Arklow Sea Scouts

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Arklow Sea Scouts News

More to come..........

23/August/2009:

Arklow Sea Scouts today went to Courtown with two RIBs and sixteen canoes to provide

water safety cover for Ireland’s first “Ironman” triathlon. Unfortunately Force 6 winds

(rising to gusts of Gale Force 8) and heavy seas led to the cancellation of the swim element

of the competition. The event, named “Éireman” was to consist of a 3.8km swim, a 180km

cycle, and a 42 km run.

As the swim element was cancelled, the Sea Scouts returned to Arklow and decided to go

canoe surfing at the Cove instead. Photos are available on our web album which can be

accessed via the links at the side of this page. The Troop will now take a short break from

activities before restarting for a new Scouting year on Friday, September 4^th.

02/August/2009:

Arklow Sea Scouts today manned stalls such as the Gladiators, Bronco Bull, Throw the

Anchor, Kids Slide and many more on the quay in the annual Arklow Maritime Festival,

raising funds for the Arklow Lifeboat. Click here for a thank you letter from the RNLI to

everyone who took part on the day. Click here for a thank you certificate from the RNLI to

Arklow Sea Scouts for fundraising.

01/August/2009:

Harbour Troop held its annual Summer Camp over the past week in Lough Dan National

Scout Campsite. Photos of the camp are available in our online photo album.

05/July/2009:

Sgt Jim Hoare of the Irish Army (father of two of our Sea Scouts) met with a group of

Chadian Scouts while on peacekeeping duties in Chad, as part of the United Nations’

MINURCAT mission. Click here for a photo.

04/July/2009:

Harbour Troop held an overnight camp last night, and today brought visitors from

Portarlington Scouts and Wicklow Cubs out canoeing at the Cove.

29/June/2009:

The annual Seafarers Memorial Service was held tonight in the Arklow Sea Scout Hall.

Afterwards a wreath was laid at sea from the RNLI lifeboat, and Arklow Sea Scouts laid

a wreath on our “Gone home” memorial for ex-members of Arklow Sea Scout Group.

21/June/2009:

The Cill Mhantáin Scout County Camp took place this weekend in Lough Dan. The weekend

was a tremendous success, with hundreds of youth members attending from seven Troops

(Arklow Sea Scouts, Rathdrum Scouts, Wicklow Sea Scouts, Newtownmountkennedy Scouts,

Kilcoole Scouts, Delgany Scouts and Greystones Scouts). Also there were Ventures from

Various Groups. Activities run over the weekend included kayaking, open canoeing, sailing,

rafting, a mudslide, an obstacle course, a zip line, bridge building, orienteering, team building

games, a youth forum, campfires and survival skills including lighting fires using just flint

and steel. Photos of the event are available on our website’s photo album.

10/May/2009:

Members of Harbour Troop today acted as staff on the initial practice event for the Éireman

Triathlon in Courtown. In excess of 200 competitors took part, while our members provided

water safety cover for the swim, and acted as stewards for other parts of the triathlon.

04/May/2009:

The Southeast Provincial Sea Scout Camp took place this weekend in Lough Dan. The

weekend was a tremendous success, with 254 youth members attending from 12 Troops

(Bray Sea Scouts, Greystones Scouts, Wicklow Sea Scouts, Arklow Sea Scouts, Wexford Sea

Scouts, New Ross Sea Scouts, Dodder Sea Scouts, Malahide Sea Scouts, Howth Sea Scouts,

Donabate Sea Scouts, Naas Scouts, and the Killaloe SIG). Also there were Ventures from

Kilmacud, Arklow and Bray. Activities run over the weekend included rowing, sailing, open

boat canoeing, kayaking, power-boating, boat bivvies, a (very muddy) assault course,

mountain hiking and many others activities. Photos of the event are available on our

website’s photo album.

03/May/2009:

A vintage car rally took place today on Arklow’s South Quay. Refreshments were provided

by Leaders, parents and friends of Arklow Sea Scout Group, operating out of the Arklow Sea

Scout Centre.

26/April/2009:

Members of Arklow Sea Scout Group today ran a stall in the Cairde le Chéile information day,

held in the Arklow Leisure Centre. The purpose was this was to provide information to the

general public on what we do, and included videos and photo slideshows of our activities.

