Malahide Sea Scouts

Part of L.V.Albatross finally comes home to Malahide

northrowan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:53:41 +0000

L.S.Albatross ships bell in 2011

The Light Ship Albatross has a very long history dating back to 1925 when it was constructed in Leith Scotland. Back then all types of ship building was carried on the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The Commissioners of Irish Lights commissioned the building of L.V.Albatross for going on station off Arklow on the Codling / Arklow bank.

L.S.Albatross on Station Dunlaoghaire harb. 1971

She spent 44 years on station till decommissioned by Irish Lights. In 1969 two scout leaders from Malahide Sea Scout group Patrick Henderson and Robert Molony presented an idea to the Scout Commissioners Conference in January 1970 in Gormanstown Co.Dublin to establish a National Water Training Centre at Malahide.

Launching lugger at L.V.Albatross 1972

On acquiring the ship immediate plans had to put in place to get her established on suitable moorings . It was planned after Irish Lights finished work on board that it would be towed to Dublin Port – were Hammond Lane Company will carry out necessary alterations. Then towed to Malahide Estuary were a rendezvous is made with a trawler ( or two) who will bring it to the moorings.

Great plans were lay-ed out .

Organise team for painting and fitting out
Approval by “pressure areas” in locality of Lightship i.e. Malahide Sailing Club,Boatyard,Golf Club,local Resident’s Association
Obtain place for storing canoes on Broadmeadows
Check and list all safety factors
Establish Rules of Management.
Elect a board of Officers for administration.
Get as many as possible of the canoes built, so that training courses may start immediately when vessel is ready?
Obtain a report by sewage engineer on the question of sewage disposal.
Obtain a tender ,also engine and moorings for same.
Obtain a source of supply of fuel for diesel generator.

Malahide Sea Scouts depart Coal Harb D'laire on tender Fulmar bound for L.V.Albatross

On the shore a notice board be erected on Malahide sea front – beside the sea wall giving details of training centre , together with a good colour photograph.

The enthusiasm and plans continued with a list as long as your arm from mooring chain to generators , pottery ,fire extinguishers etc ,etc. The list grew and notes were written against items that they would expect to get donated. Pottery from Arklow Pottery, generator from G.E.C. Dunleer. However further down the list in true scouting spirit was written “Scrounge as much as possible”

By the time she was ready to be towed to its new station Malahide fell short of been suitable and L.S.Albatross went on station beside the West Pier Dunlaoghaire. She became the Scout Association of Ireland National Water Training Centre and gave great joy and trained hundreds of Sea Scouts from all over Ireland and abroad. By 1995 she had to be moved and spent several years in the Grand Canal basin in Dublin Port but never regained her importance due to financial constraints . After a brief time spent in Scotsman Bay , Dunlaoghaire for Dorothy Cross’s Ghost Ship in 1999 she was sold to James Tyrell and moved to Arklow in 2000.

Working in the galley L.V.Albatross

Her bell that would have greeted hundreds of scouts when coming aboard has now come home to Malahide and is resting on the main deck .

L.V.Albatross
Built 1924/25 by H. Robb Ltd, Leith Scotland at a cost of £15,650

Lenght 102 feet

Breadth 24 feet

Depth 13¼ feet

Construction ; iron shell and floors, steel framing; five watertight bulkheads; steel mast and fixed lantern; mizzen mast carrying day mark.

L.S.Albatross "On Station" Dunlaoghaire Harb.1971

Climb aboard Albatross

Her predecessor also named Albatross was built 1874/75 by Fletcher & Farnall, Milwall, London; length 91 feet, breadth 21 feet, depth 10 feet; constructed of wood; cost £5,650; Run down and sunk on Kish by RMS Leinster 8th September 1902. Salvaged, docked and sold to S. Jack of Glasgow in 1903.

