Celebrating nine decades of Athlone Scouts

Athlone’s 2nd Westmeath (St Mary’s) Scout Group celebrate 90 years of Scouting in Athlone in 2020. After much research over recent years, the beginnings of 2nd Westmeath have been distilled as follows.

Following meetings in late 1929, the 2nd Westmeath Unit was formed in the Autumn of 1930. The first meeting took place in the Old Gaelic League Hall in Glasses Lane, later to become Griffiths Street. (building has since been demolished).

The first Scout Master was Fr. Wall and Assistant Scout Masters were John Bracken and Gerald Mac Entee. The Chairman was Mr. William Mc Crea and the Secretaries were Mr Frank Flanagan and Jim Kennedy, with Rev Fr. Wall as Unit Chaplain.

There was a group of boys at the meeting and they were invited back on the 10th September at which they would present a letter from their parents acknowledging parental approval.

The Rev. J.C. Wall, C.C. St Mary’s explained the aims and objects of the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland, spending the winter months, instilling in the boys the importance of the principles and laws of scouting, not merely in the Scout Hall, but also on the playing field, and at home.

After three months of study, tests were held and patrols formed. The Senior Patrol Leader was Paddy Quinn, and the first four Patrol Leaders were Frank Egan, Stephen Lyons, Des O’ Brien and Isadore Timon. The first annual camp was held at Sandy Bay, Coosan in 1931 along with a Scout Troop from Dublin.

Photographs in the Scout Den show bell tents being used as the Scout Troop did not have any ridge tents in those days. The bell tents were probably loaned from the Army for the duration of the camp. The first investiture was held in St Mary’s Square in front of the old Dispensary on a very hot day, in the summer of 1931.

Since those early days, Cub Scouts have been added, Venture Scouts and Beaver Scouts more recently and on our 90th Birthday the club can celebrate with 150 members in Athlone 90 years of outdoors activities and adventure.

Recently, the photo above came into the group's possession. While some in the picture have since sadly passed away, and it was agreed that it would be great to hear back from any of the Scouts in the picture, Athlone Scouts are looking for help to find out what year was it taken? What event were they taking part in? Where are they now? How has scouting contributed to their lives? And what is their favourite memories of their times in scouting?