08
30.07.2013
North County Dublin’s N0.1 Quality Newspaper
North County Living
Forrest Little Ladies Excel In Skills Challenge
by Jennifer McShane
Glorious sunshine got this year’s Kellogg’s NutriGrain Golf Skills Challenge off to the perfect start at Grange Golf Club, where the ladies from Forrest Little Golf Club in Swords, topped the list of team qualifiers. Teams were given a forensic examination by the demanding skills challenge course. Forrest Little trio, Lesley Molloy, Bernadette Sullivan and Adrienne Timmons enjoyed a productive afternoon on the course to take top spot. Two-time Forrest Little golfer-of-the-year, Lesley Molloy enjoyed every minute of the skills challenge. “When we got on the tee-box it was very friendly and very easy-going. It was very enjoyable,” said Lesley, who has immersed herself in the game since first joining Forrest Little five years ago.
Scouting Traditions
Swords Resident Concerned Over Proposed Library Move By Jennifer McShane
Owen Quinn from Lusk has been a group leader in the 153rd Lusk Scout Group for the last two years and been involved with the group since he was five years old. In fact, the scouts are somewhat of a family tradition, as many members of the Quinn family have been involved in the well known local group for years. Owen sat down with the County Leader to talk a little about himself, his involvement with the group, and why he’s such a fan of the scouting traditions. For those that aren’t too familiar with the Lusk Scouts, a group originally started up in the town in 1931 and then in 1979, it officially re-opened as the 153rd Lusk Scout Group that we know now. It was started up by one local person and a parish priest and has been running underneath that guise ever since. It’s certainly been working well ever since, as the club is still going strong today, with 150 current members , 30 adults and as many as 90 on a waiting list to join. “On one hand, it's fantastic that so many kids are wanting to join, and on the other it’s awful that we can’t accommodate everyone, but unfortunately, at the moment we just don’t have the space to accommodate more members.” Owen says that a big issue with such a growing group is trying to find more volunteers to join in and help out. "We would always welcome and encourage anyone who has an interest in scouting and who might be interested in volunteering to get in touch. It's an extremely rewarding experience. I can say myself that I get as much out of it as all the children do, it's fantastic." He has strong family ties to Lusk Scout Group; his whole family were involved at one point, including his mother (who was also a group leader), father, brothers and sister. "We've always been involved in some way throughout the years, and in particular what I find fantastic is that kids that might have been in the group when they were younger, are coming back as adults to help out. "I think it's the fact that the group (and scout groups in general) are so diverse, both in terms of content and personalities, and it's the members that see how much they got out of it as a young child, that makes them want to come back with a fresh perspective on things as an adult." For those that don’t know, there are a number of different ‘ranks’ in a scout group: Beavers, Cubs, Venture Scouts and the newest addition, the Rovers. He says the purpose of any scout group is to try to create good citizens who can overcome various obstacles and think independently. “I think being a scout is fantastic grounding for a child. They get to interact with children of their own age, learn new skills, how to cope when they’re out in the great outdoors, have plenty of new experiences and take on challenges. The activities are different to all the
digital games and so on that a lot would play nowadays, which I think appeals to the kids," he continued. "I also think the different scouting activities give them a chance to do things that they might not necessarily be allowed to do otherwise, like lighting fires and things, so there's a lot of fun involved." The group participate in a variety of different activities such as: camp craft, orienteering, survival skills as well as the more traditional activities, so there is definitely something for all ages to get involved in. The scout group clearly means an awful lot to Owen, who along with all the other volunteers, devotes a huge majority of his free time to the group, but he says he wouldn't have it any other way. "I loved the scouts as a young child, and I still love being involved now. I think it's fairly safe to say that everyone gets so much out of the group, members and volunteers." He says he remembers a particular factor that stood out to him as a young beaver: "I always remember the great sense of adventure I felt when we were going on different outings and so on, and that really stayed with me, and the fact that you were getting to try so many different things." He says, these factors are what he hopes the young scouts today take with them as they participate. When I ask about highlights over the years, he says that though there have been quite a few, and he gives a particular mention to the fact that quite a few of the members have been recipients of the highly coveted Chief Scout Awards. "It's really a fantastic achievement to get the awards and shows how dedicated the members are." He says the group are also really proud of their recent trip to Canada. "It was a great achievement for us as a group as we had been planning and saving for the trip for two years, and we really had an amazing time, and we were in fact the first Irish Scout Group to go to that particular site." The active scout leader, says that the success of the group would not be possible at all without the dedication of all the volunteers, leaders and the community: “Everyone that’s involved brings so much energy and commitment to the groups and the different outings, and that’s what really spurs the kids on and gets them enthusiastic.” He also wants to mention and thank the community of Lusk (as well as the different communities around the North County), who have supported the group over the years. "We've had such tremendous support from the entire community, and we just want to thank everyone for their support as we wouldn't be able to progress and thrive as we do without it."