26/April/2009:

Watch Leaders Michael Pluck, Freddie Hoskin and Tadhg Gallagher represented Arklow Sea

Scout Group at the National Youth Forum this weekend in Larch Hill. The Group was also

represented at the South East Provincial MPSE (backwoods) training course by Sea Scouters

Darren Doyle and David Kavanagh.

24/April/2009:

Arklow Sea Scout Group tonight held its annual Awards Night. In front of an audience of the

Group’s Sea Cubs, Sea Scouts, parents and Leaders, Sinéad Dunne was awarded the trophy

for “Junior Sea Scout of the Year”, while Leigh Downey was awarded the trophy for “Sea

Scout of the Year”. Meanwhile Boom Watch were awarded the title of “Watch of the Year”.

Congratulations to both Sinéad and Leigh, and to all the members of Boom Watch.

05/April/2009:

Arklow Venture Sea Scouts have completed a major part of their project to bring back the

campfire circle at Lough Dan National Scout campsite. They are completing this project

as a crew as part of the Lough Dan Ranger team.

29/March/2009:

The National Council (AGM) of Scouting Ireland took place this weekend in the Slieve Donard

hotel in Newcastle, Co. Down. Three of Harbour Troop’s Watch Leaders attended and spoke in

support of a motion they had proposed. The motion, which passed with an overwhelming

majority, instructs the Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme) and the National Youth

Programme Committee to ensure that the new Scouting Ireland programme is inclusive of

Sea Scouting, and that it will include a Sea Scout badge scheme of at least 15 badges (one for

every year that a youth member is in the programme). Arklow Sea Scout Group is extremely

proud of the three of our Watch Leaders (two aged 14, one aged 15) who presented their case

very well, and were extremely articulate and reasoned.

17/March/2009:

Arklow Sea Scout Group today marched in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Arklow. All

members of Harbour Troop who marched were rewarded with a camp the following weekend.

07/March/2009:

Today a “Child Protection Awareness” course was held in Greystones. Four Sea Scouters from

Harbour Troop attended as part of their ongoing training requirements.

22/February/2009:

Members of Harbour Troop today went on an “expedition” to the bi-annual RDS Dublin Boat

Show.

14/February/2009:

The National Scout Challenge Day took place today. Harbour Troop had one team in this event

following the County pre-qualifier. The “Three and a Half Amigos” came in 17^th place overall.

25/January/2009:

The Cill Mhantáin Scout County Challenge Day took place in Kilcoole today. One of Harbour

Troop’s teams, the “Three and a Half Amigos”, came first in the bases section, and in second

place overall. They will now go on as one of Cill Mhantáin’s two entries to the National

Challenge Day to be held on 14^th February in NUI Maynooth.

10/January/2009:

Today a “Scouting Fundamentals” Course was held in Arklow Sea Scout Centre. This course

Is the first course in the Woodbadge Training Scheme delivered by the Scouting Ireland

Training Team to new Scouters (adult members).

01/January/2009:

The annual New Year’s Day Sponsored Swim was a great success, with in excess of 30

Swimmers taking part, including 15 of our own Sea Scouts. Photos of the day can be seen

by clicking here.

25/December/2008:

All of us here at Arklow Sea Scouts would like to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy

new year.

24/December/2008:

Arklow Sea Scouts again carried out their annual Christmas bagpacking fundraiser in Tesco

Arklow. Due to the generous donations from the people of Arklow, we can continue to provide

An excellent youth programme throughout 2009 for our youth members.

30/November/2008:

Four Watch Leaders from Arklow have returned today after representing Arklow Sea Scouts

at the national Watch Leaders consultation forum on the new programme. This event took place

in Dollymount Sea Scout Centre on Bull Island, Co. Dublin.

23/November/2008:

The Cill Mhantáin Scout County Watch/Patrol Leaders training weekend took place over

the past three days at the Arklow Sea Scout Centre and Campsite.

09/November/2008:

The Arklow Sea Scout Group today had a Group mass.

06/November/2008:

Arklow Sea Scout Group tonight held its AGM. The following appointments were made by

consensus:

Group Leader – Tom Byrne

Deputy Group Leader – Heather Redmond

Group Secretary – Thelma McDonald

Group Treasurer – Elizabeth Condren

Quartermaster and Facility Manager of the Sea Scout Centre – Jimmy Myler

Group Bo’sun – Darren Doyle

After stepping down from their positions, we would like to thank Majella Myler and Mia

O’ Byrne for their service as Group Secretary and Group Treasurer respectively.

