Why has Skerries in County Dublin been named as the best town in the world to live in? 

British anthropologist Daniel Miller spent 16 months studying an Irish town he euphemistically called ‘Cuan’.

To his pleasant surprise, locals kept telling him how much they enjoyed living in the town.

It is something of an open secret the town is Skerries, located just a half an hour train ride away from Dublin’s city centre.

Speaking to The Hard Shoulder, local resident Margo Fox said she was not surprised to find Mr Miller had enjoyed his time in the town.

“A lot of Skerries people, they often go away and travel and they’ll come back to have their kids here,” she said.

“I’ve been here now for the past 18 years, my kids have grown up here. It’s a great town.

“Everyone looks out for one another but no one lives in your ear, so to speak.”

Birds take flight from Skerries Beach in Dublin. Photograph: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

Around 10,000 people live in the town and, despite its proximity to the big smoke, it remains a tight knit community.

Ms Fox always used to warn her kids that if they misbehaved on a night out, she would quickly hear about it.

“We always say, ‘If you go under the bridge, you’ll get a nosebleed,’” she said.

“The reason being that the town is so self-contained, you have everything here, you have pubs, great restaurants, music, great schools.

“Because of that sometimes you’re not inclined to leave the town. You can be here for months.”

Craic

There is a big emphasis on community events and locals will often meet up at fundraisers for good causes.

For those with hobbies, there are also plenty of different clubs and societies to get involved in.

“We’re fanatical about sport, so any club you can think of is here,” Ms Fox said.

“Great music - there’s a brilliant trad [tradition].”

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Main image: Skerries