Irish Girl Guides
Encyclopedia
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
. Whereas the Catholic Guides are an all-Ireland body, the Irish Girl Guides are not organised in Northern Ireland
, where Girlguiding Ulster
, the branch of Girlguiding UK
, operates instead.
in Dorset in 1907 at which the boys were divided into patrols and trained to be self-reliant.
The first big rally for Scouts was held at Crystal Palace
outside London in 1909. At this there were 10,000 boys as well as some girls who dressed in a uniform and called themselves "Girl Scouts".
In 1910 Girl Guides were officially formed with the founder's sister, Agnes Baden-Powell
, in charge. A syllabus for girls was drawn up for their training similar to that for the Scouts.
Only a year after the Girl Guide Movement was founded the first official company in Ireland was formed, in 1911 in Harolds Cross
. Guiding quickly spread to Cork and Wicklow. At this time there was no border between North and South so Guiding was run as one organisation for all Ireland.
In 1929 Ireland was partitioned into the Irish Free State (26 counties) and Northern Ireland (6 counties) and a separate organisation for the Free State was created from the whole, the Irish Free State Girl Guides.
Ireland became a separate member of WAGGGS
in 1932.
In 1938 the name of the organisation was changed to the Irish Girl Guides
In July 1993 at the 28th World Conference in Denmark, the Council of Irish Guiding Associations was ratified as a full member of WAGGGS. The Council of Irish Guiding Associations consists of The Irish Girl Guides and the Catholic Guides of Ireland on behalf of their members in the Republic of Ireland.
The World Conference was held in Dublin in July 1999. An International Guide Camp known as "Solas
" was held in Charleville, Co. Cork in July 2002. Another International Camp known as "Campa Le Cheile" was held in Tattersalls, Co.Meath in July 2007.
Ladybirds meetings are described as
"Every week at our meetings we take part in activities which include games, songs and crafts. We follow a programme which helps us to become more independent, discover the outdoor world and learn about the family of Guiding to which we belong.
We have lots of fun and make loads of new friends."
The Ladybird Guide Unit is led by a Guider called Coccinella and she is assisted by other Guiders called Rainbow, Adalia, Calvia or Thea. The maximum number of girls in a unit is 24 and we meet for one hour a week.
Girls aged 5 – 7+ are introduced to the principles of Guiding by encouraging them to share, to help others, to learn about teamwork, to enjoy nature, etc.
Learning to grow in independence
Activities, including songs and games
Dainty red sweatshirt with Ladybird Guide logo
Yes, it's great fun
Busy and bright and sometimes quiet
Is for the family of Guiding to which we all belong
Ready to help with a smile
Discover the world
To be enrolled, a Ladybird Guide must know her:
name, address, telephone number, birthday, Ladybird Story, Ladybird Guide Song, Promise, Motto and Vespers87.
Each Ladybird is given a workbook for her first year and a Ladybird Guide Spot Pack for her second year.
When the Ladybird Guide moves through Brownie Guides and then to Guides she will develop these principles as she progresses.
Most Brownie Packs meet every week, during term time. Brownie Guides have fun while learning to help others, enjoying the outdoors, playing games, doing crafts, working for awards and badges and singing, etc. etc. As well as the weekly meeting there may also be special outings and activities.
Sometimes at a Brownie meeting there is a Pow Wow when the Brownies make plans. For most Brownie Packs the highlight of the year is a Pack Holiday
The Pack is made up of Sixes - a group of usually 6 friends who play and do things together or with other Sixes in the Pack. Each Six has a Sixer and a Seconder who help to run the Six. The Sixes have special names such as Pixies, Elves, Gnomes, Little People etc.
All Brownies wear uniform to show that they are members of The Irish Girl Guides. In other countries Brownies wear uniforms too - some rather like ours and some very different.
There are heaps of opportunities to earn badges for your favourite pastime and activities range from camping & adventure sports to sleep overs and pyjama hikes.
There is a huge international dimension to being a Guide, and girls have many opportunities to go on trips abroad to various camps and events. They also have the opportunity to participate in home hospitality in foreign countries where they can really get to know the culture and way of life in that country. Many foreign groups visit us here in Ireland as well.
The Guiding programme gives the Guides an all round education and development.
When a Guide reaches 14.5 years of age she is eligible to attend Senior Branch events, follow the Senior Branch programme within her Guide Company (as a senior patrol or on her own) and she can be registered at National Office to be put on the mailing list for the Welly and Trefoil News. By the time she finishes Guides the natural progression will be to join a Ranger unit, become a Young Leader or both depending on the choices available to her locally.
Ranger Guides range in age from 14.5 to 21 years. Becoming a Ranger Guide is often the natural progression after Brownies and Guides, however girls who have never been involved in Guiding are also welcome. The aim of Ranger Guides is to enable the individual to work towards her full potential as an adult, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Ranger Guides organise activities and events that are of interest to them and with the help of a leader they are encouraged to be independent and self-sufficient and overall to enjoy themselves.
