�I learned to swim in the scouts, - at Castlebellingham to be exact, - in the muddy, fast-flowing river that cut through the estate where we camped. A rope was thrown across from bank to bank, and we dog-paddled our way down the slippery entry point, 300 yards upstream.

�Dearest Jesus, teach me to be generous; to give and never count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds.� That Scout Prayer introduced me to the concepts of chivalry, doing the right thing, - to try and be a decent human being. What price can one place on such an education?�

�After hymns like `St Joseph dear, when life is dark, and waves of sin and sorrow rise,` - it was away to the Florentine Caf�, where the Madam de Cuisine would hit you a thump, if she saw your hand stretch down beneath the chip-laden table, and unto the knee of the girl-friend.�

Referring to the Newry boy scouts� move from their hall in Boat Street to Custom House Avenue, Rowan stated: �We were proud to be different, and those who weren�t with us were often against us. Doors were kicked and windows banged by non-scouting native lads outside. It got too much for Scoutmaster Teave Carroll,- the confrontation, chase and fight, after which we were left alone.

�Our halls were never good. The Protestant scouts at the other end of town had everything; we had nothing! We were excluded from Stormont funding because we were Catholic. Hard to believe that, 50 years down the road, you get funding for being one religion. It happens at Altnaveigh House. Time changes everything.�

Rowan Hand went on to describe summer camps such as Castlebellingham and Rush, where `Petro Olympics` were organised by a Warrenpoint cyclist called Peter McGoldrick. And he added:�Dan O�Hare from Killeavy Road, son of Scoutmaster George O�Hare, ran well. I knew Dan well. And I grieved for Dan when, in later life, he drowned in the sea off Africa.

�We were all friends together; scouts together; adventurers and dreamers together. And, as far as we could be with the Christian Brothers to return to, we were happy together. I remember, - it seems like only yesterday!�

First Scoutmaster, Brendan Gallagher, a native of Ballynahinch, had been educated at St Colman�s College, and served his time to the grocery trade at Quinn�s the Milestone (now Dunnes Stores on Hill Street). Later, he opened his own successful grocers shop a short distance away. Brendan was also a founder member and life-long member of the John Mitchel GFC.

Brendan Gallagher once described how, at a summer camp in Castlebellingham, a spring burst in the middle of the night, flooding a large tent containing 14 sleeping scouts. Though their clothing was soaked, �not one caught a cold!�

Of the other Scoutmasters, Paddy Traynor had a shoe shop at Monaghan Street; John Taggart was a gregarious bread-sever, while Teave Carroll was ordained by his uncle, Archbishop Francis Carroll, and served in the Archdiocese of Westminster. One day a young man, whom he was counselling in the sacristy, attacked him, causing grievous injuries.

Occupations of early Newry boy scouts included John McKnight from the Dublin Road, later a Dublin-based solicitor, who played for Armagh in the 1953 All-Ireland Final against Kerry; Austin Fitzpatrick (accountant); Jim Kelly and Jim Treanor, drapers; Gerry Boyle (share-holder in Quinns the Milestone); Tommy Carlin, an electrician; Harry Gallagher (grocer); Pat and Michael O�Keefe, who came from sea-faring families; Pa� Hollywood (accountant); Bertie Flynn, businessman, also a leader of the Ratepayers Association; Francie McKenna (laboratory technician); (Fr) Noel Morgan and (Fr) Jarlath Cushenan.

Long time scouter, John Taggart stated: Scouting is a great way of inculcating a sense of responsibility in young people. They must promise to do their best, to do a good deed every day. And if anyone offends, they would be tried by their peers.�

Former scoutmaster, Paddy Traynor blamed the decline in scouting on �the difficulty of getting scout leaders. People were not so willing to give up their time and energies to voluntary purposes,�

Troop Scribe Pat O�Keefe reported in 1950: �As we close our record of the past years, it is with the thought of keeping the banner flying, which this ambitious Belfast man, WG Gibson unfurled for us, six years ago.

�So, with sincere memories of our past members, who represent us in the church, on sea and land, and in the air, we now sing our Scout Anthem in memory of them all, past and present.�

< Previous Page