GALLERY: New Ennis Scout Hall is officially opened

THE opening of the new €500,000 hall secures the future of scouting in Ennis and further enhances the group’s international reputation.

That’s according to deputy leader of Ennis Scouts, John Egan, who has thanked the local community for their support of the project.

At Saturday’s official opening, John said the facility starts a new chapter in the history of Ennis Scouts.

Jill Pitcher Farrell addressing a guard of honour proper to performing the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Elected in May 2021, Jill is Scouting Ireland’s first female Chief Scout, and the first youth member to serve in the role. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Members of Ennis Scouts form a Guard of Honour for the arrival of Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell to perform the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Bishop Fintan Monahan and Fr Tom Ryan administering a blessing to the new Ennis Scout Hall which has opened on the grounds of Ennis Cathedral. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Members of Ennis Scouts form a Guard of Honour for the arrival of Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell to perform the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Local Beaver Scout Matthew Cahir and Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Local Beaver Scout Matthew Cahir and Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Local Beaver Scout Matthew Cahir and Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Beaver Scout members attending the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Members attending the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Major General Adrian Ó Murchú, son of Christy Murphy one of the original members of Ennis Scouts, with Michelle Comer, Provincial Commissioner for the Western Province, and Deputy Joe Carey, himself a former member of Ennis Scouts at official opening of the new Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Sergeant Séamus Mulligan addressing the official opening of the new Scout Hall in his role as a Scout Leader. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Major General Adrian Ó Murchú, a former member of Ennis Scouts, addressing some witty remarks to Chief Scout, Jill Pitcher Farrell, at the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Eileen O’Loughlin, daughter of Mick Moloney, with a photograph of her late father which will be on display in the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Joe Shannon, son of Christy Shannon, with a photograph of his late father which will be on display in the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Joe Shannon, son of Christy Shannon, with a photograph of his late father which will be on display in the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Bernard Dilger with a photograph of Bernie Dilger who founded the Cub Scout movement in the 1960s, which will be on display in the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell and Karen Kelleher, Ennis Scout Group & Clare County Commissioner, with some recipients of 5 Year Service Awards. The award winners were Phil Miesle, Paul Bliss, Michelle Curpanen, Pat Woods, Lorna Campion, Geralee Fitzpatrick, Conan Farrell and Luke Gleeson. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell and Karen Kelleher, Ennis Scout Group & Clare County Commissioner, with some recipients of 25 Year Service Awards. The award winners were Sean Campion, John Egan, Joe and Kathleen Shannon . Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell with Bernard Dilger, Fiona Staunton and Eileen O’Loughlin who were presented with 30 Year Service Awards rduring the official opening of Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell and Karen Kelleher, Ennis Scout Group & Clare County Commissioner, presenting Silver and Bronze Merit Awards to John Egan, County Commissioner with Scouting Ireland. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Ennis Scouts Group Leader Nicky Moloney making a special presentation to Fiona Staunton for her dedication to the scouting movement. The official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall marked a milestone achievement for Fiona who joined Ennis Scouts as a leader in 1980. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Jill Pitcher Farrell, Ireland’s first female Chief Scout, addressing the assembled guests at the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Fiona and John Staunton with family members Eoin, Aoife, Gearoid and Niamh at the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Face painter Therese Wall and her willing subject Cody Bonfield at the official opening of the new Ennis Scout Hall. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

“It’s fabulous to have it. There is a long tradition of scouting in Ennis. Today was like a family reunion. It was great to have everyone involved, from the youth members and all the people who have given their lives to scouting in Ennis.

“It doesn’t matter if you are in scouting for a day or a lifetime, we appreciate the help that you give,” John told The Clare Champion.

Ennis Scouts currently caters for 150 members and the new hall has already seen the group host scouts from across Europe.

John said, “That’s about at our capacity with the amount of adult members that we have. Like any organisation we could probably take in more if we had them. Every night of the week, we have groups here. We’re going all week long and to have the hall for activities at the weekend is great.”

“It means we have a building going forward that is fit for purpose. We have capacity to bring in more children if needs be. A big part of it is that we have a building in Ennis that can be used by the local community.

“We’re an integral part of the community and we’re also accepted by the community and it’s great to have something to give back. It’s great for scouts in Ennis, nationally and internationally.
We’ve already had Portuguese and Italians stay here during the summer. Scouting internationally is a family. We always try to promote that and this means we have a building that we can provide.

“We know now for the next 50 odd years we are secure and we have a place that we are happy with”, he added.

John explained that initial work on the project started five years ago.

“We decided that the hall that we had wasn’t fit for purpose anymore. It had been here since the ‘50s or so and we said we’d bite the bullet had get a hall built.

“We started on the process of looking at what money we had and what we could get done. We formed a committee and started looking at what we could get done. The community of Ennis, the church and everyone involved really came on board over the years and we managed to get the funding.

“We were able to develop what we had had into a two storey building. The overall cost of the project is about €520,000. It was substantial. But the likes of CLDC, Roche were all contributors and there was a lot of fundraising. Everyone got involved. Custy’s were the builders and within about a year and a half the building was done.”