Young Leaders range in age from 15 to 19 years. Becoming a Young Leader is often the natural progression after Brownies and Guides, however girls who have never been involved in Guiding are also welcome. The Young Leader section is for girls who have a particular attraction to leadership and the aim of Young Leaders is to provide the opportunity to work with Ladybird Guide, Brownie Guide and Guide units thereby developing leadership skills which will stand to them wherever life takes them. The secondary aim is to provide active, experienced and enthusiastic young Guiders for the Irish Girl Guides. As well as giving service and commitment to Guiding as a Young Leader all the opportunities of fun, friendship and adventure that Senior Branch has to offer are available to her.
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...
organisation in 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,...
.
Together with the Catholic 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...
, it forms the Council of Irish Guiding Associations
Council of Irish Guiding Associations
The Council of Irish Guiding Associations 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 in 1932...
. Whereas the Catholic Guides are an all-Ireland body, the Irish Girl Guides are not organised 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...
, where 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 branch of 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...
, operates instead.
History
As a soldier, the Founder of Scouting and Guiding, Robert Baden Powell discovered that boys could be trained and used to help in emergencies. He held an experimental camp at Brownsea IslandBrownsea Island
Brownsea Island is the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour in the county of Dorset, England. The island is owned by the National Trust. Much of the island is open to the public and includes areas of woodland and heath with a wide variety of wildlife, together with cliff top views across Poole...
in Dorset in 1907 at which the boys were divided into patrols and trained to be self-reliant.
The first big rally for Scouts was held at Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
outside London in 1909. At this there were 10,000 boys as well as some girls who dressed in a uniform and called themselves "Girl Scouts".
In 1910 Girl Guides were officially formed with the founder's sister, Agnes Baden-Powell
Agnes Baden-Powell
Agnes Smyth Baden-Powell was the younger sister of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, and was most noted for her work in establishing the Girl Guide movement as a female counterpart to her older brother's Scouting Movement.-Early life:Agnes was the ninth of ten children, and the third...
, in charge. A syllabus for girls was drawn up for their training similar to that for the Scouts.
Only a year after the Girl Guide Movement was founded the first official company in Ireland was formed, in 1911 in Harolds Cross
Harolds Cross
Harold's Cross is an urban village and inner suburb on the south side of Dublin, Ireland.- Location :Harold's Cross is situated north of Terenure and Rathgar, west of Rathmines, east of Crumlin and Kimmage, and directly south from the Grand Canal at Clanbrassil Street...
. Guiding quickly spread to Cork and Wicklow. At this time there was no border between North and South so Guiding was run as one organisation for all Ireland.
In 1929 Ireland was partitioned into the Irish Free State (26 counties) and Northern Ireland (6 counties) and a separate organisation for the Free State was created from the whole, the Irish Free State Girl Guides.
Ireland became a separate member of WAGGGS
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...
in 1932.
In 1938 the name of the organisation was changed to the Irish Girl Guides
In July 1993 at the 28th World Conference in Denmark, the Council of Irish Guiding Associations was ratified as a full member of WAGGGS. The Council of Irish Guiding Associations consists of The Irish Girl Guides and the Catholic Guides of Ireland on behalf of their members in the Republic of Ireland.
The World Conference was held in Dublin in July 1999. An International Guide Camp known as "Solas
Solas
Solas is an Irish-American musical group formed in 1994, playing Irish traditional music as well as original compositions, sometimes demonstrating an inclination towards Country music in recent albums....
" was held in Charleville, Co. Cork in July 2002. Another International Camp known as "Campa Le Cheile" was held in Tattersalls, Co.Meath in July 2007.
Age groups
The Irish Girl Guides is divided into the following age groups:- Ladybird Guides - aged 5 – 7 years
- Brownie Guides - aged 6½ – 10 years
- Guides - aged 10½ – 14½ years
- Young Leaders - aged 14½ - 18 years
- Senior Branch - aged 14½ – 26 years
Uniform
- The Ladybird Guides uniform is a red Jumper, navy sash, navy neckerchief and woggle.
- The Brownie Guides uniform is a yellow Jumper, navy sash, navy neckerchief and woggle.
- The Guides uniform is a t-shirt, hoodie, patterned neckerchief and bag. There is a choice of a blue t-shirt with pink stripe on either side or pink t-shirt with blue stripe on either side. The neckerchief is white with blue and pink celtic knots. There is a choice of pink or blue shoulder bag for badges.
- The Senior Branch uniform is navy with green lining and green logo in a t-shirt and hoodie, and a pink neckerchief.
- Leaders can wear a fitted v-neck t-shirt or polo shirt or long/short sleeved blouse with purple logo. Leaders wear either navy sleeveless fleece, or navy full long zipped fleece or violet half-zipped microfleece with purple logo. Leaders wear a purple neckerchief.
