Scouts return to Monasterevin after five-year hiatus
Monasterevin Scouts Group investiture at their Scout Den St Mary's Lane Miro Jakesevic, Liam Creaner, Killian Mcateer, Pat Balfe, David Lougham Michelle Cullen, Aisling Cullen, Grainne Sheppard and Barbara Oak ( Scout Leader Group ) Photos: Jimmy Fullam
AFTER a five-year break the Scouts have returned to Monasterevin with their first investiture welcoming almost 80 new kids and 13 new leaders to the 14th Kildare Monasterevin Scout Group.
“Unfortunately, the Scout group was shut down in March 2020 due to the Covid epidemic,” said group leader Killian McAleer.
“It was a very successful voluntary group in the town for years being led by a local man named Brian Dunne,” he said.
“Through hard work and dedication of a new group of volunteers we have got the Scout Den (on St Mary’s Lane) back in usable condition and have re-opened both Beavers and Cub Scouts to the community with 36 in Beavers (full capacity) and 40 in our cub group.
“We aim to re-open Scouts for the older children (12 plus) in September 2026.
“As part of the Scout group after six weeks of commencing a child's scouting adventure, we hold an investiture ceremony where each child is presented with their neckerchief and woggle which identifies them as to the Scout Group in which they belong and it also officially makes them part of the Scouting Ireland Group,” said Killian.
This was held at the newly-refurbished Den last Monday evening (17 November).
There was representatives from the old Scouting Group and Scouting Ireland, along with some local councillors and other guests, along with the parents of each child being presented with a neckerchief and officially being welcomed into the Scouting Ireland Group.
“It was hard work getting the Den back in order, so Monday night was a bit like a baptism, where we welcomed the new generation into the Den,” he said.
“It’s the only kind of outlet for young kids in the town if you’re not into sports, and we still have a few on the waiting list,” he said.
