The Sustainable Skerries Water Project is showing its first tangible results, just in time for this weekend’s Skerries Eco Festival! Project lead and Sustainable Skerries committee member Helen Scullion writes:
It’s all coming together today at the Community Centre! Our water butt and rainwater planter are being installed, just in time for the Skerries Eco Festival this weekend (27-29 Sep). Not by me, that wouldn’t go so well! But it was great to be there, help out a bit and to chat to passers-by about how they could do something similar at home.
We’re super grateful to the Community Centre for their support, both financial & practical. The butt & planter are part of a project to improve water quality & biodiversity and ease to localised flooding in Skerries. It’s one of two Skerries water projects funded by LAWPRO.
You can hear more at the Eco festival. Our environmental consultant, Féidhlim Harty, is leading a walk at 5.30 on Saturday, and speaking at the Eco Night on Saturday at 8pm. Don’t miss this!
Read more at sustainableskerries.com/water where we’ve gathered lots of advice.
Last week members of Sustainable Skerries attended the Community Group engagement evening regarding the proposals for the Harbour Road Public Realm Enhancements and the Red Island Loop. We were given an opportunity to hear about the plans and provide our feedback on aspects we welcomed or would like to see incorporated. Committee member Karen Power writes:
It is great to see the plans progressing and the exceptional improvements that the Council have planned for this public space. In particular we welcome to focus on including biodiversity aspects within the plan such as a wildflower strip between the pedestrian and cycling / wheeling paths. We also welcome the focus on improved accessibility for residents of Skerries with mobility issues including dedicated closer parking for accessible parking and age friendly as well as drop off points outside businesses and residential spots. We did emphasise the need to look at facilitating hidden disability parking within the scheme.
The delivery of proper segregated pedestrian / cycling where feasible is also welcome and we were pleased to see the significant ways in which the project will enhance safety where there is shared space between car users, pedestrians and other active travel users. And we welcome the effort to which the Council have gone to, in order to engage specific users of the public space to ensure the enhancements do not impede their ability to operate.
As a group we emphasised the need to carefully balance any public lighting on Red Island with the need to minimise disruption to wildlife and nocturnal hobbies such as star gazing and northern lights photography and we feel it may be possible to reach a compromise involving part of the space being lit with the other remaining in darkness.
We are very exciting about the prospect of the rainwater planting which will minimise surface water run-off and improve our sea water quality and welcome the inclusion of Sustainable Urban Drainage.
The project has the capacity to overhaul the public realm in this area making it safer and more attractive for all who use it. We would encourage people, if they can, to attend the open consultation event on Thursday in Prosper Fingal where people can drop in, see the plans and chat to the project team. Or you can have a look at the scheme on this page of Fingal County Council website.
Just a couple of days after the day it happened, committee member Hans Zomer writes:
(Additional reporting from Sabine)
A Celebration of Community and Sustainability
On Monday 2 September 2024, many people in Skerries were standing proud – literally and figuratively – as they welcomed the judges of the Pride of Place competition, Martina Maloney and Colette Byrne.
Photo credit: Fingal County Council
The IPB Pride of Place Awards is an all-Ireland initiative that celebrates communities and their work to improve daily life of people on the island. Communities across Ireland are nominated by their local authorities and invited to showcase their achievements. It’s not just about pride – it’s about partnership, demonstrating a real connection with the local authority, and ensuring inclusivity for all sectors of the community.
With ten categories altogether and fierce competition between the counties, each county / city council nominates one standout community in each of up to five categories. And this year, Skerries has been chosen to represent Fingal County Council in the Climate Action and Biodiversity category! The other two Fingal nominees were Lusk for the overall Community award in the Over 5000 Persons category, and the Castleknock Community Centre, Dublin 15 in the Inclusive Communities category.
The excitement was palpable as a packed Little Theatre welcomed our guests, who also included the mayor of Fingal Corina Johnston, Minister Joe O’Brien, Fingal County Council Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly, and the chair of the Skerries Community Association, our umbrella organisation, Jane Landy.
Small Actions, Big Impact: The Skerries Ripple Effect
At Sustainable Skerries, we believe that working together allows us to achieve more than we could ever do individually. Our ripple effect—a concept we proudly presented to the judges—emphasises how small actions, like planting a tree or encouraging wildflower growth, can inspire broader community efforts. Our mission is to amplify this ripple, spreading awareness and encouraging collective action on sustainability.
