Participants at this years Oars Charge Cert.exercise

The first part of this year’s Practical Oars Charge Cert. days boating exercise got off to a wet start on Sunday morning on Malahide’s Lower Estuary.  The weather forecast had rain at first turning into a day long drizzle, with SW winds. Later winds from the west, force 4 increasing to a 5 and gusting occasionally to Force 6, a small boat gale?

A reasonable forecast, for a day’s exercise on the water. Crews tucked in along the Marina taking advantage of the higher buildings to shelter from the gusts. Coxswains and boats crews had to work a little harder and use all their skills to negotiate the gusts by staying upwind.

Crews exercise

The days exercise consisted of steering a boat through a crowded anchorage,embarking and disembarking a boats crew, react to a loss of a rudder or oar ,picking up a mooring buoy , and taking charge of a rescue exercise.

The fourteen scouts will finish their training over the next weekend and will be assessed on all the above disciplines.

Blessing of the fleet on the Sea Wall , Malahide

Cast-Off and make way to the Island

The day comes and all  the scouts can take  pride in the launching of their fleet of East Coast Skiffs, Pico’s  ,BP 18’s and  rescue craft  on the outgoing tide on Malahide’s  Lower Estuary .The Scouts spent the Winter months, sanding and stripping paint .making repairs , varnishing ,anti-fouling and fastening new lines.

A task shared by all three sections in the group. An activity encouraged by the leaders as it teaches scouts, to make minor repairs,learn practical skills in preparation, taking ownership, responsibility and seeing the task is completed in time for the May Bank Holiday .The scouts work in teams and by pulling together see the fruits of their hard work when launch day comes around.

There was no better day than on Sunday 5^th May when a fleet of ten our craft were launched at the Malahide Sea Wall. In a true tradition by seafarers the blessing of the fleet took place. Tossed oars and sails head to wind, Father Frank of Yellow Walls Parish greeted scouts and praised their work. A special poem was followed by a blessing on all our craft and safe boating to all, this coming season.

Building the Human Pyramid on the Island

Cast off, the fleet makes way on the ebbing tide down the lower estuary. After a short trip across to the Island boats are beached. Here the scouts took part in a fun full filled day of games, mini Olympics and to finish, a skiff race. Thanks goes to all the Scouts, Leaders and Boat Master Paul McEvoy for a perfect day on the water. Here’s hoping the boating season will be a good one.

Beavers,Cubs,Scouts ,Ventures and Leaders of Malahide Sea Scout Group "Big Fun Day at Little Auburn"

Camp craft , fire lighting , survival , face painting , barbeque , blindfold trail , touch rugby were all part of the Malahide Sea Scouts  first fun day ran last Saturday in Little Auburn , Mabestown , Malahide .

Over 150 Beavers, Cubs, Scouts arrived from 9 o’clock onwards to take part in the day’s activities. Leaders and ventures from the three scout section set up fun and challenging bases around a trail in Mabestown. Step by step the Beavers and Cubs with their mentors followed the trail and completed the bases.

The Chef's fire up the barbeque

While all the fun was happening on the trail some of the leaders from the Cub sections put on their chef hat’s and struck up the barbeque to cook off the much welcomed sausages and burgers to the hungry multitude.

Our thanks goes to our hosts in Little Auburn the Lynch family and to all the Ventures and Leaders from the Scout sections who set up and manned the bases throughout the day. Finally congratulations to the beavers and cubs for completing the day’s challenges and hopefully we will see you next year.

The Ventures spent two days on the water working on their sailing, canoeing and rowing Adventure Skills.

A massive thank you to all the instructors and team members who helped make the water base and weekend on whole the success it was!

Photographs courtesy of www.triggerbugphotography.com

We headed south to Kerry on Good Friday, travelling by train and road. After a massive shop in Killarney it was on to the Black Valley Hostel. We spent the evening  producing route cards for the next three days of hiking as well as preparing dinner and lunch for the next day. Up early on Saturday, as this was our longest days hiking and also the most climbing.

We took the long ascent up to Cnoc na Péiste, and then walked up and down the long ridge around towards Carrauntoohill. It was bright, but freezing cold with some ice and frozen snow still on the ground. We had a quick lunch break at the top of the Devils Ladder, before climbing the final 350 metres or so, to the summitt, and the highest point in Ireland. Plenty of chatting was down with the other climbers who were all enjoying the amazing panoramic views that reward you for your efforts.

After the obligatory photo, it was onto the steep arete (ridge) over to Caher mountain. Then we began our long decent down to 100m and onto the Kerry Way back to the hostel. Some 22km later and 1600m climbed, we were tired, but proud of the great achievement. Easter Sunday, saw the clocks jump forward an hour, so any lie in was cancelled! Today was meant to be an easier day, but the weather had a different idea! Cllimbing up to Purple Mountain, was tricky and steep. There was low cloud at 500m and very strong winds. However as we pushed higher, it started hailing/sleet/snow. Along with the frozen ground and low visibility, it made the final push to the summit very difficult (and painful!) Navigating on through the snow and cloud, we continued onto Tomies Mountain, before a steep decent to Kate Kearneys Cottage. We returned via a very windy road walk through the Gap of Dunloe.

The final day, saw us pack our bags into Ger’s car and we set off on our 18km hike along the Kerry Way to Killarney. A nice bright sunny day, and great scenery through the Killarney National Park was a good end to the expedition. Well done to the 15 ventures for taking on the challenge.

