Finglas scouts recall magical trip to Lourdes

DOES this photo ring any bells? It was taken outside St Canice’s Church in Finglas 50 years ago on July 20 1968.

The excited youngsters are members of the 75th and 95th Irish Catholic Boy Scouts units in Finglas and they are about to head off on an adventure to Lourdes.

Among the faces are David King and Larry Daly and they’re hoping to get in touch with as many of the young scouts as possible for an event recalling the trip that’s taking place on July 1 next.

On that day, a framed copy of the photograph will be presented to the current scout leader in St Canice's Scout Hall on Seamus Ennis Road after 9am mass.

It will take pride of place on the wall of the scout hall and after the presentation former and current scouts can enjoy a cup of tea and a chat.

David explained how the idea came about.

“I was just going through a few old bits and pieces and I came across the photo,” he says.

“We just thought it would be nice idea to get the photo out there. It might bring back some good memories for people. 

“It’ll be interesting to see how many people recognise that photo and remember the trip.”

Between them, David and Larry have identified many of the scouts in the photo but they’re hoping Northside People readers can help fill in the gaps.

“There’s some faces that I recognise but I can’t think of all the names,” says Larry.

Those who went on the two-week trip will no doubt remember it well as it was practically unheard of kids in the ’60s to go abroad.

“When we were growing up the only kids who went anywhere were kids in the boy scouts,” Larry recalls. “The only other people who went away were people with relatives down the country.”

David adds: “It was a special time for us, going away from Finglas. It took two years to save for the trip.

“I remember I had £5 spending money to last me the two weeks.”

The Lourdes trip began after Solemn Benediction at 8pm after which the 92 scouts posed for the photo, scrambled onto two coaches and set off to Dún Laoghaire to catch the ferry to Holyhead.

A delay meant they had to spend much of the night at the port waiting for the ferry, which didn’t sail until the following monring, and the drive through the UK wasn’t without incident.

“I remember here was a fire on one of the coaches just outside Birmingham and one of the lads’ sleeping bags was destroyed,” Larry recalls.

While the focus of the trip was Lourdes, David and Larry admit they were more impressed with the destinations they visited on their way there.

“The highlight was London and Paris,” says David. “We got to see places like Madame Tussauds, Trafalgar Square and the Eiffel Tower. We came back to school like heroes!” 

Both David and Larry are full of praise for their unit leader, Ned Kelly, who was instrumental in organising what turned out to be a memorable adventure.

“He was a great man,” says David.

“He had a chance to become chief scout of Ireland but turned it down because we wanted to stay with the Finglas scouts.”

Thanks to Ned and the Finglas scouts, Larry and David are blessed with wonderful childhood memories.

“It was the time of our lives,” says Larry. “It’s hard to balance the reality of adult life because we were in Utopia as children growing up in Finglas.

“We were innocents abroad. 

“There was hundreds of kids and never a sniff of scandal.

“We were minded and protected. Ned always kept everybody safe.”

“It was great craic,” adds David.

“It’s all social media now.

“In the scouts we’d go off and we’d camp and we’d make our own fires and make our own grub and our cups of tea.

“It’s one of those old fashioned things that never loses its appeal.”

If you recognise yourself or a relative from the photo contact Larry or 087-2886651 or David on 087-9087173. 

You can also email [email protected] or [email protected].