Our History

Welcome to our history (written by committee member Evelyn Cottell in August / September 2024), and see our Impacts page for some data regarding the ripples our work has caused! You can also go straight to nearly all the way to the end, where a gallery with pictures of our past awaits you. When you click into the images, you should be able to see the file names, which tell you the when and what. Enjoy!

STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

Sustainable Skerries (SuSk) is part of the Skerries Community Association CLG (SCA), a not-for-profit organisation whose goal is to make Skerries-already a wonderful place-even better.  In total, there are eight committees in the SCA, plus the Board of Directors of the SCA has two core values: sustainability and inclusion. SuSk takes pride in embracing these values through its wide range of activities and projects.

HISTORY

Sustainable Skerries was founded in 2009, by Frank McKeown, Barry Brady, Marjorie Brooker and Bronagh Ni Dhúill. Original committee members included Mary Marsden, Suzanne Jones, Andrew Plant and Alex Foy. It all started with the Skerries Community Association (SCA) organising a first meeting for all those in Skerries who wanted to take action in view of the need to transition to a post-carbon fuel, more sustainable future.  Its foci then were on sustainable food, energy and water.  Its aims were, and are, to make Skerries a resilient, regenerative and great place to live, now and for future years ahead.  Sustainable Skerries is active in improving sustainability and resilience in the areas of biodiversity, food, waste, water, energy (with Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative, SSECI) and transport (with Skerries Cycling Initiative, SCI).

The Skerries Sustainability Ripple Effect and Impacts

Whether individually or in coalitions of two, three or more groups, the people in Sustainable Skerries, Skerries Tidy Towns, the Skerries Cycling Initiative, the Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative, all part of the Skerries Community Association, as well as The Skerries Mills Community Garden, Birdwatch Fingal, and many other groups have had significant positive impact to our environment over the last 15 years:

BIODIVERSITY ACHIEVEMENTS

●     Skerries Allotments, set up in 2011, after several years of  negotiations between SuSk (Barry Brady, Mary Marsden) and Fingal County Council (FCC).  This project has been a huge success, with approximately 240 plots on the allotments, allowing locals to grow their own fresh fruit, veg and flowers, including pollinator friendly plants. A waiting list for plots is managed by FCC.

Here are just a couple of pictures – scroll down for a lovely gallery of memories!

 ●     Community Foundation for Ireland grant, 2019, leading to the Pollinator/Large Carder Bee Action Plan

○     Wildflower meadow at Educate Together school in 2020 (100m x 10m), strengthening local biodiversity and green space and encouraging involvement of school children

○      4 sites identified, where the rare Large Carder Bee was found: Ballast pit, South beach, Educate Together area & Allotments.   Wildflower corridors made to connect 4 sites. 

○     FCC collaboration, with reduction in mowing of verges along Barnageeragh road.

○     ~5km biodiversity corridor established, linking key pollinator sites in Skerries.

●     Skerries Mills Community Garden was established in 2022, with a pollinator-friendly garden, leading to a successful increase in the Large Carder bee population. In early 2022 the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) was starting to think about having a Wild Bee festival…..

●     1st Wild Bee festival in Skerries was held in 2022, in collaboration with our biodiversity experts within SuSk-Charlie and Marion Heasman, Fingal County Council (FCC) and the NBDC.   Subsequent Wild Bees festivals were held in 2023, 2024, engaging the community, young and old, and raising awareness on biodiversity.

• Provision of ~ 20 walks / talks per year, since 2022 by Charlie and Marion Heasman (eg. to most of Skerries primary schools; National Inclusion week walks/talks; Ballyboughal Hedgerow society, Donabate environmental group, North Kerry groups to identify the Large Carder Bee, invited speaker).

