Girl Guides from Waterford take over Thurles!

Stradbally guides with Irish Girl Guide President, Maureen Dillon.

Over 243 Ladybirds, Brownies, Guides, Senior Branch Members and Leaders from Waterford travelled to Thurles, Co, Tipperary on Saturday the 7th of May 2011 for the Irish Girl Guides' huge fun day which saw over 6,200 members gather to celebrate 100 years of our organisation. The main organiser of the day was Jenny Power, a volunteer Leader from Dungarvan, who has extremely worked hard on this huge event for long time. Also present was Regional Commissioner, Rosemary O'Driscoll, also from Dungarvan.

The day was started by our Gold Award Ceremony where 78 teenage girls, including the following 4 girls from Stradbally, Co. Waterford - Danielle Crowley, Lynn Crowley, Jodie Carberry and Angela Flynn, each of whom received the prestigious Gold Award, the highest achievement that a Guide can attain. They later led the Members' Parade, being given the great honour of kicking off our centenary celebrations, in recognition of the dedication and commitment required to achieve the Gold Award.

Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Minister for Children & Youth Affairs officially opened the day. She said "this is a wonderful, historic, colourful day for you all. It is amazing to see so many young people, young leaders and people who are simply young in spirit! The organisation has an incredible role to play in supporting the young people of this country; helping them to develop to their fullest potential as they are our greatest natural resource.”

For the rest of the day the girls broke into their different age groups to try activities such as Drumming, Circus Skills, Dancing, Animal Roadshows, Science Workshops, along with having time to enjoy the free flow area which included large scale inflatables, Helter Skelter, Carousel, giant paint by numbers and street entertainers. Mixed in amongst the fun activities were various opportunities to give back to the community (an important principle of Guiding) by contributing to the centenary charity fund which will benefit Barnardos and the Global Girls Fund. The excitement of the day was plain to see in the face of every happy girl.

As the day came to a close, there was a presentation of 30 year service pins to many dedicated Leaders by IGG's President Maureen Dillon, Chief Commissioner Emer O'Sullivan and special guest Mary McPhail, Chief Executive of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

30 years of service to the community is an immense testament to these Leaders' dedication and commitment. This is especially significant in this, our centenary year, as 2011 has also been designated the European Year of Volunteering.