Skerries Mills

About the museum

Monks from the nearby Holmpatrick monastery are thought to have begun milling on this site in the twelfth century. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538 the watermill and windmill passed into private hands, and in the nineteenth century the mills were leased to millers who produced flour and oatmeal. A bakery was added in the 1840s, and during the Great Famine the business was run by Bridget Ennis. The five-sail windmill was taken out of use in 1902.

A fire destroyed the bakery in 1986, and in 1989 Dublin County Council, later Fingal County Council, took ownership of the site. The mills were restored in the 1990s, and Skerries Mills opened as a community heritage centre in June 1999. It is now run as a not-for-profit social enterprise.

The site includes three national monuments: two windmills of different design and a watermill that the centre dates to the thirteenth century. Visitors see the machinery on a guided tour that starts in the watermill building, and the café, craft shop and gallery are open to everyone. A farmers' market is held in the grounds on Saturday mornings.

Highlights

• Guided tour of the watermill and two windmills, all national monuments
• Waterwheel and milling machinery in the four-storey watermill
• Watermill Café with homemade baking
• Craft shop and local art gallery
• Saturday farmers' market

Permanent exhibition

• Guided tour of the mills – A tour through the watermill, with its waterwheel and machinery, and the two sail mills, explaining how grain was ground and how the site developed.

Founded

1999

Operated by

Skerries Mills (not-for-profit social enterprise)

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers the guided tour. Go City and Explorer passes are accepted and include a tea or coffee with a scone. Tour ticket holders can leave large luggage for up to two hours.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Most of the guided tour is not accessible to wheelchair users or prams; private access can be arranged by contacting the centre. The outdoor terrace is fully accessible, and the café, craft shop and gallery on the second floor can be reached by chair lift. Only assistance dogs are allowed inside.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 6+

• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Playground / play area

The tour is not suitable for children aged 5 and under and cannot be done with prams or pushchairs. A playpark beside the car park is free to use.

Getting there & parking

By car, leave the M1 at junction 4, 5 or 6.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Watermill Café, craft shop selling locally made goods, art gallery and an outdoor dining terrace.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit