The emblem of Skerries

The emblem of Skerries is a goat, which derives from a legend concerning St. Patrick.

When Saint Patrick was expelled from Wicklow by the pagan natives he sailed northward and landed on a small island off Skerries. In his honour it became known as Saint Patrick's island. When the saint arrived on the island he was accompanied by a goat which provided milk.

From this island Saint Patrick would come to the mainland to convert the people. While Saint Patrick was ashore one day the people of Skerries visited the island and stole his goat, took it back to the mainland and ate it! When he returned he was furious and bounded with a great leap from his island to Red Island (there is an indentation in the rock which is supposed to be his footprint). He questioned them and when they denied it he took away their power of speech, so that they could only bleat like goats until they eventually admitted their crime.

To this day, people of Skerries are often referred to as Skerries goats!