25/September/2008:

Cill Mhantáin Scout County held its AGM tonight. This meeting was of particular importance

to Arklow Sea Scout Group as our Group secretary Majella Myler was elected as the new

County Commissioner for this Scout County. Majella and her husband Jimmy also received

two national awards each, both the Gold Service Award from Scouting Ireland, and the Silver

Merit Award from Scouting Ireland. The awards were presented by the outgoing County

Commissioner Tony. Gold Service Awards are awarded for over 25 years of service to Scouting.

Silver Merit Awards are awarded for "exceptional and notable service to Scouting" (definition

from www.scouts.ie).

This follows two other awards which were received last month by other Sea Scout Leaders from

Arklow Sea Scout Group, Darren Doyle and David Kavanagh. Both received the Scouting Ireland

Woodbadge Award, which signifies when a Scout Leader completes their training and is invested

into the 1st Gilwell Scout Troop. The 1st Gilwell Scout Troop is a symbolic Scout Troop that

Scout Leaders across the world are invested into once they become fully trained Scout Leaders.

17/August/2008:

Last week Harbour Troop returned after having been at Jamboree 2008. Congratulations to

Darren Doyle and David Kavanagh who were awarded their Woodbadge beads, with more

than two years of training leading up to this point. A more detailed report will follow soon…

29/June/2008:

The annual Seafarers Memorial Service was held tonight in the Arklow Sea Scout Hall.

Afterwards a wreath was laid at sea from the lifeboat.

16/June/2008:

Over the past few days our Port Watch held a work weekend in Lough Dan. The barn was

completely cleared out and can now function as a wet weather shelter.

03/June/2008:

The Southeast Provincial Sea Scout Training Camp was held over the past weekend in Arklow.

This weekend involved Sea Scout troops and Scout troops who do water activities as the

main part of their programme.

06/May/2008:

The Cill Mhantáin Scout County Camp was held over the past weekend in Lough Dan.

The 4 day camp included:

kayaking
rock climbing
sailing
archery
abseiling

windsurfing
rafting
mudslide
zip line
powerboating
plus the usual campfires, bivvies, games, etc.

Even the weather decided to chip in to make it another great County Camp for Cill Mhantáin!

27/April/2008:

Harbour Troop will be taking part in the Southeast Provincial Sea Scout Training Camp.

26/April/2008:

The troop will be taking part in the Cill Mhantáin Scout County Camp on the May bank

holiday weekend.

26/April/2008:

A Vintage Car Rally will be held in aid of Arklow Sea Scouts on Sunday the 04^th of May.

The venue is South Quay, Arklow.

24/April/2008:

9^th Wicklow Sea Scout Group tonight held its annual table quiz in “The Old Ship” pub.

€469 was raised on the night.

17/March/2008:

9^th Wicklow Sea Scout Group took part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade as usual. Members

of Harbour Troop who took part will be taking part in an activity camp next weekend.

24/February/2008:

All of the Watch Leaders, older Sea Scouts, and Sea Scouters from Arklow attended the

Southeast Provincial Programme Conference today.

15/January/2008:

The new set of tents arrived today. Each Watch owns two of these tents each, for use only

by their Watch. The tents were purchased using funds raised in the New Year’s Day Swim.

These Vango 4-man dome tents should be getting a lot of use this year, with the Sea Scouts

each trying to achieve their “Camping 100” pins for the centenary of Irish Scouting, no less

so than when they are used on the Irish Centenary Jamboree in August!!

13/January/2008:

Well done to Arklow Sea Scouts Leigh, Shane and Tadhg, who today won the Cill Mhantáin

Scout County Challenge Day. Their team “the three amigos” will now go on to represent

Cill Mhantáin Scout County at the National Challenge Day in February.

28/December/2007:

In 2004 Harbour Troop (the Sea Scout Section of Arklow SEA Scout Group) held their

first New Year's Day Swim to fundraise for safety equipment needed for Sea Scout

activities for the following year.

