The Skerries Eco Festival
We’re looking forward to the 2025 Skerries Eco Festival, with the main day being Sunday 28 September 2025: The Skerries Community Centre (main hall) will be alive again with the Skerries Eco Festival Fair!
Eco Festival Photo Challenge Exhibition on now at Skerries Mills
From Tue 23 September on, for two weeks, we are delighted to have the 3rd Skerries Eco Festival Photo Challenge Exhibition on display in Skerries Mills, this year chosen by local photographer and videographer Mark Broderick.
Below are some images of the launch on Tuesday night. Thank you, everyone, for attending, and especially to the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Tom O’Leary, for opening it officially; to Katie Lattimore, chair of Sustainable Skerries, and to Breda Shankey, deputy chair of the Skerries Community Association, for their kind words; to Progressive Credit Union for sponsoring the exhibition; and to all the photographers for taking part in the challenge!
To sign-up for the Bird Walk, Sat 27 Sep 2025, 7.45 am, Red Island, please fill in this form:
A look back to 2024
There were many, many events (see below for the overview) – check out our blogpost for some images and our YouTube channel for videos of some of the walks and talks.
Skerries Eco Festival Sunday: Expect one of the biggest Skerries Eco Fairs yet! Incorporating Speakers’ Corner & Music!
The Full List of Bookable Events
Don’t forget our Full Skerries Eco Festival Pass and the Saturday Walks and Talks Pass! Ideal for all who intend to attend two or more events / walks and talks.
Click / tap on any of the event images below to be taken directly to its Eventbrite page for more info. See all our bookable events in one list on our Eventbrite page.
A look back on our first Skerries Eco Festival, September 2023:
There is no Planet B, but we can all do our bit to help turn the tide. The 2023 Skerries Eco Festival, with a focus on water in all its facets, tried to do just that. We hope you were able to join us from 1st-3rd September 2023, for 3 days of environmental workshops, walks, talks, our Skerries Eco Fair and eco family fun.
Sustainable Skerries acknowledges the financial support from Fingal County Council and the Skerries Community Association. 🙏 Besides, this festival would not have been possible without the work of many behind the scenes, and the central and active involvement of Skerries Tidy Towns, Skerries Cycling Initiative, and Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative (all also part of the Skerries Community Association), as well as many individuals.
A look back on the 2023 Skerries Eco Festival
by Sustainable Skerries member Hans Zomer.
The Skerries Eco Festival 2023 was a 3-day bonanza of talks, nature walks, music, art and inspiration on the many aspects of our natural environment.
The theme of the festival was Water: how we can look after it, how it influences our lives and how effective water management can help address the biodiversity and climate crises. And participants in the festival had many different ways of exploring these questions, through expert-led workshops, a photo competition, walks and art installations.
The overall aim of the festival was to give people a chance to discover the extent and diversity of our town’s natural beauty, and to inspire people to take action to help protect it. Local initiatives such as the Skerries Open Orchards Project, the Skerries Cycling Initiative, Skerries Tidy Towns, BirdWatch Ireland and Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative were all on hand to provide suggestions of how people can get involved locally. But the festival was also an opportunity to learn, and experts such as John Gibbons, Féidhlim Harty, Karin Dubsky and Hans Visser joined local experts to share their experiences and insights.
But it wasn’t all serious. There was plenty of space for music and entertainment, provided by the Skerries Ukulele Strummers, the Skerries Folk Club, Kristina’s Eco Puppet Show and local artists Niamh Sharkey and Owen Churcher who ensured that our town’s youngest artists also got a chance to showcase their work. And for fans of sunsets and waves, there was our first ever eco-photo competition, with the winners announced by Skerries News’ own David Diebold.
If you want to find out more about the themes of the festival, or want tips on what you can do in your own home or in our community, then get in touch with Sustainable Skerries. And don’t forget to sign up for our free newsletter, full of tips and information about local initiatives! Sign up online, or by email via sustskerries@gmail.com.
Here is an overview of the three days; details below, and full reports will follow over the rest of the year!