Founded in 2009 by the Skerries Community Association, Sustainable Skerries focuses on several key areas: biodiversity, climate action and resilience, sustainable food, circular economy and waste avoidance, water management and conservation, energy, and transport. These initiatives not only benefit Skerries but also contribute to global efforts to protect our planet.
Pride in Place, Power in Community
When we learned that Skerries would represent Fingal County Council at the national level in the biodiversity category, we knew we had to make a powerful impression. And at the same time, we wanted to turn the afternoon into a celebration for all those working in the “eco sphere.” Our committee reached out to the Skerries Community Association and its many constituent groups, as well as other groups like Birdwatch Ireland, Currachaí na Sceirí, the Mourne Estate Residents’ Association and many more to ensure that we could present Skerries is all its diversity and unison.
As a result, on 2 September we were able to present the judges with a day filled with exciting activities. Their visit to Skerries started with a presentation on the Sustainable Skerries Ripple Effect, and featured a delightful performance by the Ecoleles, a group of local ukulele players formed for the day, who premiered a special song for the occasion.
Helen Scullion and Sabine McKenna led the way, showcasing the numerous groups and initiatives that make Skerries a leader in sustainability. A video summarised our efforts (available on our YouTube channel).
Then followed a tour of the Community Centre, stopping by the children’s bee garden and taking in the location of a water butt and a rain garden (both part of our new Water project funded by LAWPRO).
The Skerries Eco Town Wall
We next went into the newer part of the Skerries Community Centre itself for the unveiling of a new mural by local illustrator Niamh Sharkey, depicting the many ways our community is involved in sustainable practices. This was made possible by a grant under the Anti Litter Anti Graffiti funding of Fingal County Council, for which we are very grateful.
Then the judges took a bus trip, visiting various sites of interest that reflect our commitment to sustainability: they visited the Kelly’s Bay Open Orchard, and Mourne View, where they heard about the plans to mark the 50th anniversary of the estate, and saw the results of the work of the Mourne Estate Residents’ Association, who propagated and planted thousands of flowers throughout their area (and beyond) this year only. The judges were impressed by its beauty, as well as the cooperation evident with a group of local Foróige members, who only a few days earlier had spent an afternoon looking after the two mini orchards in the estate.
On the South Strand, the judges saw a session of the weekly Skerries Tidy Towns Work Party, led by Maeve McGann, and met members of the Currachaí na Sceirí group, who do regular litter picks and have collected an amazing 20,000 pieces of waste in 150 trips. Cathal Copeland of Birdwatch Ireland Fingal spoke about the group’s activities in Skerries and Aonghus Lynch showed the judges how Sustainable Skerries, Foróige, the Skerries Men’s Shed and the Skerries community have come together to start a beach toy library. The Skerries Cycling Initiative presented their Active Travel plans for the town and the local Cycling Without Age Trishaw project also got to give a demonstration.
At the South Strand: Aonghus Lynch, Foróige; Sara Reddy, Sustainable Skerries; judges Martina Maloney and Colette Byrne; Deborah Tiernan, Biodiversity Officer, Fingal County Council and (on the right) Michael McKenna, Skerries Cycling Initiative & SCA and Karen Power, Sustainable Skerries all listening intently to Cathal Copeland, Birdwatch Ireland Fingal.
Then it was off to the Sensory Garden at Floraville in the centre of town – the result of a collaboration between Skerries Autism Friendly Town and the Chamber of Commerce
There was one more place to visit: Skerries Mills, where The Stream Huggers, who are connected to Skerries Tidy Towns gave an overview of their project: 20-30 tonnes of rubbish removed from the mill stream and surroundings, 54 water samples taken from the stream and ponds and tested for nitrates and phosphates in last 1.5 years, and 825 pollinator-friendly perennial plants distributed to residents. The judges also heard about the Skerries LAWPRO-supported project which is looking at many different ways to improve the water quality of the Mill Stream, and how Skerries Mills has taken steps to reduce its energy use and promote biodiversity. Representatives from the Skerries Allotments – which have 220 individuals and families growing their own food – and the Skerries Sustainable Energy Initiative who spoke about the recommendations of their Energy Master Plan.
