Dún Laoghaire Sea Scouts celebrate 50th anniversary

In 1966, 8ú Calafort Dun Laoghaire was founded by Dr Eoghan Lavelle, Peadar Tobin and Sean Fitzgerald. 50 years later, they celebrated the milestone anniversary with a trip to Lough Dan National Scout Centre

Having been established with a humble seven members, this Sea Scouts group has expanded and now boasts over 150 members across four sections. 

Over the years, many have passed through 8th Calafort with many former youth members returning or remaining to become leaders.

Ciarán Mac Domhnaill, a section leader with 8ú Calafort, said that despite the growth of the club, a lot has stayed the same.

“Quite a lot has changed, but a lot hasn’t,” he said. “For example we still go on a summer camp and after all these years the concept hasn’t changed.”

Located on the West Pier in Dún Laoghaire, Sea Scouting members receive an excellent grounding in seamanship in addition to the other outdoor skills and sporting activities normally associated with scouting such as hillwalking and camping.

The origins of the Scout movement date back to August 1907 when a group of 20 boys attended what was probably the first ever Summer Camp at Brownsea Island in the south of England. The organiser of that camp and as a consequence, founder of the Scout movement, was Robert Baden-Powell, a distinguished soldier, war hero and later to become Lord Baden-Powell.

Following its foundation in 1907, scouting quickly spread to Ireland and in 1908 the first troops were established in Ireland in Greystones and Dundalk. Today there are several thousand scouts in groups throughout Ireland.

To celebrate 50 years of 8ú Calafort, all four sections of the group spent the May Bank Holiday camping in Lough Dan. Over the weekend, they took part in activities such as rafting, hiking and the annual Commando course.

The main activity of the weekend engaged all members who stood to attention formally for a ‘Fall-In’ and a group photograph. New members were formally invested at this event and made their scout promises.

Ciarán said that while celebrations were kept short and the focus was on enjoying themselves, the Sea Scouts understood the importance of the anniversary weekend.

“They got the idea of it, while having fun,” he said. “The formalities were kept brief.”

8ú  Calafort is hosting the Rowing Regatta in Dun Laoghaire this year, which is a competition for Sea Scouts on the east coast of Ireland. The group has been successful in the Regatta and Seamanship in the past and this year they are having a new East Coast Skiff rowing boat built which was fundraised for and will be raced during the September Regatta.

They are also involved in the Howth Sailing Trip, Manannán, over the June bank holiday weekend, June 4-5.

Meeting in the Den on Saturday the scouts sail to Howth where they overnight in Howth’s Scout Den before sailing back to Dún Laoghaire via Ireland’s Eye.

For a further sense of the group and its activities, you can visit their website, www.8ucalafort.org

REPORT: Aaron McElroy