Carrauntoohill at 1040 meters

Their average age is 15 years and what an achievement to all who took on the challenge to climb Croagh Patrick (2507 ft.) in Co. Mayo in early March and Carrauntuohill (1038 Mts.) in Co. Kerry over the Easter weekend .Here the members and leaders of the Wednesday night troop of Malahide Sea Scout Group trekked their way over the several kilometre climb to achieve their goals.

Along the way they also achieved dizzy heights by climbing Caher Mtn (1001 meters), Purple Mountain (832m) and Tomies (735m) in the narrow time frame over the Easter weekend. Set in Macgillycuddy’s Reeks range of mountains, the climb up Carrauntuohill has its challenges and is frequently used by International climbers for training before they ascend higher altitudes in the Himalayas.

Croagh Patrick , Westport , Co. Mayo at 2507 feet

The scouts overnighted in hostels and took in the most picturesque situated hostel in the Black Valley of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range.

Scouts, you are on your way to be able complete any task .Happy Easter and Happy Scouting.

Parents and Friends Annual report of the Malahide Sea Scout Group

An important occasion for Malahide Sea Scout group on the launching of their plans to develop the present premises on St. James Terrace, Malahide. Thursday night’s Annual report to the Parents and Friends of the group listened intensively to the plans to fully redevelop the present premises. A packed main deck of scouts, leaders, parents and friends of the group were shown preliminary drawings and a 3D video of the planned development.

The group supports 8 sections of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Ventures and adult volunteer leaders totalling 600 members making it the largest Sea Scout group in Europe. Each section gave their annual report for 2012 to the parents who showed their appreciation by applauding each presentation.

Life Honorary Membership bestowed on to Ian Crampton for outstanding service to Malahide Sea Scouts

Present at the meeting Kieran Cody retiring County Commissioner for Reachra presented leader awards for service and long standing volunteering by leaders in the group. Group Leader Robert McKernan received his Wood Beads in recognition of fully completing Scouting Ireland’s adult leaders training scheme.

Presentation of Chief Scouts award

Before the meeting concluded after more than 40 years membership and service to the group Ian Crampton retiring Group Treasurer of 14 years was bestowed the highest award the group can give, Honorary Life Membership. Ian joins a strong list of recipients from over the years that has included a pass President of Ireland, well known personalities and volunteer members of the group who have given extraordinary service to Malahide Sea Scouts and the Community.

In the presence of his family and friends Ian was awarded the groups honorary award for his outstanding work over many years. His father Eric who was also present had been awarded Honorary Life Membership back in 2000.

Cubs from the Ceadaoin Pack

Ian joined cubs in 1971 when we met in St. Andrews school on Church Road. He continued on in Scouting and became Watch Leader, Assistant Scout Leader, Venture Leader and Group Treasurer. Ian’s Wife Margaret and son Daniel who were also present are actively involved in our Saturday Beaver section. We wish Ian well and look forward to him remaining active in the group.

Volunteering is a wonderful commitment given by person’s year in and year out. We as leaders in Scouting offer our time and energy to make a difference. It’s this difference, which is of benefit to our community and improves our society. This was recognised recently to one of our members at the ISA 7th Annual Awards Ball, Royal Marine Hotel, Dunlaoghaire.

Chief Scout Michael J Shinnick,Eoghan Lavelle & Stephen Taylor at Awards night

Eoghan Lavelle, who has volunteered for Scouting for over 60 years had being nominated for his dedication in promoting sailing and water activities to youth members and young and older members of Scouting Ireland .A former Chief Scout and National Commissioner for Sea Scouts in the old Scout Association of Ireland, had spent his sea scouting years in 5^th Port of Dublin (Dollymount) and the 8u Calafort (Monkstown) and now in Dunlaoghaire.

Chief Scout and Scouting friends in the Royal Marine Hotel,Dunlaoghaire

One of his earliest volunteering tasks as a Rover Scout in 1959 with the 5^thPort, volunteered at the request of Cecil Woodman scout leader and Secretary of Malahide Yacht Club to carry out a Hydro graphic survey in Broadmeadow, Malahide so a decision could be made on the waterside site of the newly formed club. A fair amount of preparation was required, and the practical work was undertaken in summer 1959. Pre-set transits taken from Air Corps aerial survey photos (by kind permission) were transferred to 6” OS maps and as Rovers learnt to use a sextant to obtain horizontal angular bearings between pre-chosen fixed points. But of more practical importance, they had the use of an outboard motor – a piece of equipment pretty well unknown to sea scouts at that time. The recordings were so accurate that the Admiralty Charts issued in the UK were amended to include their new findings.

Eoghan presented ISA Volunteer of the Year by An Tanaiste .Mr.Eamon Gilmore T.D.

A keen yachtsman that has instructed hundreds of our youth members to a very high standard in seamanship. Eoghan ran for many years a popular coastal navigation course recognised by the ISA first at 66 Lower Lesson Street (SAI headquarters) and later out of 8^th Port’s den on the East Pier in Dunlaoghaire. Scouting members and well known yachtsmen gained their experience at his courses and in 1980 included President of Ireland Patrick J Hillary. Always generous with his time to scouting and his knowledge of seamanship which he passed on willingly to all he met.

Members of Malahide Sea Scouts in Royal Marine Hotel.Dunlaoghaire

At a recent presentation made to Eoghan on his 80^th Birthday it was estimated that over 6,000 members since 1966 have benefited from his contribution. On Saturday night Eoghan was awarded ISA Volunteer of the Year which was presented to him by An Tánaiste Mr.Eamon Gilmore T.D. in front of his family and members of the ISA and Scouting Ireland.

We in Scouting send our congratulations on your award and our thanks from all our past and present members. Go raibh maith agat go leor.

Kevin Rowan