All this was taking place at Skerries Mills Community Garden, a wonderful oasis looked after by a group led by Marion and Charlie Heasman. Besides being a haven for people and pollinators alike, the community garden also organise two major annual festivals: The Scarecrow Festival and the Skerries Wild Bee Festival, focusing on the importance of pollinators and environmental awareness. In 2024, Marion and Charlie were the recipients of the Skerries Volunteers of the Year Award for their many activities for biodiversity, be it with Sustainable Skerries, the Skerries Mills Community Garden or with others.
So many other groups were part of the day and talked during the evaluation that we can’t list them all… Actually, a good few people said to us that they were amazed themselves to learn about all the activities others are engaged in here in our town!
Rippling Change, Inspiring Action
We think that we managed on the day to show how proud we are of what we have accomplished together as a community and are excited to see what the future holds.
We heard since that the judges left Skerries “buzzing” (in a good way!), and a very strong reason for that were certainly the many chats they had in the Skerries Mills café after the formal part of the evaluation. The lovely homemade mini cakes and scones the café had prepared definitely contributed to the positive vibes, too!
Next stop: Skerries Eco Festival 27 – 29 September!
We’re looking forward to seeing everybody again at the Eco Festival at the end of the month.
If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of something bigger, we invite you to join us at Sustainable Skerries, to help us continue to grow the ripple effect, making Skerries – and the world – a better place, one action at a time.
Contact us to find out more.
Evelyn Cottell, the committee member behind our extensive history of Sustainable Skerries, writes:
Sustainable Skerries celebrated its 15th anniversary this summer. Former and current committee members met up over dinner, to chat, reflect and celebrate the group’s achievements, from its beginnings in 2009 to date.
Over dinner chat, I discovered so many initiatives and achievements from the early days, right through to today, all contributing in a profound way to enhance our local environment. A simple blog article on the celebratory dinner developed into a very long and comprehensive “History of Sustainable Skerries”, now available on the website. An unexpected ripple effect. This reference document, facilitated by the website availability of so many events captured by our online manager, Sabine McKenna, in one form or another, was very helpful to the “Pride of Place“ preparation team. By capturing, categorizing and quantifying all our biodiversity and climate action achievements and assessing what we thought were most impactful, this helped in the preparation of the formal presentation to judges and in particular was central to creating a key Pride of Place document “Skerries Sustainability Ripple Effect Impacts”. ✨Sabine here: The document is available on sustainableskerries.com/impacts! Back to Evelyn. ✨I hope those involved with SuSk over the 15 years and our wider community will read the article and Impacts document, and feel proud of what has been achieved. (I did my best to fact check, but please, if there are any inaccuracies, let me or Sabine know). Sabine here again: Write to sustskerries@gmail.com please!
As a relatively new committee member, I was motivated to join in response to a call for volunteers to help with its first Skerries Eco Festival last September; in knowing that the best way to not feel hopeless about our climate and nature crises is to get up and do something positive about it, no matter how small; in believing in the ripple effect- the potential for positive change through small intentional actions and how seemingly insignificant actions can have far reaching consequences on societies and environments.
The first Sustainable Skerries Urban Summer Forest School this August was a great success. This is what organiser Breda Naddy wrote about it:
The Skerries Urban Forest School (funded by Fingal County Council) aimed to inspire a group of young people (aged 6 – 9 years) with a love of being outside and a sense of adventure and Ross and Miriam from Free Range Outdoor Education (www.froe.ie) did just that. There were four days of outdoor forest school activities where the children got a chance to use saws, hammers, drills etc. for their crafts and games. There were also walks to the Ballast Pit, an open orchard, the community garden and the beach. Ross and Miriam put up hammocks and shelter amongst the trees and started lots of games but there were also plenty of games that the children made up themselves.
The thing that the children liked most was having freedom outdoors. Using the saws and hammers was also a big hit. And of course the melted marshmallows and biscuits on the last day helped to cement it all as a great experience. The thing that parents liked most was their children being outside. Everyone found that it was a no-pressure, non-competitive way for children to enjoy being outside while having fun. Underlying all of the games and fun was a message about caring for ourselves, caring for each other and caring for nature and the environment.