Festival Blog: Friday: Skerries Eco Festival Opening Night
Festival Blog: Saturday: Birds of Mermaids Chair Walk and Talk
Festival Blog: Saturday Biodiversity Walk (Skerries Eco Festival 2023)
Festival Blog: Saturday: Water Management in Skerries Walk and Talk
Festival Blog: Saturday: Singing Session ‘Songs of the Sea and the Sirens’
Festival Blog: Sunday: The Bike Shed
Fri 01 September 2023, #SkerriesEcoFest Day 1
Let’s get the festival started!
Skerries Community College Eco Day: Water
- Fri 01 September, during school hours
Water, water everywhere… All geography lessons taught in Skerries Community College on Friday 1st of September are encouraged to have a link to the theme of our festival – water.
There will also be a debate on the theme of water and the environment by the debating team; details will be released later.
Keep an eye on the Skerries Community College Instagram page for more on this!
Skerries Eco Festival Opening Night:
Details and booking here: Skerries Eco Fest Opening Night
- Fri 01 September 2023
- Doors open 7.30pm, starts 8 pm, Little Theatre, Old Schoolhouse, Skerries Community Centre
Festival Keynote: Climate & The Everything Emergency: John Gibbons (journalist, environmental campaigner & founder of climatechange.ie
Restoring Fingal’s rivers, wetlands and marine environment: Hans Visser (FCC Biodiversity Officer) will talk about those aspects of the brand-new Fingal Biodiversity Action Plan which have a connection to water.
Music by the Skerries Ukulele Strummers
Skerries Eco Festival: Water Photo Exhibition opening, David Diebold, Skerries News and Skerries Photographers Calendar. David will reveal his pick of the ten images, submitted by Skerries photographers, which made it into the 2023 Festival Exhibition.
Free, but don’t forget to reserve a space!
Sat 02 September 2023 – Exploring Skerries and Skerries Mills: #SkerriesEcoFest Day 2
Water-themed walks in Skerries at 8 am, 3 pm, and 5 pm
The walks will take place in (nearly) all weather, so come with appropriate clothing and rain / sun protection (as required on the day)!
Max number: 25 for each walk, don’t forget to secure your space on our Eventbrite page!
Birds of Mermaid’s Chair: Low tide walk and talk along southern end of Skerries South Beach. A walk led by Cathal Copeland, BirdWatch Ireland
Details and booking here: Birds of Mermaid’s Chair
Back by popular demand: You won’t know just how wonderful an early-morning BirdWatch walk is until you’ve tried it! Join Cathal Copeland, our resident bird expert.
- Sat 02 September, 8 – 9.30 am: BirdWatch Ireland event. Meet on the southern end of the South Strand promenade (near the Rugby Club) at 8 am. Requirements: Waterproof footwear and weatherproof clothing are advised. Binoculars are useful but not essential as a telescope will be available
- Free, but don’t forget to reserve a space! Children must be under parental supervision.
Between Land and Sea – biodiversity on the Skerries Coastline. A walk led by Marion and Charlie Heasman, Sustainable Skerries
Details and booking here: Betweeen Land and Sea
Nationally renowned bee experts Marion and Charlie Heasman are taking you on an exploration of our inland and coastal biodiversity, from the fabulous Community Garden to our Skerries coastline.
- Sat 02 September, 3 – 4.30 pm: Meet at the Community Garden next to the main building of Skerries Mills. Children must be supervised.
- Free, but don’t forget to reserve a space!
Floods, Droughts, Quality and Biodiversity: Water Management in Skerries. Walk and Talk with Féidhlim Harty, Environmental Consultant
Details and booking here: Floods, Droughts, Quality & Biodiversity Walk
Have you ever looked at Skerries from the point of view of the rain that falls on the town? Or all the water that comes out of our taps? Where does it go? Why is there too much at some times, too little at others? What can we do to manage it better?
Join Féidhlim Harty, environmental consultant, writer, and director of FH Wetland Systems for a stroll through Skerries that will open your eyes. He will look in particular at the Mill Stream catchment area.
He will give an introduction into water management (30 min) followed by a 60 min walk around Skerries, to see in real life what Féidhlim had been talking about.
- Sat 2 September, 5 – 6.30 pm: Meet at Skerries Mills (Main Entrance) at 4.55 pm; we will first be in the Pat Thorne Room (main entrance, then follow the signs), Skerries Mills, and then walk through Skerries.
