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Mary O’Connor Appointed Regional Commissioner for Irish Girl Guides
Boherbue resident Mary O’Connor is the newly appointed Regional Commissioner for the Irish Girl Guides. Bringing a diverse knowledge of the organisation from grassroots to board table, Mary will promote the Girl Guides concept across Cork, Kerry and West Waterford.
The Guides targets its programme of activity from 5 years and upwards, in an evolving training programme for their volunteer adult leaders. A native of Macroom, Mary has been involved in supporting girls to develop confidence through games, art and crafts, camping, cooking and various other activities.
In the summer of 2024, Mary and members of the Irish girl guides from the southwest region spent four days camping in the James O’Keeffe grounds with their “Camp Revive 2024”. The aim of this camp was to revive campcraft skills and the themes were based on Sustainable Development goals established by the United Nations Life Below Water and Life on Land.
There were one hundred and fifty members camping over the four days and included Brownies (7 – 10), Guides (10 – 14) Senior Branch members over 14 and adult Leaders, who came from Boherbue, Cork City, Carrigtwohill, Cobh, Macroom, Blarney, Dunmanway, Crosshaven, Bandon, Villierstown.
The many activities included in the camp were outdoor cooking, pioneering, learning knots for everyday use and to hoist the flag, a ramble to The Island Woods to study life under water with Tom Ankettell, painting vegetable markers, making scarecrows and planting for Rachel in the IRD garden, camp fires, mini-Olympics and most of all meeting members from all parts of the SW Region and making friends.
Mary has been involved in the girl guides since she was 5 years old, progressing to volunteering, making friends and becoming part of the worldwide girl guides organisation. “The Irish Girl Guides’ aim is to enable girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world”, said Mary.
Mary is a Guide leader in the flourishing Boherbue unit that caters for Lady birds (5-7), Brownies (7-10), Girl Guides (1014) and Senior (+14).
Subsequently, Mary became a Guide Leader and District Commissioner in Tralee and represented the South West Region on the National Guide branch Committee.
Now living in Boherbue, Mary continues her involvement and promoting the ethos of the Girl Guides. Prior to her new appointment, she was commissioner for the Blackwater Area.
The Boherbue unit remains active, upwards of 72 girls and voluntary leaders pursue Ladybirds, Brownies, Girl Guides and Senior Branch activity each Friday at Boherbue Educare Centre.