This event turned into an annual event and is now approaching its 5th year. For the next

event, other Sections in Arklow SEA Scout Group have decided to join Harbour Troop

on their New Year's Day Swim for the first time to fundraise for themselves for the year

ahead.

On 01/January/2008 the 5th installment of this now annual event will take place on

Arklow's South Beach at 12:00 (subject to weather conditions at the time). If anybody

would like to sponsor this swim, all help is very much appreciated. Better still, why

not join the other nutcases and go in for a dip in the Irish Sea in the middle of Winter?

Soup/sandwiches/hot drinks/etc available afterwards in the Arklow SEA Scout Hall.

29/June/2007:

The annual Seafarers Memorial Service was held tonight in the Arklow Sea Scout Hall.

Afterwards a wreath was laid at sea from the lifeboat.

17/June/2007:

The Arklow Sea Ventures won the National Venture Scout Raft Race in Lough Dan.

12/June/2007:

RNLI gave an informal talk on sea safety (lifejackets, VHF, flares, etc),

to the Scouts and we also had a flare demonstration (handheld and parachute). The Scouts

found it very enjoyable and had lots of fun learning about sea safety in a hands on way.

07/May/2007:

Splashdown ’07 was a great success with around 200 Scouts taking part.

10/April/2007:

Congratulations to Shane and Mark Hoare (from the Sea Scouts and Cubs

respectively) who are now Leinster Orienteering Champions in the Under 12s,

and Under 10s categories.

22/March/2007:

The annual Arklow Sea Scouts table quiz was held in “The Old Ship”. It was

A great success and over €835 was raised on the night.

11/February/2007:

Scouting Ireland Centenary Jamboree 2008 press release – click here

18/January/2007:

Hi all

As you are probably aware we had serious water damage in the Scout hall over the Christmas week.

The Builders have been in and rectified the problem. We also took this opportunity to rebuild and enlarge the

Galley, and to convert the loft into a proper training room. So if you know where there are any training aids,

like overhead projectors flipchart easels etc. grab them for the sea scouts

Congratulations to Darren, Michael, David and Ali who completed their Scouting Essentials Leader training

and have been presented with their Gilwell woggles.

Further to training The Sea Scout Leaders will be heading to Cork for a Sea Scouting seminar, this will update us on

all the new safety regulations, child protection policies, and new programme presentations which we have to be aware of.

Therefore there will be no Scouting next Friday26th, Saturday or Sunday.

For updates see

http://www.arklowseascouts.ie/

Yours in Scouting

Jimmy

County challenge

Meet in Scout Hall on Sunday at 9 oclock ((that’s in the morning))

We should be home at 5 or 5.30

Full Uniform

Bring a packed lunch and rain wear

15/January/2007:

Hi All,

Here are the details for the night out as discussed at the last county
meeting. I have booked the Abbey suite in the Wicklow Grande hotel for
Saturday the 10th Febuary. Food will be served at 8.30 and followed by a
band. I hope you are all up for a laugh and are able to attend.

RSVP as soon as possible via arklowseascouts@eircom.net

Hoping to see you there,
Laura Coey

Please pass this message on to thoses who don't have an email in the
directory or those who don't read them THANKS

11/January/2007:

We are happy to say that the hall has reopened on a limited basis after initial

repair of the damage caused by the burst pipe. However construction work

will still be taking place upstairs, in the Ward room, and in the Galley. As a

result, these locations will remain out of bounds until all repairs are complete.

11/January/2007:

The Scouts and Vents will have their first meeting back after Christmas this Friday.

03/January/2007:

Port of Arklow

Sea Scout’s

Dock Road

Arklow

Dear Swimmers

Thank you for your participation in the ‘Sea Scout’s New Years Day Swim’ Please pass

on our thanks to those who sponsored you.

As you are aware the funds you raised go directly to the purchase of equipment, this then

ensures that the youth of Arklow have the facility to enjoy ‘Outdoor Activities’ in a truly

safe manner.

In these days of dangerous distraction especially towards the Drug Culture and of early

Drinking, all clubs and associations directed at teenagers need to be supported fully.

Scouting offers a clean healthy distraction through a system of activity ‘Learning by Doing’

Here in Arklow we have the finest youth facility in the County if not in the Province which

hundreds of children use each week. In the future we hope to expand on this to allow

greater access for the youth of Arklow,

for more information see our website

www.arklowseascouts.ie

Thank you once again for your support.