Advance&Intermediate Oars Charge Cert. – 2012

northrowan — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:14:52 +0000

Int.+Adv. Oars Charge Cert Course,The Ward room. Malahide Sea Scout Den

In the twenty years of the Oars Charge Cert Course been run in Malahide 29 scouts and leaders enrolled to this years course.Twenty three have taken up the Intermediate Course while the remaining six will do the Advance Course.The evening course will run till end of February 2012.During this period the modules scouts will cover,Boating rules,Water Safety and equipment,boat maintenance,rules of the road at sea,correct use of safety&emergency equipment,meteorology,knots,splicing,whipping,pilotage&navigation,

Boat maintenance on East Coast Skiff

anchoring&mooring,parts of a boat,boat drill and heaving a line.Early in March scouts will be assessed before continuing onto do the practical end of the course during the month of April pending on two skiffs launched and ready for boatwork.

Instructor Andy O'Connell , on boat maintenance

A New Programme in One Day – The ONE PROGRAMME

northrowan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:15:31 +0000

Fun at the One Programme Training Day

The Scout One Programme came to Malahide on Sunday 15th January 2012. One Hundred and Twenty Eight Beavers , Cubs , Scouts ,Rovers and their leaders attended the training day held in our parish hall . St.Andrews on Church Road , Malahide.

The training team drawing from Scouting Ireland’s North East Province presented a much thought out programme to cope with today’s young persons demands for a more challenging , developing and fun pack theme.

Malahide Sea Cubs at 1 Programme training day

During the day participants took part in a hands on experience of what to expect in the future in Scouting. A small planning team from Malahide lead by Margaret O’Riordan put together the agenda for the day . Many thanks to Margaret and her team for a great day.

HAITI WEEK – 2012

northrowan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:58:54 +0000

2012: A girl walks past an abandoned helicopter at a camp set up for people displaced by the earthquake

Haiti Week is taking place from Saturday 21st January – Saturday 28th January and will feature events and activities throughout the country. January 2012 is the second anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti that killed over 230,000 and displaced more than 2.1 million from their homes. The objective of Haiti Week is to raise awareness of Haiti through art, music and the business community.

HAVEN NEEDS YOUR HELP!

We are appealing for as many volunteers as possible to come out in force to help raise money for Havens ongoing work in Haiti. We would be very grateful if you could spare a few hours to help out in one of the following locations outlined below in Dublin. There will be a designated Team leader allocated to each venue. They will be in touch with you directly if you are able to participate in the bucket collection on Saturday 21st January 2012.

Please see details below:

What: Hugs for Haiti Bucket Collection

Where: Dublin – Dundrum Shopping Centre, Dunlaoighre Town Centre, O’Connell and Henry Street, Grafton Street and Stephens Green area

** Please note that you can volunteer to do the bucket collection at whatever venue in Dublin suits you best.

When: Saturday 21st January 2012

Time: 9am – 6pm

If you are interested and available to help out for either a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon on Saturday 21st January 2012 or indeed are free all day, please email me on sarah.fitzpatrick@havenpartnership.com at your earliest convenience.

1st Place in the 100th Anniversary of Sea Scouting

northrowan — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:06:23 +0000

9th Port of Dublin (Malahide) 1st Place-Woodlatimer Team 2012

Congratulations to the Malahide crew who are the holders of the Woodlatimer trophy in the 100th Anniversary of Sea Scouting in Ireland 2012. The under 17 crew won the prestigious East Coast Skiff rowing race on Broadmeadow Malahide. The race has been run since 1914 uninterrupted except for periods during the First and Second World Wars were many a Sea Scout joined up as volunteers and went to sea.

The first crew to win the cup in 1914 was 2nd Port Dublin (Clontarf) lead by Skipper Perrin. The Malahide crew are Skipper Sean Clancy ,Coxswain Ger Duffy , crew Andrew Malone, Simon Pryor,Cameron Newman,Eoghan O’Connor and Piers Ryan.