“The Leaders get as much out of it as the kids do”
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“I play two times a week during the winter and up to four times a week in summer. I do love the competitive end of the game. You want to beat yourself, you want to do better. And then there’s a social end,” she said. Although Lesley was Pictured moments after disappointed with her scoring 115 not out against own score on the day, Japan in the Eight Nations together with playing Ladies Cricket tournament partners, Bernadette at the Hills Cricket Club, Sullivan and Adrienne Skerries is Irish star, Clare Shillingham from Malahide. Timmons, they posted the leading score in the ladies competition. All three will have the chance to test themselves again at the National Final in September, which takes place at the GUI National Golf Academy.
Owen Quinn Lusk Leader of Lusk Scout Group
A Swords resident has expressed her concern about the proposed moving of Rathbeale Library to the County Hall. She recently wrote to four local councillors about, and also got in touch with the County Leader to express her concerns about the issue. Swords lady Mary Burke said that while the move might seem like a good idea, on closer examination, she says “it really is not,” and feels that local residents would lose out for a number of reasons, if the move took place. “There seems to be an idea that the existing library is too small, yet there was no indication that the space that would
be used in County Hall is any bigger,” she said. “The Rathbeale Library is, I understand 4,500 sq feet. Is there a history of complaints from the public about the size of the library? It would make sense to consider this.” She pointed out a major problem that could arise if the move occurs: “The biggest single problem and the one that should kill the idea is parking,” she continued. “There is no obvious parking around county hall at the times when people use the library, and I’m sure residents will not be happy with extra parking needs.” The local resident feels that adaptation costs could most definitely be put to better use
with a revamp of the current library. “The cost of adaptation should surely be better applied in a revamp at Rathbeale? I would ask that local councillors explore this option. Even from a health and safety point of view there are four open balconies and stairway which will be a constant danger to visitors.” “Also, the complimentary activities of shopping and library provide an attractive proposition for people with children and this would be completely lost down the town.” “The councillors were elected to represent the views of residents and to work to improve services, and this would do the opposite. I strongly urge the local authority to reconsider the move for the benefit for the community,” she concluded.
Pictured enjoying the sunshine at Newbridge House in Donabate recently are, Caroline Bourke and her children, Hannah, Amy and Will.
Welcome For Overhaul Of Maritime Safety Services Local Councillor, Tom O’Leary (FG) welcomed the recent announcement from Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar of a new Action Plan to improve Maritime Safety and Marine Emergency Response Services and an enhanced Safety Equipment Grant Aid Scheme. This action plan will upgrade safety equipment in the North County’s fishing fleets, and cut down on tragic accidents at sea. The new Maritime Safety Strategy being drafted by the Irish Maritime Administration will address recreational activities (both locally and nationally), fishing vessels, merchant ships and passenger ferries. Its central goal will be to reduce deaths and injuries. O’Leary also said that he particularly welcomes the grants for safety equipment, locator beacons and Hi Tech radio and auto pilot alarms. The Skerries based councillor, said the scheme would be of great benefit to Skerries in particular. He told the County Leader: “In Skerries we have had our share of tragedies with a long list of persons lost at sea. This will be marked officially in September this year, when the Reinstatement of the Totem Pole ‘Sea Pole’ at Red Island, and will commemorate many Skerries people lost at Sea.” “The Skerries community have come out in their thousands to support the local lost at sea project and Council officials will come on aboard now to supply the balance of funding to complete the project and complete the engineering works at Red Island to erect the sea pole,” he continued. “We have had too many friends in Skerries lost at sea (and indeed around Ireland), and I hope that this Government Action Plan will dramatically reduce the risk of such terrible tragedies happening in the future.”
Pictured is an overflowing rubbish bin in Swords Park, which clearly needs to be emptied. Tidy Towns Volunteers to North County Leader that Council officials need to have them attended to more regularly, particularly now at the height of the tourist season.