Adam-Clayton-Malahide-Sea-Scouts
U2 pair with Malahide Sea Scouts

TWO members of world-renowned rock band U2 have backed the fundraising efforts of Malahide Sea Scouts for the building of their new den. Bass guitarist Adam Clayton and lead guitarist David Howell Evans, known as The Edge, who grew up in Malahide, are both former members of Malahide Sea Scouts, 9th Port of Dublin. They each made a donation after Group Leader Robert McKernan sent out letters to local residents and businesses in a bid to drum up sponsorship. ‘We decided to reach out to people, former members and local businesses and residents to support our fundraising efforts and sent letters to both Adam and The Edge,’ Robert told the Fingal Independent. ‘We are delighted they have supported our efforts as we are delighted with the support of all of our members, parents and friends,’ he added.

Gala Fundraising CommiteeMalahide Sea Scouts, which was established 95 years ago in 1909 and is not only the biggest Scouting Group in Ireland (with 540 people involved in the group) but the biggest Sea Scouting Group in Europe. It plays a significant and very positive role in the Malahide community through the hugely interactive programme it runs. ‘We have 124 volunteers who give 20,000 voluntary hours a year to the organisation,’ said Robert. ‘We helped helped hundreds of children over the past 95 years create thousands of fantastic memories,’ said Robert, adding that whenever he or other scout leaders meet former members, they all want to tell of their memories of being a member of scouts. In a bid to completely refurbish their den, which was built in 1984 and is located beside Malahide Tennis Club, the organisation needs to raise €550,000. ‘ We started our fundraising process in June 2013 and so far we have raised €200,000. Fingal County Council is working closely with us throughout the planning process which we really appreciate.’ The organisation also raised €21,000 at their fundraising ball in Geisha in Malahide recently ‘ We are borrowing € 200,000 and have a number of initiatives in place to raise another €70,000. We now need a final €80,000 to reach our target.’ Robert is hoping that businesses or business people within the Malahide and Fingal area will back the fundraising efforts in the hope that building can commence in March 2016. ‘If we had 16 people donate €5,000 over the year in 2015 at €1,250 per quarter we could reach our target – but all donations help so we hope that businesses and people will donate what they can,’ added Robert.

As part of their plan to refurbish their den, the scouts hope to make the building eco-friendly and, aesthetically, more pleasing to the eye as well as providing meeting rooms, showers/toilets, and teaching equipment and upto-date technology. Malahide Sea Scouts has just recently qualified as an organisation to train sailing instructors for Scouts and Ventures and scouts have come from all over Ireland to train as kayaking instructors over the last five years. The organisation caters for boys and girls aged six to 26 years of age from Beavers right through to Venture Scouts with members being taught life skills and kayaking, sailing skills, mountaineering, swimming, snorkeling and taking part in a number of camping trips. A number of members will attend an international Jamboree in Japan next year. People wishing to donate to the fundraising efforts of this Community project for the new den, can contact Robert McKernan at Malahide Sea Scouts through their website at www.malahideseascouts.ie

Group leader Robert McKernan with the organising committee of the Malahide Sea Scouts fundraising ball in Geisha: Roisin Butterly, Barbara Keating, Mary Rock, Louise Lynch, Nadia Bhulai-Finnegan, Karen Butterly, Karin Ennis and Veronica McKenna.

View the original article by Nicola Donnelly of the Fingal Independent on PressDisplay.

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