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'{{Infobox settlement |settlement_type = Town |name = Skerries (Martin Land) |other_name = {{Pad top italic|Na Sceirí}} |image_skyline = Harbor at Skerries, Ireland.JPG |image_caption = Brightly painted houses at Skerries harbour |pushpin_map = Ireland |pushpin_label_position = top |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland |coordinates = {{coord|53.5828|-6.1083|dim:100000_region:IE|display=inline,title}} |blank_name_sec1 = Irish Grid Reference |blank_info_sec1 = {{iem4ibx|O248606}} |subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]] |subdivision_name = [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Ireland|Province]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Leinster]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Fingal]] |unit_pref = Metric |elevation_m = 5 |population_as_of = 2011 |population_urban = 9671 |population_footnotes = <ref name = "cso2011">{{cite web | title = Census 2011: Population Classified by Area | work = Central Statistics Office Census 2011 Reports | publisher = [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office Ireland]] | url = http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Census,2011,-,Population,Classified,by,Area.pdf |format=PDF}}</ref> |website = }} '''Skerries''' ({{Irish place name|Na Sceirí|The Rocks}}) is a seaside town in [[Fingal]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The name comes from the Norse word ''skere'' which has descended into the Irish word ''na sceirí'' which means ''the rocks''. Skerries is also a [[parish]] in the [[List of parishes of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin by deanery#Parishes of Fingal North deanery|Fingal North deanery]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin]]. ==Geography== Skerries has five islands off its coast called [[Shenick Island]], [[St Patrick's Island|St Patrick's]], [[Colt Island|Colt]] and [[Rockabill]]. Rockabill is in fact two islands, "The Cow" and "The Calf",<ref>Halligan, Mary (1937-38). ''Skerries Historical Society''.</ref> separated by a narrow channel. There is also Red Island, which is a [[tied island]]. The town itself is built around two long streets - Strand Street and Church Street and between the surrounding hills of North Fingal and low-lying beaches. Skerries South Strand is a long sandy beach 2.5&nbsp;km long.Red Island, Mill Hill, Hillside, The public Ardgillan Park and Demesne, Barnageera and to a lesser extent Baldungan Castle are high points on which you can look over the town. Rockabill has the largest numbers of breeding [[roseate tern]]s in Europe. It is also the farthest away from the town and has a [[lighthouse]]. On Shenick Island can be found a [[Martello tower]], one of a number of defensive towers erected during the Napoleonic era along the Irish coast by the [[United Kingdom|British]]. Shenick is accessible on foot at the lowest tides, but this is inadvisable, due to the relatively rapid fill caused by the turning tide. The other islands are harder to reach, but it is possible by boat. Red Island also has a Martello Tower. St Patrick's Island is so called because this is where the Irish [[St Patrick|patron saint]] is reputed to have landed and begun his mission to convert the country to [[Christianity]]. ==History== Early writers tell how an island off Skerries was used as a landing place for an invasion, which happened in the second century. This island was either Shenick or Red Island, which would have been a tidal island at the time. When the invaders landed, they formed ranks and at low tide marched to the mainland, where they were promptly defeated at the ancient settlement of Knocknagin, north of [[Balbriggan]]. The islands were previously known as the ''Islands of Cor'' possibly after the original inhabitants. [[File:Skerries Lighthouse.jpg|thumb|Skerries Lighthouse on [[Rockabill]] island|273x273px]] As noted, in 432 AD, St. Patrick is reputed to have landed on Church Island, and according to the [[Annals of Inisfallen]] [[Saint Mochonna]] founded a monastery shortly afterwards. [Reference required] In 797 AD, the [[Vikings]] (or ''Danes'') carried out one of their earliest raids in Ireland when they plundered the [[monastery]] on Church Island [Reference required]. As the origin of the name is Norse and many localities have Norse-based names, it is safe to assume the Vikings did settle and occupy the area. Sitric, who