Ardmore Memory and Story - Events and Changes

The Scout Unit of Ardmore and Grange began in September 1991 with eight boys and four leaders, James Moloney, Pat O'Shea, Michael O'Brien and John Mansfield. From this small beginning it had blossomed into a unit to which most of the young people of the parish belonged.

The boy cubs began with eight boys and two leaders in 1992. Girls entered the unit as scouts in September 1992 with twelve girls and three leaders. Beavers began in the November of that year joined by girl cubs in November 1993 and Venturers began in spring of 1994. By this time over one hundred and twenty children were involved in six sections under the guidance of eighteen leaders.

Among other things, they have contributed to the winning of the National Tidy Towns award of 1992 by doing daily litter patrols. They produced a fortnightly newsletter for the community, Out and About.

They have taken part in the St. Patricks Day Parade in Dungarvan winning the best Youth Float. The scouts have taken part in two successful summer camps, a Jamboree on the Air and regional events including the winning of the O'Farrell Shield. Their first pantomime in 1993 proved a roaring success; "Sinbad Meets the Vampire" in December 1996 was just as successful.

The fortnightly newspaper Out and About was a wonderfully lively and witty resume of parish affairs; from birthdays to marriages and deaths, G.A.A. and soccer news, Macra na Feirme, advertisements, pictures of various people in the parish, cookery recipes; the list is endless. Issue 65 in June 1996 was the last one, I count myself most fortunate in having almost all of them. One of my treasured memories is of the scouts at the graveyard in July 1995, having gone to Cashel and spent three days returning to Ardmore along St. Declan's Road, for its official opening by Minister Allen on 16th July 1995.

They have been extremely fortunate to have had people of the calibre of James Moloney, Michael O'Brien, Brigid Shelley, Jane Moloney, Margaret Meehan and so very many others as guardian angels. Circumstances have compelled the retirement of James Moloney after six years of dedicated service and this was a great blow to the organisation.

In late 1999, about fifty children are in the Irish Girl Guides, which comprises Ladybirds (ages 5-7) under the direction of Brigid Shelly and Anne Mooney; Brownies (ages 8-10) under the direction of Jane Moloney, Anita Supple and Anne Troy; Guides (aged 10½-16) under the direction of Martha Tierney and Margaret Meehan. And so the good work goes on.

Author: Siobhan Lincoln