2nd Port of Dublin (Clontarf ) WoodLatimer Team 1914

The History behind the cup started back when the chairman of the Sea Scout Sub-committee was Mr. T. J. Wood-Latimer. He presented a large silver rose-bowl for annual competition for an inter-troop rowing race. This was first competed for in 1914 and was won by a crew from 2nd Dublin Sea Scouts, Clontarf. In retrospect, this was a major milestone in the history of Dublin Sea Scouting, because this annual event grew into the annual Sea Scout Regatta, although that title was not used until 1917. The Regatta has continued through good times and bad, sometimes only two troops competing, sometimes up to 10 troops, but without interruption, until the present day. The number of events in the Regatta and the number of trophies has changed over the years but Wood-Latimer remained the premier trophy. But age has taken its toll – after 98 years of being polished, displayed at regattas, carried around to different houses, and probably dropped on occasions, its condition had become very delicate. It was therefore given honourable retirement to “museum mode” in 2000 and replaced by a new trophy known as the Dick Vekins Memorial Trophy.

Christmas tree sale

northrowan — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:46:24 +0000

Christmas tree sale at the Scout Den St. James Tce.Malahide

Malahide Sea Scouts have started their Christmas tree sale for 2011. Monies raised from the tree sales go towards much needed boating safety equipment. Scouts have begun sales at the Den on St. James Terrace Malahide. Over 500 trees to choose from and for sure one will suit you. Drop in on your way home from the village and support the Sea Scouts who have been serving the community since 1919.

Many thanks MYC

northrowan — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 07:58:25 +0000

Leaders from the Malahide Sea Scouts at Novembers meeting in MYC

This months leaders meeting of Group Council was held by kind permission in MYC, St.James Terrace.Presently our den is having a face lift with all parts being painted. The meeting covered the normal business of the group Membership,Finance , new One Programme, a proposal to change and update the groups emblem,secretary’s report and the 100th Anniversary of Sea Scouting in 2012. It was reported the membership stands at 515 . This is equivalent to fielding 47 soccer teams. . Our thanks to the members and committee of MYC for the use of their club on Thursday night.

Committee members of Malahide Sea Scouts

The end of another boating season…

northrowan — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:06:59 +0000

Sunset over Malahide Estuary at "Many Waters"

Rowing Regatta at Broadmeadow – A Great success!

northrowan — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:50:03 +0000

Neala troop of Malahide placed 2nd at Sea Scout rowing regatta,Broadmeadow

116 Sea Scouts from across the County of Dublin and North Wicklow took part in this years annual Sea Scout Rowing regatta held on Broadmeadow, Malahide on Sunday 23rd October. The regatta would normally take place in Dunlaoghaire in the month of September but had to be canceled three times due to high winds across the bay.

Broadmeadow is more use to having sail on the water for regattas , but seven slick east coast skiffs launched to begin the races. Crews prepared ,the course was set and the races began on time. Seven races took place over the one kilometer course. Crews of five including the coxswain instructions leaned hard and pulled strongly to the finishing line. Parents and friends lined to course and shouted their encouragement to row harder and faster.

Malahide 1st place u 17 crew

Several Malahide crews were placed along with three first places in the under 14years , under 17 and under 20 pair oar cox. For a third year in a row the Malahide under 17 crew won the Woodlatimer ( Dick Vekins memorial trophy) race. This race has been competed for since 1914 uninterrupted except for the years of the 1st and 2nd World Wars.Congratulations to all Malahide and guest crews who made the day a Great Sucess!

Malahide 1st place u14 skiff crew

Senior Seamanship – Sir William Fry Cup 2011

northrowan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:37:44 +0000

Malahide team at the Senior Seamanship - Fry Cup 2011

Six senior teams from across Dublin Sea Scout groups took part in this year’s Senior Seamanship competition Fry Cup in 8th Port Dunlaoghaire den on the West Pier.The cup was keenly competed for from all teams who have been training for the past several weeks.

Teams’ were examined in boat work , uniform inspection,communication,weather,safety,knots ,splicing & whippings, rigging and anchoring. Boat work was carried out in the east coast skiff with a coxswain and a crew of five.The examiners reported a very steady standard across all groups.

Sea Scouts from across Dublin gather in Dunlaoghaire for Fry Cup

This years winners for the first time in their groups history was 7th Port Howth . Congratulations to their leaders and the Howth team who scored the highest marks. Malahide were placed well and thanks to their leaders who have being training them for last couple of weeks.

Howth Sea Scouts - winners of Fry Cup 2011