- Free, but don’t forget to reserve a space.
- Children must be supervised.
This is aimed at adults, but some children with a particular interest in such things may enjoy it, too.
Skerries Mills Farmers’ Market Sat 2 September, 10 am – 2 pm
Visit us at our Skerries Eco Festival stall at the Skerries Mills Farmers’ Market, talk to Sustainable Skerries, Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative and Skerries Cycling Initiative members about their work, and learn more about the wonderful Skerries Community Garden
Sat 2 September 4-6 pm: “Songs of the Seas and the Sirens” – Singing Session hosted by Skerries Folk Club in Joe May’s (upstairs)
Details: Songs of the Sea and the Sirens
- 4 pm – 6 pm. Hosted by Dónal Kearney. A special partnership event between Skerries Eco Festival and Skerries Folk Club. Please note that the venue is upstairs and thus only accessible via stairs.
- Free, but you can reserve a space!
- Children must be supervised.
Sat 2 September 7.30 pm: Skerries Eco Night: Water
Do not leave it too late to reserve your seat for this – our third – Skerries Eco Night. We highly recommend attending one or more of the days’ walks to get most out of event!
- Location: Watermill Café, Skerries Mills, Skerries
Speakers (all details on the separate event page):
Karin Dubsky of Coastwatch: Coastal Biodiversity and the Importance of Enhancing and Protecting It
Féidhlim Harty: Between Floods and Droughts: Water Management in Skerries
After the talks, we’ll have table discussions (by topic), and then bring the whole group together for a big plenary session.
Free, but you can reserve a space. Likely to be booked out quickly!
Sun 03 September: In and around the Old Schoolhouse, Skerries Community Centre: #SkerriesEcoFest Day 3
Skerries Eco Fair Stalls on Sunday: Drop in at any time!
Sunday 3 September 2023, 11 am – 4.30 pm: Room 1, Old Schoolhouse, Skerries Community Centre.
Browse the stalls, chat to the people, get some eco-friendly goods!
There will be information stalls by:
- Sustainable Skerries
- Skerries Tidy Towns
- BirdWatch Ireland
- CoastWatch Ireland
- SEAI Schools Team
- Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative & One Stop House to Home
And these will have environmentally-friendly items to purchase:
- Bare Necessities
- Beeswax Wraps
- Hella’s Kitchen
- Eco Toy Store jiminy.ie
The Skerries Eco Festival Sunday Workshops
Free, but limited placees. Booking is open on our Eventbrite page!
Active Hope Workshop: An experiential workshop for cultivating courage, resilience and creative imagination in the face of environmental destruction and social injustice.
See more details here.
- Sun 3 Sep, 11 am – 1 pm, “Computer Room,” Old Schoolhouse, Skerries Community Centre
- Free, but limited spaces – reserve yours on our Eventbrite page!
Explore how to face the mess we’re in with unexpected courage, resilience and creative power. In this workshop we will work through the “Active Hope” process through a series of supportive taster practices developed by environmental activist Joanna Macy.
Led by Sarah-Jane Cullinane, Sustainable Skerries, and Josephine Lynch, The Mindfulness Centre.
Leaflings Family Doodle Workshop for families with children aged 5 and older.
See more details here.
- Sun 3 Sep, 11.30 am -12.30 pm, Little Theatre, Old Schoolhouse, Skerries Community Centre
- Free, but limited spaces – reserve yours on our Eventbrite page! Children must be supervised at all times.
Join Niamh and Owen to learn all about their book, “A Field Guide to Leaflings.” (Published by Templar Books.) Learn all about the guardians of the trees and trees from all over the world. Help create a giant doodle where you will draw a river down the centre of the page and draw trees from all over the world on either side. Then it is up to you to imagine and design how the leaflings will cross the river. Will it be on a giant Kapok leaf canoe or a Zip-Vine across the water? Meet Juana, a minder leafling who looks after tadpoles and learn how to draw your very own leafling too!
Led by Niamh Sharkey and Owen Churcher.
Kristina’s Eco Puppet Show & Arts Project for families
See more details here (2 pm) and here (3 pm).
- Two sessions: 2 pm, and 3 pm
- Free, but limited spaces – reserve yours on our Eventbrite page!
