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Mount Melleray Scout Centre, Feddaun, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford
Athenry Girl Guides was started in September I988 by Janice Coffey, Susan Nally, Francis Coffey and Martina Farragher.
On our first Christmas we held a fundraising Santa in Hansberry’s Hotel which was a great success. During the winter months the Guides learned all the skills which would enable them for their first camp the following summer.
They took part in “People in Need” fundraising in Galway by joining hands from Shop Street round Eyre Square. On this venture the girls met with movie star Daniel Day Lewis.
The long awaited first camp took place in June 1989 in the ground of St. Mary’s. The venue was ideal – it was safe and compact and ideal for guides on their first camping experience. It was a wonderful setting for our campfire and all the short stories that were to be told.
With the confidence gained and friend hips made at that first camp, the Guides went to camp at Corrandulla for a canoeing weekend. A week was spent at the outdoor adventure centre in Clonbur where the Guides took part in canoeing, sailing, hiking, orienteering and absailing.
Girl Guides having fun in St. Mary’s, the Square, Athenry
Now that we had gotten so adventurous, we were ready for ‘Melleray ‘91 an international camp held to celebrate 80 years of “Guiding” in Ireland. The Athenry Guides mixed with Guides from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chernobyl, where they, again, took part in lots of exciting adventures including an overnight survival hike with archery, backwoods camping, an adventure trail.
Now there was no stopping us. We joined with the guides from Corrandulla, Barna, Mervue and Riverside to hit the Isle of Man where we had a wonderful week of fun. Again, the Guides took to all the activities like seasoned campaigners including building their own raft and sailing out to sea.
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Written by Anonymous
Published here 26 Feb 2023 and originally published December 1997
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