Ladybirds
Ladybird Guides are aged 5 –7.Ladybirds meetings are described as
"Every week at our meetings we take part in activities which include games, songs and crafts. We follow a programme which helps us to become more independent, discover the outdoor world and learn about the family of Guiding to which we belong.
We have lots of fun and make loads of new friends."
The Ladybird Guide Unit is led by a Guider called Coccinella and she is assisted by other Guiders called Rainbow, Adalia, Calvia or Thea. The maximum number of girls in a unit is 24 and we meet for one hour a week.
Girls aged 5 – 7+ are introduced to the principles of Guiding by encouraging them to share, to help others, to learn about teamwork, to enjoy nature, etc.
- Our Motto: Ladybird Guides care and share
- Our Aims:
Learning to grow in independence
Activities, including songs and games
Dainty red sweatshirt with Ladybird Guide logo
Yes, it's great fun
Busy and bright and sometimes quiet
Is for the family of Guiding to which we all belong
Ready to help with a smile
Discover the world
To be enrolled, a Ladybird Guide must know her:
name, address, telephone number, birthday, Ladybird Story, Ladybird Guide Song, Promise, Motto and Vespers87.
Each Ladybird is given a workbook for her first year and a Ladybird Guide Spot Pack for her second year.
When the Ladybird Guide moves through Brownie Guides and then to Guides she will develop these principles as she progresses.
Brownies
Brownie Guides are aged between 61/2 and 11. They are junior members of the Irish Girl Guides.- Our motto: Lend A Hand
Most Brownie Packs meet every week, during term time. Brownie Guides have fun while learning to help others, enjoying the outdoors, playing games, doing crafts, working for awards and badges and singing, etc. etc. As well as the weekly meeting there may also be special outings and activities.
Sometimes at a Brownie meeting there is a Pow Wow when the Brownies make plans. For most Brownie Packs the highlight of the year is a Pack Holiday
The Pack is made up of Sixes - a group of usually 6 friends who play and do things together or with other Sixes in the Pack. Each Six has a Sixer and a Seconder who help to run the Six. The Sixes have special names such as Pixies, Elves, Gnomes, Little People etc.
All Brownies wear uniform to show that they are members of The Irish Girl Guides. In other countries Brownies wear uniforms too - some rather like ours and some very different.
Guides
Guides, aged 10.5 to 15 years, not only enjoy active weekly meetings, but also have the challenge of surviving in the outdoors without their parents!There are heaps of opportunities to earn badges for your favourite pastime and activities range from camping & adventure sports to sleep overs and pyjama hikes.
There is a huge international dimension to being a Guide, and girls have many opportunities to go on trips abroad to various camps and events. They also have the opportunity to participate in home hospitality in foreign countries where they can really get to know the culture and way of life in that country. Many foreign groups visit us here in Ireland as well.
The Guiding programme gives the Guides an all round education and development.
Senior Branch
The Senior Branch of IGG covers the age grouping 14.5 to 21 years of age. This branch incorporates:- older Guides, Ranger Guides, Young Leaders and Young Guiders. Guiding has something important and valuable to offer these young women which can help them to be tomorrow’s leaders in Guiding and wherever else life takes them. Senior Branch offers them the opportunity to experience adventure, enjoy international events, develop self-confidence and grow in independence.- OLDER GUIDES:
When a Guide reaches 14.5 years of age she is eligible to attend Senior Branch events, follow the Senior Branch programme within her Guide Company (as a senior patrol or on her own) and she can be registered at National Office to be put on the mailing list for the Welly and Trefoil News. By the time she finishes Guides the natural progression will be to join a Ranger unit, become a Young Leader or both depending on the choices available to her locally.
- RANGER GUIDES:
Ranger Guides range in age from 14.5 to 21 years. Becoming a Ranger Guide is often the natural progression after Brownies and Guides, however girls who have never been involved in Guiding are also welcome. The aim of Ranger Guides is to enable the individual to work towards her full potential as an adult, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Ranger Guides organise activities and events that are of interest to them and with the help of a leader they are encouraged to be independent and self-sufficient and overall to enjoy themselves.
- YOUNG LEADERS:
Young Leaders range in age from 15 to 19 years. Becoming a Young Leader is often the natural progression after Brownies and Guides, however girls who have never been involved in Guiding are also welcome. The Young Leader section is for girls who have a particular attraction to leadership and the aim of Young Leaders is to provide the opportunity to work with Ladybird Guide, Brownie Guide and Guide units thereby developing leadership skills which will stand to them wherever life takes them. The secondary aim is to provide active, experienced and enthusiastic young Guiders for the Irish Girl Guides. As well as giving service and commitment to Guiding as a Young Leader all the opportunities of fun, friendship and adventure that Senior Branch has to offer are available to her.