On the final day some inspiring visitors came to talk to the children about community safety. Robert Dillon from The Garda Síochána, Jenny Morgan from Order of Malta and Rosie O’Regan from Water Safety Ireland all had important messages for the children through games and fun. The children were fascinated.
And what a wonderful group of children we had for our first forest school. They were full of enthusiasm and fun and were ready to jump right into whatever activity was lined up for them. One day there was a huge downpour and everyone was completely soaked in seconds. What did the children do? They sang with huge smiles “rain rain go away” while sheltering under the trees. That’s the kind of group they were.
We hope that this little taster of a forest school gave the children a chance to experience the joy of being in nature having fun with new friends.
How proud are Skerries people of Skerries? The answer is, of course: Very. So when Fingal County Council recently nominated us for the Climate Action and Biodiversity Award of the all-island Pride of Place competition, we were rightly chuffed.
IBP pride of place 2024 is an all-island competition run by Cooperation Ireland. It acknowledges and celebrates the work communities are doing all over the island of Ireland.
And now we would like to invite all of you who can come along on Mon 2 September to join us in celebrating the “Skerries Sustainability Ripple Effect” – we will have two visitors, judges with Cooperation Ireland (the organisation behind Pride of Place), here in our town who want to know what exactly sustainability means to us: What is being done in Skerries for biodiversity and for climate action, and how that has had an impact on all of us here in Skerries.
So: You are all invited to join us for the Skerries Pride of Place Day!
- Mon 2 September, 2 – 4.30 pm: Skerries Evaluation
We hope you can join us for the afternoon when the Pride of Place judges come to evaluate what we call the “Skerries Sustainability Ripple Effect.”
Our emphasis on the day is on all the biodiversity and climate action happening in Skerries, the “Skerries Sustainability Ripple Effect” (See more about the Pride of Place day on our here.)
So it is super important for the judges to meet people we’ve worked with in Climate & Biodiversity, like yourselves!
The rough plan for the day is:
- 2 pm Judges arrive in Skerries: Short introduction to our place & presentation (slideshow) in the Skerries Community Centre (Room 1 or Little Theatre), followed by the official “opening” of the Skerries Eco Town Wall in the Skerries Community Centre
- (Tour of Skerries for the judges, with stops in 3 locations; we will be in touch with people directly regarding who might be waiting for the visitors at which location; if we don’t see you ‘on location,’ we hope to see you back at four pm at the Mills)
- 4 pm Skerries Mills Community Garden / Skerries Mills Terrace Café: Final visit & refreshments for everyone involved.
Skerries Eco Town Wall
The Skerries Community Centre had offered wall space in its revamped main building to Sustainable Skerries to highlight all the eco things happening in our town. We felt that it wasn’t right to just have one group as the ‘headline act’ as it’s really more an eco web in our town, or an eco town – which was actually the heading which our illustrator, Niamh Sharkey, suggested and which we then went with. This was made possible through a Fingal County Council Anti Graffiti Anti Litter Grant, which we gratefully acknowledge. The wall design is being printed right now. Below are just a couple of details from it. Come along on Mon 2 September to be among the first to see it in its full glory, just opposite the sports hall!
Please let us know if you can make it on this form, which also has 3 very quick questions for you to answer which will help us in preparing for that day. If you’ve already filled in the form, thank you! If in doubt, fill it out. Better twice than not at all!
Kind regards,
Sabine, for the Pride of Place Organising Team, Skerries
PS: Fingal even created a video about us and the other two Fingal nominees, Lusk (Pride of Place overall) and Dublin 15 (Integration).
There was an amazing amount of interest in the online talk environmental water management expert Féidhlim Harty gave recently, entitled “Catch that raindrop!”
He gave us A LOT of information – so this recording (also on our YouTube channel) will help those who couldn’t make it on the day as well as those who would like to see details again!
We have also put links to all the resources Féidhlim mentioned on the page dedicated to our water projects: SustainableSkerries.com/water
Our thanks goes to the Local Authority Waters Programme aka LAWPRO – without you, this event would not have been possible!
For more on the Skerries Water Project, make sure to come to the Skerries Eco Festival Eco Night, Sat 28 September, when Féidhlim will be one of two speakers. (The other will be Philip Boucher-Hayes, RTÉ.) Féidhlim will be reporting on his work (also financed by LAWPRO) on nature-based solutions to run-off from hard surfaces like pavements and roads after heavy rain.
