Ennis scouts celebrate 80 years

AS the first and fourth Clare Scouts Ennis prepare to celebrate their 80th birthday this weekend, they have also been looking back on their long history in the town.

 

A written history of the organisation compiled by Christy Shannon highlights the organisation’s contribution to Ennis life, with group leader Pat O’Connell emphasising the importance of marking this milestone anniversary. It is hoped that many former members will come along to Sunday’s celebrations and share their memories of their time with the scouts in Ennis.

The Catholic Boy Scout of Ireland was founded in 1927 by two Dublin curates, Fathers Tom and Ernest Farrell. The organisation, now known as Scouting Ireland, first arrived in Ennis in 1932 with the first leaders being Stephen Tuohy and Paddy Colonna. The first investiture ceremony of the members of St Michael’s Clare Troop was held on the steps of the Courthouse.

Scout meetings were held in the top floor of Griffins (now a bank) at O’Connell Square for the first year but, as more boys joined the troop, this room proved inadequate and plans were drawn up to build a new hall. The cost of the hall was £1,000 and raffling a new model Y Ford car, purchased from Sheils of Ennis for £98, raised the money. Tickets were 2s.6d each.

The hall was built in 1933 and a second troop was started in that year also. It was St Flannan’s Fourth Clare with Jack Slattery as leader.

The number of boys involved at this stage was 100. Local camps were held at New Hall, Ashline and Drumcliffe. A pipe band was started at the time with Joe Hewitt as Pipe Major and Mickey O’Connell as Drum Major and the first annual camp was held in Moy, Lahinch. Back in those days, a scout uniform cost £1.12s to £1.16s. The cost of camp per day for four meals was 1s.3d and pocket money for the duration of the camp was 7 1/2d.

The start of war in 1939 put an end to scouting in Ennis as most of the leaders entered some branch of the services. Attempts were made by Brother O’Reilly and Gerry Moloney to get the scouts going again in 1943 but unfortunately they only lasted until 1945.

Christy Murphy, who was one of the members of the first patrol, came out of the army in 1945 and, with Fr Michael Queally, revived the scouts in 1946.

Later that year the pipe band was started with the help of Tom Neville and various people, including Michael O’Connell, Joe Hewitt, Frank McEnery and Joe Hehir, were all involved with the band at a later stage.

In 1947 the first annual camp of this new troop was held in Moy, Lahinch. This troop was made up of boys aged between 11 and 16 years. Quite a number of these scouts had younger brothers who were interested in joining but unfortunately were too young.

In 1951 Bernie Dilger formed the Cub Scout Movement and in the mid-’60s took over the role of Unit Leader. At this time, due to the boom in industry and the growth of the industrial estate in Shannon and the consequent growth in population in Ennis, there was a dramatic growth in the numbers joining the Scout and cub troops. Unfortunately there was no corresponding growth in the number of leaders.

In 1972 Christy Murphy was appointed Diocesan Commissioner with responsibility for starting new troops in the diocese of Killaloe.

In the 1950s the parish was approached and advised that scouting could not continue in Ennis because the hall was too small and eventually it was decided to offer a new building for the sole use of the scouts. This is the building they are in today, which has been extended over the years.

There are several troops of rovers, venture scouts, scouts, cubs and beavers ranging in ages from six years to 26 years and all meet in the Scout Hall five or six nights a week. Both scouts and cubs camp each year and the scouts went abroad in 2000 to the South of France and to Spain for two weeks.

The scouts also camped in Wales in 2004 and Spain and Gibraltar in 2007. The cubs normally camp outdoors for a five days and have spent many camping trips in Portumna Forest Park. Beavers go to camp for one night and have various day trips around the locality. Scouts take part in many and varied outing including St Patrick’s Day parades, Corpus Christi processions (when they were held), Fleadh Nua parades as well as lending assistance to various voluntary groups in town. For a while they used to hold a collection at Christmas time with leaders and scouts involved and this money was handed over to the St Vincent de Paul Society.

On Sunday the anniversary of the 1st and 4th Clare Scouts Ennis will be celebrated. At 12.30pm there will be a march from the garda station to the scout hall. At the hall, all new members will be invested. There will be a party at 1pm, a display of photographs and a scout camp site build.

“This event is open to everybody to come along and enjoy. A few leaders have heard from some of the people who had been in the scouts years ago and we would be delighted to welcome as many former members as possible on Sunday. But this isn’t just for scouts, it’s for everybody. The 80th birthday is a real milestone and we’re really looking forward to the day,” said Pat O’Connell, group leader.