was a son of a Dane called Murchard, re-founded the monastery on Church Island in 1120. He dedicated it to St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland. By this time, the Danes who had settled in Ireland had become Christians. In 1148, [[Saint Malachy]], [[Archbishop of Armagh (Roman Catholic)|Archbishop of Armagh]], arranged a [[synod]] on St. Patrick's island to settle differences between the Irish Christians and the [[Pope]]. Fifteen [[bishop]]s, two hundred priests and other clergy were present. In 1320, the manor of Skerries was granted to Sir Michael le Veel; his descendants Anglicised their name to Calf. The Prior of Holmpatrick received permission to build a pier in 1496 from [[King Henry VII]].<ref>At the time, the role of the English monarch in Ireland was technically designated [[Lordship of Ireland|Lord of Ireland]].</ref> At this time, Skerries was the property of the monastery of Holmpatrick and was known as the Port of Holmpatrick. In 1565, after the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]], the monastery and its lands became the property of Thomas Fitzpatrick. In 1605 the manor and lands of Holmpatrick were granted to the [[Earl of Thomond]]. In 1721 the last Earl sold the manor and lands, including the town of Skerries, to the Hamilton family of Hacketstown. In 1897, the Hamilton family were granted the title of Lord Holmpatrick. Comparisons between maps of Skerries drawn in 1703 and 1760 suggest that the Hamilton family was responsible for setting out the streets of the town as they are today. Between 1863 and 1865 a monument to the memory of James Hans Hamilton, the local landlord and MP, was erected in Skerries. After the [[Easter Rising|1916 rising]], a British destroyer landed troops at Skerries to help the Dublin garrisons suppress the rising. 200 men of the [[North Staffordshire Regiment]] landed under the command of Captain Clay. To try to impede their progress to Dublin, local rebels blew up the bridge over the railway in [[Donabate]]. During the [[Irish Civil War]] in 1922, [[Harry Boland]] was mortally wounded while being taken into custody by [[Irish Free State]] forces at the Skerries Grand Hotel. ==The 20th century and today== Historically, Skerries has been a thriving fishing port and a major centre of hand embroidery. In the late 20th century, it became a resort town (golf, sailing, motorcycling, etc.), and a dormitory town for commuters to the city of Dublin. Recently the [http://www.skerriesmills.org Skerries Mills] were restored by Fingal County Council as a local amenity and tourist attraction. There are two fully restored and working windmills, watermill and a museum and coffee shop. One of the windmills lost sails during storms in January 2007, but has since been repaired In common with much of Dublin's hinterland, Skerries saw massive growth in residential property and associated prices during the late 1990s and early 21st century. Old family names include Shiels, Duff, Grimes and Branagan. The Shiels family date back to the 1830s. One later member of the family, Joe, was involved in the Howth Gun Running in the lead up to the 1916 Rising. He served 18 months in Wakefield Gaol in England. Skerries was named Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/tidy-towns-skerries-wins-competition-for-the-first-time-1.2805709|title=Tidy Towns: Skerries wins competition for the first time|publisher=}}</ref>[[File:Skerries Windmill 16feb08.jpg|thumb|right|313x313px|The larger of the two [http://www.skerriesmills.org Skerries Mills] windmills.]] == Education == The town has one second level institution, [[Skerries Community College]], originally named the Holy Faith/De La Salle College. The college originates from 1982, after the joining of was formed following a merger of the De La Salle College, Skerries Vocational School, and the Holy Faith Convent. It has on average 1000 students over 6 year levels (1st to 6th year, including optional transition year. It is a "[[Co-education|co-ed]]" school meaning for both male and female students, unlike the institutions the college merged from. As for primary schools, there are four in the town: [http://www.schooldays.ie/school/s-n-realt-na-mara-rollnumber-19625V Réalt na Mara national school] (n.s.), [http://www.stps.ie/ St. Patricks n.s]., [http://www.holmpatrickns.ie/ Holm Patricks n.s]. and [[Educate Together]] Skerries N.S.. There are many preschool options in the town, these are mostly family run. ==Red Island Holiday Camp== In the early 1950s, a [[holiday camp]] was built on Red Island by the Quinn family, founders of the [[Superquinn]] supermarket chain. The camp was then sold some years later to Swords auctioneer Shane Redmond. The camp had 250 bedrooms all under one roof, along with the dining and entertainment areas. In this respect, the accommodation at Red Island differed from more typical chalet facilities at other camps, such as [[Butlin's]].