Volunteer project manager and Sustainable Skerries committee member Helen Scullion writes: “These can help reduce localised flooding, and at the same time remove pollution from this water before it gets to our stream or bathing waters. Since the solutions are nature-based, they also increase biodiversity. So it’s win-win-win!” Check our Festival page for more, or even better, subscribe to our newsletter (if you haven’t already) to make sure you’ll know when booking for that night opens.
And for now, sit back and enjoy the video!
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!
Committee member Miriam Sweeney, who is the woman behind our Skerries Beach Toy Library, writes:
On the lovely sunny morning of Sunday 7th July 2024, the Skerries Beach Toy Library was launched. It is located on Skerries South Strand, on the beach, at the bottom of the path between the main public toilets and the lifeguard’s hut. A small sign on the fence at the footpath points the way.
Beach toy libraries put unwanted toys to good use and help reduce plastic waste. They also help parents save money and avoid the need to carry lots of toys on beach trips. Simply borrow the toys from the box, play with them, and return them when you are finished.
This initiative stemmed from a suggestion in the Chat4SustainableSkerries WhatsApp group; where a member spotted a beach toy box in Clogherhead, Co. Louth, and mentioned how great it would be to have something similar in Skerries.
The Sustainable Skerries Committee agreed and sprang into action. Councillor Karen Power got the go-ahead from Fingal County Council, the Men’s Shed kindly agreed to make a signboard and the Foróige group volunteered to design the sign.
Then we only needed a box and some toys to launch for the summer holidays! We got a great response, with many likes and positive comments on social media.
On the launch day, we were delighted to welcome local families, passers-by members of the Skerries Community Association, Skerries Tidy Towns, of our own committee, and people generously bringing toy donations. You may have seen some photographs of children happily playing with the toys on our social media, this even made the Skerries News the following week.
You may also recall that Tuesday 9th July was very stormy, more suited to kitesurfing than playing with beach toys. We are grateful to the thoughtful person who put stones on the lid of the toy box to stop it from blowing open.
Since then, the toy library has seen great use, not just by the many visitors to the beach but also by the sand beetles found sheltering underneath it one day when moved for maintenance! The box is already showing some wear and tear though, we’ve been patching it up but we intend to put something sturdier in place in the medium to longer term. If anyone could help with that, we would be delighted to hear from you.
We are also happy to accept further donations of good-quality beach toys. They can be dropped directly into the box. If it happens to be full, please let us know, and we’ll keep the toys in reserve to replace worn ones.
We check the box regularly and have started labelling the toys as belonging to the box.
So, if you find any toys on the beach with “beach toy box/library” written on them, please return them.
Thanks again to the many people who contributed to this great initiative, which we aim to run from April to September annually.
Would you like to join the Chat4SustainableSkerries WhatsApp group, where this initiative started? Send your name and phone number in an email to sustskerries@gmail.com and we’ll add you!
In our series of blog posts about the 2023 Skerries Eco Festival, Sustainable Skerries committee member Evelyn Cottell sums up talks number four to six of our nine wonderful Sunday Afternoon Talks . She writes:
The ECO Talks session took place on Sunday 3rd September 2023 in The Little Theatre. In the nearby Old Schoolhouse, ECO Fair stalls were in full swing, facilitating a flow of people in and out of the two events, according to personal time and interest.
Events aimed to inform on a wide range of topics including conservation of energy; marine; river and birdlife; biodiversity, waste reduction & management, the work of Skerries Tidy Towns and on promotion of active travel.
The extent of local group initiatives and activities, which are establishing strong roots, were presented. This session also aimed to inspire residents to take further action to protect and enhance our town’s natural beauty and sustainability.
Nine speakers, including local and external experts, gave short presentations, followed by Q & A’s.
We covered the first three talks (on the Skerries Mini Orchards, on rewilding the Mill Stream and one with bike repair & cycling tips, in a previous blog post, Afternoon Talks 1-3 of the Skerries Eco Festival 2023.
