Mayor urges Aviva to step in and save Skerries Town FC from closure

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, has called on Aviva Insurance to urgently review the case of Skerries Town FC, warning that the much-loved community football club could be forced to shut its doors after suffering serious structural damage to its clubhouse.

The club, which has been a cornerstone of sport in the town since its founding in 1932, is home to 750 members.

Mayor O’Leary said that without a resolution to the ongoing dispute with the insurer, Skerries could lose one of its most important sporting institutions.

“I am calling on Aviva to agree to engage in mediation and see if this case can be resolved so that the 750 members of Skerries Town FC can continue to enjoy the active sport of soccer in Skerries,” Mayor O’Leary said.

“It would be a great pity if it has to cease activities and trading as a result of this structural challenge issue.

“Hopefully, with some goodwill from Aviva, who are a very pro-sports organisation, a solution can be found.”

The appeal follows an article in The Irish Times highlighting the club’s plight, which O’Leary said prompted him to take immediate action.

In an email sent on Monday, August 11, to Aviva’s press and communications office, the mayor directly addressed senior figures within the company, including Brian O’Neill, Head of Communications, Sponsorship and Corporate Social Responsibility, and Caroline Cummins, Sponsorship Manager.

In the email, Mayor O’Leary explained his concerns and emphasised the club’s importance to the Skerries community.

“I live in Skerries and was recently elected Mayor of Fingal in June 2025,” he wrote.

“I am obviously very concerned about the plight Skerries Town FC find themselves in. Can this case be looked at?

“It’s a community organisation, a charity, a football club. Aviva have a positive reputation for supporting sports.”

The dispute centres on a disagreement between two sets of engineers over the extent of the damage and the necessary repairs.

Mayor O’Leary said this difference of opinion should not be allowed to put the future of the club at risk.

“There is a difference of opinion between two sets of engineers. Can there be some mediation here and goodwill from Aviva to look at this case and try to assist and resolve it and let the club move on,” he urged.

In his message, O’Leary appealed for the matter to be escalated within Aviva to the highest levels.

“I hope that this request can be looked at favourably. Can you pass this email to the appropriate senior level within the Aviva organisation, including the CEO Ireland,” he wrote.

Founded more than 90 years ago, Skerries Town FC has played a vital role in nurturing local talent, promoting physical activity, and fostering a strong sense of community spirit.

The club’s teams cater for players of all ages, from young children taking their first steps into football to seasoned adults who have represented the club for decades.

Mayor O’Leary said the club’s potential closure would not only affect current members but would leave a lasting void in the community.

“Skerries Town FC has been part of our community for generations. It’s about far more than sport – it’s about friendship, belonging and pride in our town,” he said.

“This is a moment where we need everyone to work together to protect it.”

The mayor’s public intervention increases pressure on Aviva, a company known for its sports sponsorships in Ireland, to become directly involved in finding a resolution.

The hope among club members and the wider community is that talks can be opened quickly and a solution found before it’s too late.