<ref>Fergal Quinn (16 November 2003). [http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/homes_and_gardens/article29153.ece "Time & Place: It really was a holiday camp"]. ''The Sunday Times''. Retrieved 9 May 2015.</ref> The holiday business closed in the early 1970s, as competition from foreign resorts became cheaper and more accessible. The ballroom continued in use as a venue for pop and rock groups such as [[Horslips]] and [[Thin Lizzy]], until all the buildings were eventually demolished in the 1980s. Red Island is now an amenity area for the local community, with a playground, and swimming areas. == Martello Tower == [[File:Martello Tower at Skerries, north County Dublin - geograph.org.uk - 1342046.jpg|thumb|179x179px|Martello Tower]] The Skerries martello tower is part of a chain of towers constructed in the early 19th Century. They were built by the British, along the Irish and English coasts. They were to serve as protection from [[Napoleon]]ic French armies (In the scenario of an invasion) and as an early warning system against an attack. More information can be found on the [[Martello tower|Martello Tower]] page. The tower in Skerries was used as part of the Red Island Holiday Camp. Since that was demolished in the 1980's, the tower has stood alone.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://irishmartellotowers.wordpress.com/introduction/|title=1:Introduction|date=2012-12-04|newspaper=Irish Martello Towers|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-29}}</ref> ==Arts== ===Literary References=== In [[Flann O'Brien]]'s book "[[The Dalkey Archive]]" Skerries is the location of the narrator's meeting with [[James Joyce]]. The narrator has heard a rumour that Joyce has returned from the continent and is working in a small country pub. He tracks him down to a place on the outskirts of Skerries, but Joyce denies all knowledge of "that filthy book" Ulysses. Casey, one of Reegan's subordinate officers in [[John McGahern]]'s first novel, [[The Barracks]], is described as having previously been stationed in Skerries where he also met his wife, Teresa. In conversation with Elizabeth Reegan, the novel's protagonist, Casey describes his "great life there, near the city; the market gardening, places you couldn't throw a stone without breaking glass", while Teresa recalls the evening she met her husband: "You could still hear the music from the pavilion and it was comin' across from Red Island too, Mick Delahunty playing there that night. There was a big moon over the masts of the fishin' fleet. I knew he was mad for a court". ==Music== Skerries has a vibrant and long-running musical tradition from Tony Keeling and the Graduates in the showband days, right through to the modern day era with bands like Primordial and Dem Fools keeping the Skerries flag flying in both global and local music scenes respectively. Extreme metal band [[Primordial (band)|Primordial]], which combines Black Metal and Doom Metal with Irish folk music, was formed in Skerries. [[Ryan O'Shaughnessy]], the singer-songwriter and former actor, originates from Skerries. ==Awards== Skerries has received numerous awards in the past for its beautiful scenery, rich culture, and constructive community. Skerries came second in all of Ireland in the 2014 Best Place to Live in Ireland awards. The town is also the only place to have won an award as an entire community at RTÉ & Rehab's People of the Year Awards in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/homes/reasons-why-you-should-consider-moving-to-skerries-by-the-seaside-31097353.html|title=Reasons why you should consider moving to Skerries by the seaside - Independent.ie|publisher=}}</ref> In 2016, Skerries was named Ireland's Tidiest Town by the Supervalu National Tidy Towns competition out of 859 towns and villages throughout the country that were considered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tidytowns.ie/|title=Welcome to TidyTowns