NEWRY Catholic Boy Scouts would have been celebrating the 60th anniversary of their first investiture in May, 1945, if that fine, self-disciplined organisation had not ceased to exist, around 2000.

However, a group of former leading members from the First Dromore Troop, - Paddy Traynor, Joe Hughes, John Taggart, Joe Fearon, David and John McCourt along with Terry Duffy, - had a re-union in 2005, and urged that a campaign be launched to revive that historic scout troop.

A result of their efforts was that, led by grocer Brendan Gallagher and his assistant George O’Hare, a group of scouts went forward for investiture at St Mary’s Old Chapel. They included Paddy Traynor, John Taggart, Jim Boyd, John McKnight, Eric Anderson, Austin Fitzpatrick, Gerry Boyle, Michael and Pat O’Keefe, Tommy Carlin, Harry Gallagher, Noel Hanna, Eddie Goodman and Jim Treanor.

Those also invested in 1945 included Teave Carroll, Noel and Arthur Morgan, Tommy Price, Liam Boyle, Colman and Jarlath Cushenan, Raymond Murtagh, `Pa’ Holywood, Martin Burns, Dessie Carlin and Tom Busby.

First quarters were the ARP First Aid Centre, and later the Town Hall, Parochial House; rear of the Labour Exchange on Hill Street; River Street; the St John Bosco Boys Club; Wolfe Tone Hall in Francis Street; Boat Street, Custom House Avenue and Home Avenue. The first chaplain was Fr Jim Boyd, also founder of the St John Bosco Boys Club at Kilmorey Street, and Spiritual Director of the Holy Family Confraternity.

Annual camps and jamborees were eagerly-awaited, beginning with the Alexian Brothers in Warrenpoint; Mourne Park at Kilkeel and Dromantine College, later south of the border to Castlebellingham, Navan, Lusk, Rathfarnham and Lismore. Each brought a sense of adventure, and esprit de corps, mixing with scouts from the rest of Ireland, also entailing a sense of self-discipline and self-reliance.

Charles Brackenbury, violinist, and later printer with the Newry Telegraph, described how, while at annual camp, he and his colleagues “had to depend on our own skills, both individually and in patrols, having to erect tents for sleeping and cooking, etc, as well as an intricate wooden fence around the perimeter.

“The most significant kitchen development was the biscuit tin oven, in which an ordinary biscuit tin was placed on bars above a fire-pit, covered on top, back and sides with soil. Roast chicken or meat, as well as cakes, were a regular feature of the camp menu.

“As an ex-scout, my mind goes back to many good times at camp. Late at night, the camp-fire begins to go down, but still strong enough to light and warm the circle around it. And the feeling of freedom, as I lay on a ground-sheet, gazing up into a clear, star-lit sky. The smell of burning wood, wet grass and over-hanging trees, - all go into the magic box of scouting memories.

“And I also remember well when, as darkness crept through the sky, giving extra warmth and beauty to the camp-fire scene, evening prayers would be said, before the boys turned in for the night. All would join in singing; `Day is done; gone the sun from land, sea and sky. All is well; safely rest.”

A memorable annual camp was held at Lismore, Co Waterford in 1967, attended by over 3,000, when the Newry scouts were allocated a site behind an ancient castle. They set up the tents with such precision that they won a certificate for `Camping merit.` One participant recalled how “it was not long before the pleasant smell of newly-cooked pancakes was wafting from David McCourt’s kitchen. Benny Crawley represented Ulster at the closing ceremonies, then we climbed on the bus for the long journey home.”

The scouting personnel expanded to include such personalities as Joe Hughes (Newry Credit Union); David McCourt (construction); Joe Fearon (bank employee); Rowan Hand and his brothers Ignatius and Rory, Bobby Traynor, architect; Charles Brackenberry (printer): Maurice Murphy (chemist); Malachy Delauhunt (school principal); George Hughes (bill-poster), Gerry Pagni (ice-cream café); Bobby Fegan (Norbrook); Joe Warwick (baker); Jim Sullivan, whose father had a pub in Canal Street; Colman Reilly (Australia), Terry Duffy, David Rice, Raymond McCann, Joe and Richard McFerran; Jim O’Hare, Pat Campbell, Dessie Carson; Peter Connolly, Jim McCourt, Dessie Clarke and Michael McKevitt.

A public appeal at that time stated: “The scouting organisation in Newry could utilise the help of more adults, who are prepared to help out in the programme, which Baden Powell had initiated on Brownses Isle. We are always on the look-out for responsible people, who will undertake this worthwhile task.”

Another former Newry boy scout, now a versatile media personality, Rowan Hand also has memories of those “days of innocence, as though it was only yesterday. There was always a wish to be in the scouts; the wait until the right age, as there were no Cubs, 50 years ago. Then to be admitted, the tests, and the investiture in the `Old Chapel.` Later, we paraded to Mass in the cathedral from Mary Street, where Scoutmaster Teave Carroll lived.

“Scouting was great in those innocent days. I discovered to how to cook; and many’s the stew was created in the hedgerows around Killeavy and Benson’s Glen. First Aid was on the menu as well, involving triangular bandages and `firemen’s lifts`; and we knew how to take injured colleagues and strangers down from the hills.

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