Be first entertained by Kristina’s Eco Puppet Show, then meet the puppets and get creative with some nature-themed art yourself! All materials provided. Children must be under parental supervision at all times.
Led by Kristina Keegan, Sustainable Skerries
Skerries Cycling Initiative Bike Shed Bike Repairs
No need to book, just drop in! But if you like, do sign up, and we’ll send you an email reminder.
- Sun 11 am – 4.30 p.m.
- At the SCI Bike Shed, behind the Old Schoolhouse
Bring your bike and see what can be done!
Come, watch and learn how to carry out some common bike repairs.
Home Energy Workshops with Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative
No need to book, just come along – but if you like, sign up for it and we’ll send you an email reminder!
- Stage Room aka Sticky Fingers, Old Schoolhouse, Skerries Community Centre
- Every hour – 30 mins (15 mins pres + 15 mins Q&A)
- 11am SEAI Home Energy Grants (Eric Dennis SEAI)
- 11.30am Retrofit One Stop Shop (Karl Bradshaw House 2 Home)
- 12.30pm Smart Meter (Adrian Kelly SSECI)
Break - 2pm Home Energy Tips and Energy Kit (Eric Dennis SEAI / MMJ SSECI)
- 3pm Retrofit One Stop Shop (Karl Bradshaw House 2 Home)
- 4pm SEAI Home Energy Grants (Eric Dennis SEAI)
- Free and unticketed – just turn up! Or do sign up and we’ll send you a reminder by email.
(No guarantee of a space at your preferred workshop, so make sure to come in good time.)
The Skerries Eco Festival Sunday Talks
No need to book, just drop in, but if you like, you can sign up and we’ll send you a reminder by email!
See here for details and some background on our speakers.
- Sun 03 September 2023, 2 pm – 5.30 pm, Little Theatre, Skerries Community Centre
A wonderful collection of short, snappy talks on a variety of eco topics. Here is the full list:
- 2.00 pm Branches of Hope: How planting trees can help turn the tide of the climate crisis. – Sabine McKenna (Sustainable Skerries, Skerries Open Orchards Project)
- 2.15 pm “Re-wriggling” the Townparks Stream. – Charlie Heasman (Sustainable Skerries)
- 2.30 pm Pedal Power: Tips on Bike Repairs, Safety, and All-Weather Cycling. – Michael McKenna (Skerries Cycling Initiative )
- 3 pm A Cleaner, Greener Town. – Maeve McGann (Skerries Tidy Towns)
- 3.15 pm Why I quit my job and started the world’s first eco toy store. – Sharon Keilthy (jiminy.ie)
- 3.30 pm Household Waste… why do they keep changing what can go where? – Paul Delaney (waste expert & consultant)
- 4 pm Working to Protect our Birdlife and Biodiversity. – Cathal Copeland (BirdWatch Ireland)
- 4.15 pm Protecting our Marine Environment. – Michael Walsh (Coastwatch Ireland: Fingal)
- 4.30 pm Energy Starts at Home. – Michael-Mullan Jensen (Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative)
Intrigued? Registering for this event means you’ll get a reminder by email!
Tides of Tomorrow: Gathering Ideas from the Ripples and Waves of the 2023 Skerries Eco Festival:
Sun 03 September 5 pm – 5.30 pm, Little Theatre
- No need to book, just come along – but if you like, sign up for it and we’ll send you an email reminder!
Where do we go next, now that we have seen, heard, experienced the various streams of the 2023 Skerries Eco Festival?
Climate crisis, biodiversity loss, active hope and planting trees.
Sustainable energy, active transport, the treasures of our seas.
Bird and bees, streams and trees.
This is where everyone can come together and share their ideas on those and more.
30 focused minutes in which we gather to combine our energies.
Together, we can help turn the tide!
The photographers of our Festival Exhibition will be able to collect their pictures to bring them home now, too.
Farewell and see you soon!
Sustainable Skerries acknowledges the financial support from Fingal County Council and the Skerries Community Association. 🙏 Besides, this festival would not be possible without the work of many behind the scenes, and the central and active involvement of Skerries Tidy Towns, Skerries Cycling Initiative, and Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative (all also part of the Skerries Community Association), as well as many individuals.
Sustainable Skerries 