Ireland|publisher=}}</ref> Skerries was rated as one of Europe's ten most beautiful cities by the popular Eating Europe Food Tours blog,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eatingeuropetours.com/europe-most-beautiful-cities/|title=10 of Europe's Most Beautiful Cities|date=8 April 2015|publisher=}}</ref> alongside cities such as Rome, Barcelona, Prague, and London. == Education == The town has one second level institution, [http://www.skerriescommunitycollege.ie/ Skerries Community College], originally named the Holy Faith/De La Salle College. The college originates from 1982, after the joining of was formed following a merger of the De La Salle College, Skerries Vocational School, and the Holy Faith Convent. It has on average 1000 students over 6 year levels (1st to 6th year, including optional transition year. It is a "[[Co-education|co-ed]]" school meaning for both male and female students, unlike the institutions the college merged from. As for primary schools, there are four in the town: [http://www.schooldays.ie/school/s-n-realt-na-mara-rollnumber-19625V Réalt na Mara national school] (n.s.), [http://www.stps.ie/ St. Patricks n.s]., [http://www.holmpatrickns.ie/ Holm Patricks n.s]. and [http://www.skerrieseducatetogether.ie/ Educate Together Skerries n.s.] There are many preschool options in the town, these are mostly family run. [[File:Skerries from Above. .jpg|right|frameless|300x300px|Skerries from above.]] ==Sport== *[[Skerries Harps GAA]] is the local [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] club. *The town also hosts the annual [[Skerries 100]] and Killalane motor cycle races. [http://www.loughshinnymotorcycleclub.com/] *Skerries Town Football Club is the local [[soccer]] team in the area. * [[Skerries RFC|Skerries Rugby Club]] is the local [[rugby union|rugby]] team in the area [http://www.skerriesrfc.ie/index.html] * Skerries Sailing Club located by the harbour, is the home to a thriving dinghy and cruiser fleet and perhaps the largest fleet of "Optimists" (sailed by under 16s) in Ireland.[http://www.skerriessailingclub.com/] * BirdWatch Ireland, Fingal branch is very active in the town with frequent presentations and outdoor events. [http://www.bwifingal.ie/] ==People== *[[Bobby Beggs]], gaelic footballer *[[Thomas Hand (Irish Republican)]] == See also == {{Commons category}} * [[List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland#County Dublin|List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Dublin)]] * [[List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland|List of towns and villages in Ireland]] * [[Skerries Community College]] * [[Skerries railway station]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.ipernity.com/doc/markwaldron/album/17708 Photographs] *[https://www.flickr.com/photos/23885771@N03/5465431598/ More photographs] *[http://www.skerrieshomepage.com Skerries Homepage ] *[http://www.skerrieshomepage.f2s.com/istory.html General Introduction to Skerries] *[http://www.skerrieschamber.com Skerries Chamber of Commerce] *[http://www.skerriescoastguard.com Skerries Coast Guard] *[http://www.skerriesca.com Skerries Community Association] *[http://www.oldskerries.ie Skerries Historical Society] *[http://www.visitskerries.com Visit Skerries] *[http://www.skerriesmills.org/ Skerries Mills.org] *[http://www.rockabillfilmsoc.com/ Rockabill Film Society] *[http://www.skerriescameraclub.com/ Skerries Camera Club] *[http://www.iarnrodeireann.ie/your_journey/your_station.asp?station=Skerries&action=showdetail&station_id=117 Skerries railway station] *[http://www.skerriessailingclub.com/ Skerries Sailing Club] *[http://www.skerriessoundwaves.com/ Skerries Soundwaves 4] *[http://www.skerriesrfc.ie/ Skerries Rugby Club] *[http://www.thehillscricketclub.com/ The Hills Cricket Club] *[http://www.skerriesharps.ie/ Skerries Harp GAA Club] *[http://www.skerriesgolfclub.ie/ Skerries Golf Club] *[http://www.woodviewfarmhouse.com/ Woodview Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast Skerries] *[http://www.schooldays.ie/school/s-n-realt-na-mara-rollnumber-19625V Réalt Na Mara national School] *[http://www.stps.ie/ St Patrick's national School] *[http://www.holmpatrickns.ie/ Holmpatrick National School] *[http://www.skerrieseducatetogether.ie/ Skerries Educate Together School/] *[http://www.skerriescommunitycollege.ie/ Skerries Community College] [[Category:Towns and villages in Fingal]] [[Category:People of the Year Awards winners]]'