Birr Community Online

Last year scouting, in Birr was very successful with our programme being completed for the year despite the vandalism to our hall and log cabin which placed a financial burden on our funds. During the year scouting activities continued in the Slieve Blooms with five weekends in the log cabin. Over a hundred children turned up for the Christmas party in the cabin and, as usual, Santa made his appearance with his bag of “goodies” and the ‘around the fire’ sing along was enjoyed by all.

Eight scouts qualified for the start scout award with Emma Hayes winning scout of the year. The highlight of the year was the attendance of the Chief Scout (Martin Bridge) in Dooleys hotel where he presented awards to Maureen Corrigan, Mary Hayes and Alan Hoare. Jack Ryan was presented with the highest award in scouting, the Cu Chulainn award for his commitment to the leadership and development of young people.

Swimming was very popular during the year with the Cubs and Scouts. Water safety and life saving was part of the programme and four of the entrants are now qualified lifeguards. Canoeing at the riverside was enjoyed by all in preparation for annual camp and our thanks to Mary Clarke and her staff in the Outdoor Educational Centre for their help here.

Lough Key Forest Park was the popular choice for our annual camp this year with visits to the Arigna mines and boating on Lough Key. The visit to the mines was a unique experience, an education in terms of history, geology and human endurance. The staff that had worked there took us for a walk underground through what was the last working mine in Arigna where coal was mined. The Venturers did a survival trip on Lough Key, spending a night on a haunted island, but the night passed off peacefully as the spirits of the past failed to turn up.

Scouting in the Midlands has gone from strength to strength and we now have sixty young people in the Birr group. The Scouting centenary starts in 2007 and will be marked in the Slieve Bloom Country, (which covers Laois, Offaly and North Tipperary) with a celebration of founders day, a charity project, and a giant beaver sleep-over, a county camp and a national summer camp.

Finally, we would like to thank all our friends for their help and support, especially the parents committee who carried out the repairs to the log cabin as a result of the vandalism.

Source: Birr Year Review 2006