Here is my summary of the next three talks:
Why I quit my job and started the world’s first eco toy store- Sharon Keilthy (jiminy.ie)
Sharon Keilthy of jiminy.ie impressed the audience with her personal story on why she quit her job and started the world’s first eco toy store. While out shopping for an “Eco friendly, made in Europe” present for her daughter’s birthday, she failed to find what she went looking for, and so was inspired to set up her own business. She spoke passionately, conveying a depth of research and knowledge of the plastic toy industry. 90% of toys are made from virgin plastic (originating from petroleum), and transported a 22,000km from China. Surprisingly, 90% of the carbon footprint from toys come from the plastic and not the transport process. Sharon uses plastic free materials, made from sawdust and recycled cups in her toys, all made in Europe. Of the 4 big Global toy makers, Lego appear to be the only one who are serious about sustainability, with a pledge to be totally sustainable by 2023. It is not surprising with her vision and drive that Sharon is currently engaging with some of the top toy makers in the world including Mattel.
Update:
Since setting up her business in 2018 Sharon has learnt much about what makes a toy sustainable. She shares this knowledge and experience, engaging regularly with key toy business communities and committees, including:
- The Women in Toys Sustainability Learning Community (Co-founder)
- Sustainable Toys Action Consulting (Co-founder)
- The Toy Association (USA)- (Committee member)
- Otis College, LA, Toy design students (Guest lecturer)
- Sustainability monthly columnist for Spielwarenmesse’s Spirit of Play magazine and Sustainability member for their Toy Award judging panel 2024.
In January 2024 Sharon gave a presentation at the world’s largest toy trade fair- Spielwarenmesse, in Nurnberg, Germany- “Sustainability is becoming mainstream in the toy industry-are you ready?” Here she gave her view on 8 main business cases for sustainability: 1. Moral – sustainability is the right thing to do; 2. Profit – if sustainability maximises profitability; 3. Competition – to retain market share there is the need to match or beat competitors’ sustainability levels; 4. Funding – banks or investors need to see sustainability to lend businesses money; 5. Risk – sustainability avoids/reduces risks to business continuity; 6. Talent – people want to work for sustainable businesses; 7. Brand/reputation – society will judge on our sustainability; 8. Regulation – regulators like the EU will mandate or incentivise sustainability.
Indeed the 8 business cases could be applied to businesses beyond the toy industry. There are 2 EU regulations upcoming that should have positive impacts on sustainability:
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) – like an annual financial report but for sustainability.
- Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) -expected to be effective 2026.
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation for toys at a glance:
- Requirements / incentives to improve products’ sustainability including carbon footprint, use of post-consumer recycled materials, durability, reparability (e.g., availability of spare parts and repair services), and recyclability;
- Better labelling / information to help shoppers and business buyers choose more sustainable products and get them repaired (including a Digital Product Passport and the EU Ecolabel);
- Potentially mandating ‘green’ public procurement;
- Making it illegal to destroy unsold goods
It is wonderful & inspirational to see a local Irishwoman make such a positive impact on the global toy industry.
A Cleaner, Greener Town- Maeve McGann and Emer McLoughlin (Skerries Tidy Towns)
Skerries Tidy Towns (STT) committee representatives took the floor, to educate and encourage on “A Cleaner, Greener Town”. Like Sustainable Skerries, Skerries Tidy Towns is one of the many committees of the Skerries Community Association.
With the changing nature of the national Tidy Towns competition, STT lobbied to have a name change. A subtext was added eventually– Tidy Towns, caring for our environment. The aims of TT’s competition is “to improve the local environment, making it a more attractive, cleaner and sustainable place to live”.
Tidiness and Litter control of a town’s environment has been synonymous with the competition, (still accounting for the section with the largest number of marks assigned-90). Maeve rightly pointed out though, that when we reflect fully on litter (including dog poo on our beaches-please BAG IT. BIN IT) and specifically on the detrimental impact that plastics, (in all its forms-micro and macro) has on sea life, plastic litter control should be right up there in terms of protecting our marine environment. Examples of the great work STT do include the “Adopt a Patch” and SEAL (Skerries-Everyone-Against-Litter) schemes, with weekly litter picks. Removal of litter and dumping from the Mill stream (or Brook), has been managed, since the beginning of COVID, by its nearby resident, Dara Mac Domhnaill and his team of “Stream Huggers”, working as a subgroup of STT.
