Council of Irish Guiding Associations
Encyclopedia
The Council of Irish Guiding Associations (Comhairle Bantreoraithe na hÉireann in Irish
) is the national Guiding
federation of the Republic of Ireland
. Guiding in Ireland started in 1911 and became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
(WAGGGS) in 1932. The council serves 13,837 Guides (as of 2008).
(GGI) became a member of WAGGGS in 1932. About the same time, the first independent companies of Catholic Guides were founded in Ireland. When the diocese based Catholic Guide organizations formed the federation of the Catholic Girl Guides of Ireland
(CGI) in 1972, they new organization expressed the wish of joining WAGGGS. After nearly twenty years of negotiations, both organizations agreed to establish the Council of Irish Guiding Associations in 1992. The Council was recognised as a full member of WAGGGS in July 1993 during the 28th WAGGGS World Conference as continuing the membership gained by the Irish Girl Guides in 1932.
Since WAGGGS accepts only one member organization per country, members of CGI living in Northern Ireland
were no members of WAGGGS until 2008 when an agreement was signed by CGI and Girlguiding UK
on the representation of CGI members resident in Northern Ireland.
CIGA's committee consists of eight members, four for each organization. Additionally, there are four observers representing Guiding in Northern Ireland, two from CGI and two from Girlguiding Ulster
. The committees's chairmanship rotates biennially between the two organizations.
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
) is the national Guiding
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
federation of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Guiding in Ireland started in 1911 and became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
(WAGGGS) in 1932. The council serves 13,837 Guides (as of 2008).
History
The Irish Girl GuidesIrish Girl Guides
The Irish Girl Guides is a Girl Guides organisation in the Republic of Ireland.Together with the Catholic Guides of Ireland, it forms the Council of Irish Guiding Associations...
(GGI) became a member of WAGGGS in 1932. About the same time, the first independent companies of Catholic Guides were founded in Ireland. When the diocese based Catholic Guide organizations formed the federation of the Catholic Girl Guides of Ireland
Catholic Guides of Ireland
The Catholic Guides of Ireland is one of the two Guiding organisations in the Republic of Ireland. It has members in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Catholic Guides of Ireland began in 1928 and thus in 2003 celebrated 75 years of Guiding in Ireland...
(CGI) in 1972, they new organization expressed the wish of joining WAGGGS. After nearly twenty years of negotiations, both organizations agreed to establish the Council of Irish Guiding Associations in 1992. The Council was recognised as a full member of WAGGGS in July 1993 during the 28th WAGGGS World Conference as continuing the membership gained by the Irish Girl Guides in 1932.
Since WAGGGS accepts only one member organization per country, members of CGI living in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
were no members of WAGGGS until 2008 when an agreement was signed by CGI and Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would be run along similar lines to Scouting for Boys. The Guide Association was a founder member of...
on the representation of CGI members resident in Northern Ireland.
Aims
The aims of CIGA are to- enable membership of WAGGGS to be held by the Irish Girl Guides and the Catholic Guides of Ireland on behalf of their members resident in the Republic of Ireland;
- promote and further the objects of the World Association as expressed in Article 111 of the Constitution and Bye-Laws of WAGGGS;
- encourage strong dialogue and close cooperation amongst the family of Guiding in the whole of Ireland;
- facilitate participation at international events and activities
- work towards a single movement.
Structures
Members of the council are- Irish Girl GuidesIrish Girl GuidesThe Irish Girl Guides is a Girl Guides organisation in the Republic of Ireland.Together with the Catholic Guides of Ireland, it forms the Council of Irish Guiding Associations...
- Catholic Guides of IrelandCatholic Guides of IrelandThe Catholic Guides of Ireland is one of the two Guiding organisations in the Republic of Ireland. It has members in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Catholic Guides of Ireland began in 1928 and thus in 2003 celebrated 75 years of Guiding in Ireland...
CIGA's committee consists of eight members, four for each organization. Additionally, there are four observers representing Guiding in Northern Ireland, two from CGI and two from Girlguiding Ulster
Girlguiding Ulster
Girlguiding Ulster is one of the nine regions of Girlguiding UK. Its headquarters are at Lorne House, County Down. In 2006, there were approximately 500 units across Northern Ireland.In 1974, the Guides' headquarters in Belfast were burned down.-Lorne:...
. The committees's chairmanship rotates biennially between the two organizations.