• NBDC/FCC/Skerries Wild Bee Festival, 2022, inspired Tralee to have its own festival in 2023,  then inspiring Knocknacarra,   Galway to have theirs in 2024

• NBDC 5 year strategic plan now includes a conservation plan for  the Large Carder bee

•  NBDC, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) and biodiversity group of SuSk collaborated in 2024 with Applegreen Lusk M1 northbound services on a project in line with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.  (Baseline survey done on Applegreen site in Lusk, MI Northbound, to monitor bees-count, species, plan  then to look to see what things can be done to improve pollinators).  Potential to roll this plan out to all Applegreen service sites

• Skerries Mills Community Garden continuously show social inclusion by engaging with other groups, providing designated raised beds to i.e. St Patrick’s primary school; Ukrainian refugees; Prosper Fingal

• Floraville sensory garden, 2024, a project between Skerries Autism friendly town and Skerries Business Association, serves as a purpose-built quiet space in the middle of Skerries.  The garden is nearing completion and has the added benefit of pollinator friendly plants.  Close by, take a look up on the gable wall of the new library, to see Swift nesting boxes installed, a collaborative initiative between FCC, Birdwatch Ireland Fingal and Skerries Tidy Towns (STT).       

●     From 2022-2024,825 pollinator-friendly perennial plants were distributed by Skerries Tidy Towns to 296 households providing habitats for the Large Carder bee and other pollinators.

●     In 2023 FCC commissioned a Skerries Townparks Biodiversity Action Plan.  This enabled an ecologist, Niamh Burke to carry out a community biodiversity assessment and action plan for Skerries Townparks.   A Biodiversity Plan Report 2024-2026 was issued in June 2024.  (hyperlink to report)

●     Biodiversity Action Plan 2022 drawn up by FCC & STT, with inputs from SuSk pollinator team, including collaboration with FCC to reduce cutting of grass in specific public areas.  See SustainableSkerries.com/plans

BIODIVERSITY ACHIEVEMENTS-Environmental Waste Management

●     Since 2020, Stream Huggers / Skerries Tidy Towns have removed an estimated ~20-30 tonnes of rubbish from Mill stream and surrounding areas. They also removed 140 flowering heads/stems of invasive species (high impact -Himalayan Balsam) in 2024.

●     Since 2016, over 20,000 pieces of waste (plastic and various other items, including lobster pots, ropes, metal, and rubber), have been removed from our 3 coastal islands. This has involved around 150 trips by kayaks and Currachaí na Sceirí.

●     STT town-wide adopt A Patch initiative to maintain and keep a patch of beach or town litter free continues

●     SEAL (Skerries Everyone against litter)- 3rd class primary school initiative.

  ●   Weekly litter pick (STT), with help from / gratitude to IP residents from Redbank.  This project also includes weeding, painting, and maintenance

CLIMATE ACTION ACHIEVEMENTS

●     Community Supported Agriculture Initiative established in 2012 by SuSk, in collaboration with a local farmer Paddy Byrne.  The initiative provided a weekly vegetable supply to the local community and ran very successfully for 9 years . 

●     Energy scheme for homes -collaboration in 2018 of the Skerries Community Association with Dunleer Market house (community group) on how to get a reduction on upgrading home boilers and insulation works

●     1st of several Repair cafés -organised by Ernestine Woelger in March 2019 to show and encourage people to repair rather than replace goods.

●     Global feast, 2020, organised by Sustainable Skerries, and supported by the Global Integration fund grant.  This food feast celebrated the rich delicacies and culture of 12 different nationalities, with 15 cooks bringing home-cooked food, catering for a group of 60 people

• Skerries Food Festival incorporating a  Food Trail 2021, highlighting organic & “SLOW” food options in Skerries (Seasonal, Local, Organic, Waste-Minimising = SLOW)

• Sustainable Energy Community Public information and consultation meeting, 2021. (Online).  Skerries had recently joined the SEAI Sustainable energies communities and wished to explore ideas on how to deliver sustainable energy project in Skerries, driven by ideas of the community and supported by SEAI and others. This resulted in the establishment of the Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative, SSECI.

●     Car Boot Sale, 2022, at Educate Together school. Buying and selling your pre-loved items is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, and a great example of supporting a circular economy.