Yours in Scouting

Jimmy Myler

01/January/2007:

The New Year's Day swim was a great success with 35

swimmers taking part, including quite a few of our own Scouts.

Photos will be available soon on our photos page.

14/December/2006:

Note to parents.

As you are aware we had as serious water leak, in the loft of the Scout Hall,

whereby the incoming mains burst/parted, and was running for several hours. This

has destroyed the Ceilings of the Kitchen, Ward room and entrance hall, It also

destroyed the upstairs plywood floor, the ward room floor cover, computers

At this time we are awaiting on the insurers damage assessors to arrive

We will have no further troop meeting until the hall has been made safe for use by

young people, most likely early in the new year,

---------------------------------------

Each Scout has been given their ‘Christmas Bag-pack’ schedule, A special thanks to

the few adults and parents who have volunteered to help us in this vital fundraising.

---------------------------------------

Our The New Years Day Sponsored swim will take place on the South Beach

@ 12 sharp Please come along and support the event and back to the Hall for

refreshments. Sponsor cards can be handed in on the day

---------------------------------------

For further updates see our web-site

http://www.arklowseascouts.ie/

Please note that adult/parent support in necessary as Scouting

does not come under any reasonable financial grant remit.

Yours in Scouting

Jimmy

19/October/2006:

To celebrate our 35th Birthday, on Friday the third of August

next year, from 8 till midnight, we will be hosting a BBQ for all past

and present members of Arklow Sea Scout Group in the Scout

grounds. Music will be provided by "Thunderbirds". BBQ will be

available, just bring your own beverage.

09/October/2006:

Hi all,

Many thanks to all who participated in the Watch/Patrol training

weekend.It was a great success with 38 young leaders from 7

troops (9th Wicklow-Arklow, 1st Wicklow/2nd Dublin-Greystones,

4th Wicklow-Wicklow town, 11th Wicklow-Delgany,

3rd Wicklow-Newtown-Mt-Kennedy, 16th Wicklow-Newcastle and

6th Wicklow-Rathdrum) getting involved.

The venue (Arklow den) was excellent, weather was good, water

activities great and the food brilliant. A special thanks to those who

gave of their time for the weekend:

Trainers:
Eleanor, Michael, Barry, David, Cian, Lianda, Rory,

Gerry, Jimmy, Iain, Eoin and Darren.

Food prep:
Majella, Pat and Pat.

Patrol Pals:
Lauren, Andrew, Stephen, Andrew and Neil.

The Water safety side:
Pat, Peter, Darren, Terry and Jimmy.

The scouts had a great weekend under canvas and learned quite a

lot, please ensure that the put this learning/training into practice and

complete their leadership badge by planning and executing their 4

week programme along with a hike etc.

Also over the weekend the County Forum (Scouts) were held with 6

Scouts voted in, 3 of which will be participating at the National forum.

They discussed/wrote up motions which they will bring up at the

National forum in Larch hill 21/22 October next.

Each group can also send one delegate per section

as an observer if they so wish.

The County Reps are as follows:

Stephen O'Neill, Rathdrum, DELEGATE
Sophia Casey, Delgany, DELEGATE
Daniel Cooney, Greystones, DELEGATE
Conor Harrington, Rathdrum,
Brendan O'Reilly, Greystones,
Sophie Gallagher, Delgany.

For those who missed out on the weekend, please pass on the

County Reps details to your PL/WL Council.

Our next County event will be the challenge and quiz day in

Newtown-Mt-Kennedy 14/1/07 10.30-4.00, BOOK BY 18/12/06

TO Michael Connaghton, mikieconn@eircom.net

Please remember to book early to Michael Connaghton,

mikieconn@eircom.net for the County Splashdown camp over

the May Bank holiday weekend as places will be limited.

And finally a big thanks to Jimmy, Majella and all the Arklow crew for

their energy and commitment over the weekend.

Anthony Finnegan
1st Wicklow-2nd Dublin
Greystones Scouts

28/August/2006:

The first batch of photos from our summer camp in

the Gorges du Tarns in France are now available online.

Click here to view them.

14/August/2006:

The troop has now returned from its summer camp in France.