy sustainability expert Sharon Keilthy. Music by the Skerries Ukulele Strummers! Fri 27 September, Little Theatre, from 7.30 pm

After a colourful mix of walks & talks and workshops (including a bike skills one organised by Skerries Cycling Initiative) and hopefully lots of chats at our stall at the Skerries Mills Farmers’ Market, we’re ready for the Skerries Eco Night with environmental consultant Féidhlim Harty (yes, the same one who is delivering this Wednesday’s [31 July 7.30 pm] online talk on catching rain drops), who will share his ongoing work on environmentally-friendly water management in Skerries with us, and broadcaster and journalist Philip Boucher-Hayes! Sat 28 September, Skerries Harps, from 8 pm

And then the Skerries Eco Festival Eco Fair from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday 29 September (see below), plus a children’s workshop with Niamh Sharkey and Owen Churcher, arts & crafts activities for all ages, talks and workshops – including a Green Schools event with the national award-winning Skerries Community College team, who will tell us about their work on how schools can be eco-friendly. Prepare to be amazed.

We will NOT end the festival on a sad note – thanks to professional “climate worrier” and comedian Colm O’Regan, who will perform in our final event on Sun 29 September, 5 pm, in the Little Theatre.

Booking for all these will open soon, so keep your eyes open for updates especially here and on our Instagram and Facebook pages!

About that Skerries Eco Festival Eco Fair…

The 2024 Skerries Eco Festival Sunday will see a bigger and better Skerries Eco Fair than ever before! We have the use of the large hall in the Skerries Community Centre and have already a number of very interesting stalls both from traders and crafters and from groups that will provide information and opportunities for learning in the eco sphere.

And now we’d like your help to attract even more! Who would YOU like to see?

Please share this link with any trader / crafter who might be interested: Trader/Crafter Link …and this link with any organisation which might be able to set up a good info stall (or send their contact to sustskerries@gmail.com and we’ll get in touch with them directly): Information Stall Registration Link.

Calling all artists and photographers!

Sketch for Skerries – Help create a Giant Sketchbook for display at the Skerries Eco Festival

We are delighted that Kristina suggested this initiative in the run-up to the Skerries Eco Festival. You may have seen her information leaflets around town already. Here is an excerpt from her website – go to galleriakristina.com/sketch-for-skerries for full details. 💚 Thank you, Kristina!

What is it?
An initiative of Skerries-based artist Kristina Keegan of Galleria Kristina in collaboration with several local community groups and organisations and the people of Skerries and surrounding areas. … collaborating with: Sustainable Skerries, Skerries Library, Skerries Community Gardens, Skerries Community Centre and YOU!
It is a community art collaboration that seeks to collect sketches from the general public under an environmental theme, and will result in a portable exhibition of these sketches in the form of a handmade scrapbook/sketchbook.
What is its aim?
The aim of the Collaborative Sketchbook Project is to encourage COLLABORATION and AWARENESS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT through ACCESSIBLE ART (Sketching and doodling)
How will it work?
I would like to invite people of all ages and all abilities to join me in this project, and to create a sketch (or donate an already existing sketch) inspired by any ONE of the following headings:
LIFE
LAND
SEA
SKY
Whether it is a quick sketch or a mere doodle, I would like to encourage as many people as possible to create something visual under one of the themes mentioned above, and to donate it to be exhibited in a collaborative community sketchbook/scrapbook. Since the sketches (no bigger than A5) will be mounted in a book, the creations should ideally be made on something thin, such as paper.

For more, go to galleriakristina.com/sketch-for-skerries

Capture the Beauty of Our Community:
Enter Our Local Photo Competition!

Do you have an eye for beauty and a knack for capturing perfect moments? We are excited to announce the second Sustainable Skerries photo competition – and we want YOU to participate! Whether you are a seasoned photographer or an enthusiastic amateur, this competition is the perfect opportunity to showcase your talent.

We are looking for stunning images that highlight the essence of the central theme of this year’s Eco Festival: “Turning the tide together”. Our judge this year will be local resident (and Global Action Plan CEO) Hans Zomer, who is looking forward to your photos.

Rules: Send up to 3 photos to sustskerries@gmail.com by 8 September.
Photos must be taken in 2023 or 2024. More details on SustainableSkerries.com/photo
By the way, all Sustainable Skerries events would make super topics! (And we always let people know that photos are being taken, so that’s good to know.)

Join the team now!

Would you like to help make this the best Skerries Eco Festival yet?

Then send an email to sustskerries@gmail.com and let us know your suggestions & ideas, tell us that you’re available to help out as a volunteer (Helen will be in touch with you in due course about when and how) or even that you’d like to join the preparation team!

There are people in it from Sustainable Skerries, Skerries Tidy Towns, Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative, Skerries Cycling Initiative and the Skerries Community Association. Join us! Join the fun – and help make a difference!