●     Skerries Energy Master Plan 2022, developed by SSECI and funded by SEAI, aimed to help communities understand their energy usage and carbon footprint, thereby allowing them to set tangible targets for the future. The plan gathered information and developed tools to review projects to help SSECI move forward

●     Reusable party kit set up for St Patrick’s school, sourced by the Parents Association, saved approximately 750 single-use items from landfill last year.

●     180+ items saved from landfill by the second hand uniform sale at St Patrick’s, summer 2024  

●     Climate Heroes Skerries, a 9-person team, reduced CO2 emissions by 1,558.69 kg during the 12 day Community Climate Challenge in April 2024.

CLIMATE ACTION ACHIEVEMENTS – Active travel initiatives

Skerries Cycling Initiative (SCI)

Bike repair workshops, Cycling courses, Safer routes for kids to school, lectures-

■     Bike repair workshops x2, 2023, 2022

■     SCI, FCC & Irish Centre for cycling provided a 5 lesson course for adult cyclists in 2023/2024, which included several IP applicants. 

■     10 children participated in the 2024 bike camp

■     Re-homing donated repaired bikes to IP applicants

 ●     Walking bus from Ballygossan estate to St. Patrick’s school saved approximately 1800 car journeys over the past 2 years – organised by a group of parents in 2022.

●     As part of Active travel, FCC provided a Tri-cycle, located on Skerries South Beach.  Various volunteers in the community are approved “drivers” including a SuSk member, (who will demonstrate her skills as part of Pride of Place day on 2nd Sept 2024).

CLIMATE ACTION ACHIEVEMENTS – WATER RELATED PROJECTS

●     A Citizen Science annual COASTWATCH survey was carried out in autumn 2023.  All accessible Skerries survey sites, bar 1 (30-40) were assessed by locals, supported by the regional co-ordinator of Coastwatch and encouraged and mentored by our local Stream-hugger lead Dara Mac Domhnaill

●     58 water samples from the Mill stream and ponds were tested for NO3 & PO4 in 2023, under a Citizen Science project, via FreshWater Watch.  Seed funding was obtained via ChangeX

• The Stream Huggers, an off-shoot of STT, received Local Authority water Programme (LAWPRO) funding for a study of the lower stretch of the Mill Stream, between the Townparks and the sea, 2023.

●     A recently initiated SuSk Water project seeks nature-based solutions around the town, for runoff from hard surfaces like pavements and roads after heavy rain.  These help reduce localised flooding and at same time remove pollution from the water before it gets into the Mill stream or bathing water.  Solutions are nature based so they also increase biodiversity.  Funded by a Local Authority Water Programme grant and supported by a water management expert, Féidhlim Harty, 2023/2024

●     Beach Toy Library set up in 2024, on South Beach, with support from Men’s Shed & Foróige.

●     Community Centre retro-fitting project, 2019-2024  Having attended the Sustainable Skerries ECO town training course and visited Cloughjordan, community centre manager, Sharon Guinane has played a key role in several energy conservation plans and activities for the Community Centre, including (i) New sustainable roof (ii) new windows (also in Old School house); (iii) LED lighting (in stages); (iv) Solar panels on roof, (v) Installation of 2 heat pumps (for showers); (vi) LED lighting for All weather pitches (Tennis courts planned -Sept 2024); (vii) pollinator plants outside Community centre and Little Theatre. The 2025-2030 will see the completion of retro-fitting the adjacent Old School house.  

●     Community Centre manager Sharon Guinane has facilitated the re-purposing of the centre’s Sticky Fingers Montessori school uniforms, and has also enabled St Patrick’s primary school to use the centre as a drop off for their repurposed school uniforms, 2023-2024.

SUBMISSIONS TO LOCAL AND NATIONAL PLANS ON BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE ACTION

See sustainableskerries.com/plans for the final version of all local  plans.