Nature & Biodiversity and Sustainability are now key environmental sections of the TT competition (55 marks each). Biodiversity can be defined as the variety of all living things and their interactions. It supports all life on earth. Without biodiversity, our entire support systems for human and animal life would collapse. What can we do to protect biodiversity?….Avoid using chemical sprays; leave space in our gardens for wildlife; allow gaps in walls and fences for hedgehogs to pass through; keep some undisturbed leaves in Springtime, so that insects can shelter until the weather warms up. What has STT done in terms of biodiversity? They have worked with Fingal County Council over several years to reduce the cutting of grass in specific areas of the town, while retaining the cutting regimes for its playing fields. STT support “NO MOW MAY”, to allow the dandelions (providing a unique and limited source of pollen in early summer) to bloom in gardens and grass verges. Additional Biodiversity activities include the establishment of native pollinator friendly wildflower corridors and corners in the town, and wildflower seed and native tree planting around the stream.
Sustainability can be defined as any theme or project where a negative impact of the environment can be reduced (e.g. food and clothes waste, water conservation through use of water butts). STT measures to address Sustainability include the use of compostable cups by all coffee shops in the town. But there is acknowledgement that we have some way to go to rid the town of disposable cups. Meanwhile, the “Keep Cup” campaign is encouraged, to bring your own cup to the coffee shop, as is re-usable water bottle use, to reduce plastic waste. Many cafes and bars have signed up to refill water bottles for free. In the past, STT supplied water butts to anyone who adopted a flower pot or window box. Indeed, you can install a water butt in your own garden to conserve water during heavy rains and drought. The Tidy towns group supports Voice Irelands initiatives of 2nd hand shops. They report that clothes production releases 1.2 billion tones on greenhouse gas emissions every year. So change the way you think about shopping- don’t think you have to buy the latest fashion and don’t get distracted- shop for what you only need for your wardrobe. The same applies for food waste…buy only what you need, eat what you buy, keep food fresh and avoid the bin. This advice is not only sustainable for the environment but also for your purse or pocket.
Other key TT sections include Engagement with the community (schools, businesses, and 3rd parties), Streetscape, Public Parks and Buildings. Examples of STT’s heritage preservation are the beautiful limestone kerbs and cobblestones; conservation of the quality of many old shopfronts in the town; preservation of heritage buildings such as the thatched cottages of Skerries. Fingal County Council and Abarta heritage have collaborated on an audio guide for Skerries- www.abartaheritage.ie. Under the Greenspaces & Landscaping section, STT have planting native trees, wildflowers and plants. When it comes to community sustainability, use recycling facilities, and don’t leave empty boxes or bags behind. Never litter. Clean the kerb outside your house or premises. Use 2nd hand shops when you can. We all have a personal responsibility to our town and planet.
New Skerries Tidy Town volunteers are welcome at Quay Street shed, where they tend to meet at 2 pm on a Monday. Email maevemcgann@gmail.com or email to tidytowns@skerriesca.com or follow on their Facebook page.
The presentation displays best on a computer. You can also open it at this link: Link to presentation
Protecting our Marine Environment- Michael Walsh (Coastwatch Ireland, Fingal Branch)
Michael Walsh, representing another key environmental conservation organisation – Coastwatch Ireland (Fingal branch), took the floor to talk on “Protecting our Marine Environment”. This was a timely presentation, as Coastwatch Irelands annual citizen science shore survey is carried out from 15th September to 15th October. Michael guided us through the survey form, how to find and book a survey area (a 500 meter stretch of coastline), how to access trainings and reference materials (online and in person) and how to execute and submit survey findings. The survey covers several fields, including type of hinterland and inflows to sea (with nitrate and nitrite testing). A large section on biodiversity, including plant and intertidal seaweed types, invasive alien species, intertidal fish and invertebrates (e.g. sea anemones, clams, barnacles, limpets, crabs, shrimps), marine bivalves (e.g. cockles, muscles, oysters, razor shells) litter, waste and pollution. The public launch of findings of the autumn survey 2023 took place online on 4th December Survey Results | Coastwatch Europe. All accessible survey sites along Skerries coastline were surveyed this year. (Estimated to be between 30-40, as it’s difficult to determine where Skerries starts and ends).
Sustainable Skerries 