Your hard work and dedication in 2012

Dear Leader,

Firstly on behalf of the 9th Port Malahide Sea Scouts, I would sincerely like to thank you for all your hard work and dedication in 2012. As a leader you are at the heart of the success of our Group. The Group in 2012 consisted of over 525 plus members, the biggest Scout Group in Ireland and the largest Sea Scout Group in Europe.

The Progarmme that you play a large part in delivering to our youth members is all about adventure, learning through doing, mixed with significant amounts of fun and a huge sense of achievement. As you reflect over the year, I hope you realise the positive contribution and impact you have played in so many young lives in your community.

In 2012 our Beaver and Cub leaders rose to the challenge of difficult camping conditions, to new water activities. The Scouting and the Venture sections for the first time in any Sea Scout Group history won all of the 5 main trophies.

• Woodlatimer      Cup Established in 1914
• Hamill      Cup Established in 1975
• Sir      William Fry Cup Established in 1918
• Master      Mariner & Desmond Fortune Memorial Trophy Established in 1995
• Long      distance skiff race Established 1965

Malahide Sea Scouts also played a significant part through out the year in celebrating 100 years of Sea Scouting in Ireland. All of this success we have enjoyed is a testament to quality and dedication that our leaders have put into the Group.

In 2013 the journey continues,

• Pool Kayaking from Jan to April for all sections
• Leaders night out in February
• Founders day hike in February
• The New den development will be officially launched
• We will have a new Beavers & Cub activity day in April
• Group boat launch day in May
• Beavers and Cub days out Kayaking and Sailing in Summer 2013
• Scout and Venture hikes and camps throughout the summer of 2013
• Sea Scout skills competitions September to October

While we enjoyed many success, this year we also lost our oldest member Ms Nan Lindsay at the age of 89, who started our cubs in Malahide in 1949, may she rest in peace.

On this Christmas Eve you are invited with your families to our Peace Light carol service in the Den with the Enchiriadis Youth Choir from Malahide. This will start at 4.00 P.M for candle lighting and the Carol service will be from 5.00 P.M till 6.00 P.M. This will be a magical evening.

The Peace Light in the Holy Land: 

On the 11th December 2012 the candle was lit in the Grotto of Christ’s Birth in the Church of the Nativity, in Bethlehem. This flame will be taken by young Israeli and Palestinian Scouts to Tel Aviv Airport where with the support of Austrian Airlines a Scout will carry it to Austria.

On the 15th December a Service for the Gift of Peace was held in Vienna, where Scouts and Guides from all over Europe will gather to take the flame and transport across Europe by rail, by road and on foot through Austria, Switzerland and France – then on to Calais, Dover and up through England to Liverpool. On Wednesday the 13th December members of Scouting Ireland will collect the light in Holyhead and bring it via Stena Line to Dublin. 

The Peace Light in Dublin:

On Thursday 20th December at 7.30 P.M till 8.45 P.M members of Scouting and Guiding will hold a Peace Light Service in the Church of the Visitation in Fairview. If you would like to attend as a part of the Malahide Sea Scout Group you are most welcome. From there the young people and adults will take the Light to places in their own Parishes: Churches, Dens and places of worship, Hospitals and Homes for retired citizens.

On Friday 21st the ‘Light ‘ will be carried by Irish Rail on the ‘Peace Light Trains’ to such centres as: Athlone; Belfast; Carlow; Cork; Derry; Dundalk; Ennis; Galway; Limerick; Roscommon; Waterford, and Wexford. It will also travel by road to areas not serviced by a rail service such as the midland and the north-west.

I do hope you can make this special evening. If we do not meet before Christmas may you have a peaceful and very happy Christmas with your families this year.

Yours in scouting,
Robert McKernan

Group Leader