• National Climate action plan, 2024, led and working on since early 2024 by, Miriam Sweeney, SuSk
• Fingal Strategic Policy Committee Scheme (SPC), 2024-2029, includes Climate action, Biodiversity, Environmental committee, Marine and Coastal committee, led by Miriam Sweeney since 2024, SuSk
• Fingal Development plan, 2022, led by Sarah Jane Cullinane, SuSk (link to website)
• Fingal Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030, Sustainable Skerries Submission made to the draft FCC BAC (Ref FIN-C482-52), led by Charlie and Marion Heasman.

Potential Impact of Submission/Changes adopted:  Only 30 of 100 actions in the plan would be possible with FCC’s available funding and resources at the time.  This shortcoming was highlighted by SuSk in their submission.  SuSk are aware that new biodiversity officers were subsequently employed by FCC.

In 2023 FCC commissioned a survey by an ecologist, Niamh Burke, on Skerries Townparks area, to inform on their Biodiversity Action Plan.  This resulted in the Skerries Townparks Biodiversity Plan 2024-2026.  The report was issued in June 2024.    

• Fingal Climate Action Plan 2024-2029, Sustainable Skerries Submission made to the draft FCC CAP FCC (Ref FIN-C482-52), led by Miriam Sweeney

Potential Impact of Submission/Changes adopted: 

In spite of an extensive submission to FCC, it appears that our submission led to little if any changes to the final plan.

• FCC-Skerries Active Travel Plan, Pre-Design Public Consultation Report, 2022
• Fingal Tree Strategy “Forest of Fingal” (2022-2032).
• Fingal Tourism Strategy 2024-2029

 ECO EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

●     Open day in 2012 to advertise what Sustainable Skerries do and a visit to Cloughjordan ECO village to see their set up.

●     Lessons in Sustainable living -6 week course, delivered to community in 2013, covering topics from food nutrition & preservation, growing foods, sustainable purchasing decisions, upcycling clothing, home waste & sustainable energy

●     Skerries Eco Town training course2022 –2023, organised by Sabine McKenna, Sustainable Skerries, and funded by LEADER.  This course brought together people from many different groups in Skerries, including the Skerries Community Association, Skerries Tidy Towns, Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative and the Skerries Community Centre. Over six weeks, they learned about different aspects of what makes a town more “eco” – and they also spent a very important weekend in the Eco Village of Cloughjordan.      Twenty-four participants took part in the training course.   This led to many events and ripple effects, including Eco Nights, the Skerries Eco Festival & the Scarecrow festival, as well as significantly more and improved collaboration between the groups.

Skerries Eco Nights – motivated by the desire to share their learning from the Skerries Eco Town Course. Sustainable Skerries has so far hosted three public information and discussion evenings on environmental issues, a general one in 2022 & one each focusing on biodiversity and water in 2023; the next Skerries Eco Night will take place as part of the 2024 Skerries Eco Festival and will look at what we can do TOGETHER.

• Consistent interest in biodiversity walks, with approximately 20 walks held every year for local school groups as well as adult groups. 650+ school children have been on a biodiversity walk.

• Skerries Mills Community Garden organised a visit to Kim McCall’s organic farm in Co. Kildare, summer 2024.  A wonderful visit to a farm of mixed livestock, wildflower meadows, hedgerows, ponds, woodlands and ancient ruins, where we learnt so much.

• In August 2024, Sustainable Skerries’ first Urban Forest School summer camp, organised by Breda Naddy, engaged 20 children in nature-based activities,  connecting them with nature by playing games, having fun and creating crafts in nature

1^st of many “First Fridays for future” July 2022, with a ‘3 orchard walk’

Presentations / Information sessions/ Festivals:

○     Skerries Allotments hosted the well-known organic gardening expert, Klaus Laitenberger, 2019

○     First Sustainable Skerries ECO Festival, 2023

○     Leader Funding Information session, hosted by the SCA on a suggestion by SuSk, 2024

○     Gardening for Pollinators talk, by Charlie Heasman, 2024

○     Tiny Worlds, Big Impact on Insects and Biodiversity talk, by Leo Carroll, 2024

