Arklow Sea Scouts History

 

 

The following is a feature about our Sea Scout Group that appeared in the Wicklow People in 2007:

 

 

Arklow sea scouts making a splash on the high seas


It is thirty-five years since sea scouts first took root in Arklow. The organisation founded by Billy Brown began its existence as a boys only organisation that met in the yacht club. Today, the lassies are every bit as welcome as the lads - as they have been since 1979.

Current group leader Majella Myler was one of the initial batch of females to show up when the scouts took the then radical decision to go 'mixed'. She points out proudly that Arklow was the first unit in Ireland or Britain to make the move to blend the genders and scouting clearly appealed to her appetite for activity.

The young Majella had already acquired her girl guides uniform but it proved a poor investment as she lasted barely a fortnight in the ranks of the sister organisation before defecting. These days, Majella is in overall command of the scouts, while the yacht club is long deserted in favour of commodious premises at the Dock Road.

The property was provided by the harbour board and it makes the group the envy of just about every other youth organisation in Ireland. Not only do they have their own building, with hall, kitchen, changing rooms and meeting rooms.

Not only do they have enough land to accommodate up to 200 campers - as they expect to do in May when they host an event called Splashdown. Not only do they have enough yard space and sheds to keep a flotilla of small craft secure and well maintained.

Not only this but all these facilities are located just stone's throw - more of a stone's lob really - away from the harbour dock, giving them ready access to the water. The impressive scout flotilla comprises two inflatable dinghies and stacks of kayaks, as well as sailing dinghies. Majella's husband Jimmy reckons that they can put 45 scouts afloat at any one time, without having to borrow extra vessels.

The under tens follow the normal beaver or cub scout programme, landlubber style. However, the older lads and lassies take to the water as often as they can, especially during the warmer months.

They head south along the coast to the Cove when the weather is fine, or paddle upstream on the Avoca river if wind and tide do not suit. While the tradition of scouting as a uniformed organisation is maintained, members soon realise that having a wet suit is far more important than being ready and able to parade in the correct shirt.

Arklow is, of course, renowned for its sea-faring traditions and Jimmy reckons that his is the first generation of the Myler family not to earn a living on the ocean wave. He is quick to stress that there is no looking back - give him a smooth plastic hull every time ahead of a heavy, high maintenance, clinker built timber vessel. There is no room for nostalgia.

At the same time, the members, from the little beavers through the age range to the young adults in the venture unit, are constantly reminded of their maritime heritage, even on winter evenings when they are confined to the hall. Where land based scout units are divided up into patrols, Arklow has watches.

The furniture includes a speaker's podium in the form of a ship's prow, while the walls are bedecked with flags. An eye-catching display of seamen's knots also features. The youngsters are given every opportunity to learn many of those knots, especially the hitches and bends that remain very much useful to the modern sailor. There are also plenty of opportunities for practical map reading and for harnessing the winds for sailing. The art of blowing a bosun's whistle is alive and well here.

The emphasis in the programme is very much on team building, with the younger members learning from the more experienced, all backed up by a team of trained adult leaders. The Arklow scouts are so busy doing their own thing that they devote little nervous energy to competitions and regattas, though they maintain good contact with their brother/sister scouts in Greystones and Bray.

At this time of year, the yard outside the hall is devoted full of upturned hulls and there is a smell of paint around Dock Road as the scouting fleet is readied for the summer voyages to come. The sea scouts are fortunate to have the services of the workers of the Arklow United community employment scheme to help keep everything in order.

The complex near the dock is in great demand. Visiting groups booked in pitch their tents beside the hall this year include fellow scouts from Wicklow and Waterford. The arrival of an eighty strong Spanish party is awaited with much curiosity and anticipation.

It is the custom in scouting to head off once a year on camp and the Arklow gang are great believers following this practice. While outsiders might expect them to head for maritime venues on their expeditions, in fact they tend to avoid boats altogether on the annual fortnight away.

The most memorable recent destination was Switzerland - a country that could not be more landlocked - while next year, they are bound for Punchestown, where Irish scouting will celebrate one hundred years of knot tying and woggle pulling - again far from the salty shore.

Scouting in Arklow has become big business on the back of the motto 'be prepared'. Prepared to give young people opportunities to learn skills and work in small teams. Prepared to use the town's location to explore river and sea. Prepared to have fun.