Online presentations/ courses:

• Two tree talks: “Biodiversity and the draft Fingal Tree Strategy”- Kevin Halpenny and “The Importance of trees”- Éanna Ni Lamhna, 2020

• Gardening for pollinators, with Aoife Munn, 2021
• Organic Food Farming course, with Klaus Laitenberger, (Community Integration fund) 2021
• Food Festival 2021, team led by Sabine McKenna, run over four online events, to celebrate good food and convey how food is best consumed using the S.L.O.W acronym: Seasonal; Local; Organic; Waste (-non).  (i) panel discussion with 5 local food producers and retailers, called “The people behind your food”; (ii) organic food gardening workshop (iii) food foraging (iv) children’s cooking lesson, donation of which went to AsIAm/Skerries Autism Friendly Town.
• “Save the bumblebees”, 2022, Dave Goulson told us why we can’t live without insects, even though we might not like them. Video on our YouTube channel.
• “Catch that drop! “How and why to use water butts, raised beds, planters and rain gardens”, July 2024, Féidhlim Harty, as part of LAWPRO water project, spoke with focus on the town itself and the smaller measures we can take to catch rainwater. Video on our YouTube channel.

SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ

Stats as of August 2024

• Virtual events held by Sustainable Skerries, such as the “Our Food, Our Environment, Our Health” presentation, drew 112 attendees reflecting strong online engagement.
• 20 YouTube videos on the Sustainable Skerries Channel with 1,600+ views since 2021.
• Sustainable Skerries engages 923 Instagram followers and 1.1k Facebook followers.
• Currently, 84 members in the Chat4SustainableSkerries WhatsApp group actively discuss and share updates on sustainability.
• 388 subscribers to our more or less monthly Email Newsletter

VOLUNTEER IMPACT AND AWARDS

●     Skerries leads the Central Statistics Office list of the top towns with the highest volunteering rate in Ireland.  This finding is backed by the figure of about 100 volunteers involved in the running of the Skerries Community Associations 9 core groups.

●     Skerries Allotments, Skerries Mills Community Garden and Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative are three distinct groups that emerged from Sustainable Skerries.

●     1^st prize in the “Cleaner Communities Awards” for the Fingal Best Community Environmental Initiative, in recognition of allotments project, water conservation, Community Harvest Group and general community resilience, 2012.

●     A Merit Award from RDS for the allotments, 2012. 

• Skerries was overall winner or National Tidy Towns Competition, 2016
• Fingal Greener Communities awards 2019: Upcycling category in recognition of the Repair Café event and Biodiversity category and was given for the group’s work in promoting bee and pollinator information and education in the town

• STT consistently scores highly in the Nature & Biodiversity category of the Tidy Towns Competition, awarded 45 out of a maximum mark of 55 in 2023.   It was  highly commended in the Circular Economy award as well as in the All Ireland Pollinator award, thanks to our pollinator people

• Invited by Department of Rural and Community Development to talk on the mini-orchards, as the Showcase for the Community and Voluntary sector on Climate Action, Dublin castle, 2023

• Sabine McKenna, current chair of SuSk, won a Fingal Mayor’s award in 2023 for all her work with Sustainable Skerries

• Charlie & Marion Heasman  won the Jim Quigley Volunteer of the Year award, run by the SCA but judged entirely independently, in 2024

• Nominated to represent FCC in the category of Climate Action and Biodiversity in the Co-Operation Ireland Pride of Place competition, 2024

SOCIAL OCCASIONS

●     Pub Quiz to celebrate 15 years of Sustainable Skerries, 2024

●     15^th Anniversary dinner, for past & present committee members, 2024

End of the History as written by Evelyn Cottell in August / September 2024, following a huge amount of research, for which the committee (and probably you, the reader) are truly grateful.

We put together a brief gallery of what we have been doing.

Click into the pictures (tap on i on your phone) to see the file names, which tell you when & what!

Better still, join us at sustskerries@gmail.com