Pioneer Total Abstinence Association
Encyclopedia
The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart (or PTAA) is an Irish
organisation for Roman Catholic teetotaller
s. Its members are commonly called Pioneers. While the PTAA does not advocate prohibition
, it does require complete abstinence from alcoholic drink from its members. It also encourages devotion to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus
as an aid to resisting the temptation
of alcohol. Pioneers wear a lapel pin
called a Pioneer pin with an image of the Sacred Heart, both to advertise the organisation and to alert others not to offer them alcohol. The association publishes a monthly magazine, The Pioneer.
SJ
in response to widespread alcoholism
among Irish Catholics as the earlier temperance movement
of Father Mathew was fading from memory.. In the 20th Century, the term Pioneer became synonymous with teetotallism among Irish Catholics, and the PTAA influenced public policy. In 1923, Eoin O'Duffy
as Commissioner of the Garda Síochána
(Civic Guard) encouraged members to join the PTAA, and allowed Gardaí to wear the Pioneer pin on their uniforms, in exemption to a general ban on symbols and adornments. By 1948, the PTAA claimed 360 000 members. In 1956, a Commission of Enquiry into the licensing laws in the Republic of Ireland
was appointed by the Minister for Justice, James Everett
; the PTAA nominated one of the 22 members, John K. Clear. Clear assented to the majority report of the Commission, which favoured easing the (widely disregarded) restrictions on opening hours of public house
s introduced in 1925, although the Catholic hierarchy subsequently opposed the resulting Act
.
(typically at age eleven) are encouraged to promise, or "take the pledge", not to drink alcohol until they are at least 18 (the legal drinking age
in Ireland). The PTAA is active in this drive, and encourages teenagers, particularly in religious-run secondary schools
, to join the PTAA and "keep the pledge". In spite of these efforts, underage drinking is widespread in Ireland. In train with the growing secularization
of Irish society, membership of the association is increasingly restricted to older people
. Younger Catholics who choose not to drink alcohol are unlikely to belong to the PTAA.
The PTAA does not strive to simply stop people from drinking. It also aims to create opportunities for fun and social activities without the need for the presence of alcohol. It organises many competitions, such as table quizzes, Réadóirí (a talent competition; Réadóirí is the Irish
word for Pioneers), and sports. Local centres (parishes or schools) compete in these competitions at regional (against local parishes), diocesan, provincial and all-Ireland level. The Pioneers also run two annual seminars, one for young pioneers (13-18), and one for older Pioneers (18+).
The Association issued an appeal for funds from its website in April 2011 in an effort to prevent closure because of the organization's indebtedness.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
organisation for Roman Catholic teetotaller
Teetotalism
Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal...
s. Its members are commonly called Pioneers. While the PTAA does not advocate prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, it does require complete abstinence from alcoholic drink from its members. It also encourages devotion to the Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
as an aid to resisting the temptation
Temptation
A temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual. It is usually used to describe acts with negative connotations and as such, tends to lead a person to regret such actions, for various reasons: legal, social, psychological , health, economic, etc...
of alcohol. Pioneers wear a lapel pin
Badge
A badge is a device or fashion accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath , a sign of legitimate employment or student status, or as a simple...
called a Pioneer pin with an image of the Sacred Heart, both to advertise the organisation and to alert others not to offer them alcohol. The association publishes a monthly magazine, The Pioneer.
History
The PTAA was founded in 1898 by James CullenJames Cullen (PTAA)
Father James Cullen, SJ, , was founder of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association . He was born in New Ross and was ordained in Carlow in 1864. He founded the PTAA in 1864...
SJ
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in response to widespread alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
among Irish Catholics as the earlier temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
of Father Mathew was fading from memory.. In the 20th Century, the term Pioneer became synonymous with teetotallism among Irish Catholics, and the PTAA influenced public policy. In 1923, Eoin O'Duffy
Eoin O'Duffy
Eoin O'Duffy was in succession a Teachta Dála , the Chief of Staff of the Irish Republican Army , the second Commissioner of the Garda Síochána, leader of the Army Comrades Association and then the first leader of Fine Gael , before leading the Irish Brigade to fight for Francisco Franco during...
as Commissioner of the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
(Civic Guard) encouraged members to join the PTAA, and allowed Gardaí to wear the Pioneer pin on their uniforms, in exemption to a general ban on symbols and adornments. By 1948, the PTAA claimed 360 000 members. In 1956, a Commission of Enquiry into the licensing laws 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,...
was appointed by the Minister for Justice, James Everett
James Everett
James Everett was an Irish politician. On leaving school Everett became an organiser with County Wicklow Agricultural Union, which later merged with the ITGWU. He was a member of Sinn Féin and served as a justice in the Republican courts for Kildare and Wicklow from 1919. He was first elected to...
; the PTAA nominated one of the 22 members, John K. Clear. Clear assented to the majority report of the Commission, which favoured easing the (widely disregarded) restrictions on opening hours of public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
s introduced in 1925, although the Catholic hierarchy subsequently opposed the resulting Act
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
.
Activity
Roman Catholic children in Ireland who make their ConfirmationConfirmation (Catholic Church)
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments through which Catholics pass in the process of their religious upbringing. According to Catholic doctrine, in this sacrament they receive the Holy Spirit and become adult members of the Catholic Church....
(typically at age eleven) are encouraged to promise, or "take the pledge", not to drink alcohol until they are at least 18 (the legal drinking age
Legal drinking age
Laws about the legal drinking age cover a wide range of issues and behaviours, addressing when and where alcohol can be consumed. The minimum age alcohol can be legally consumed can be different to the age when it can be purchased. These laws vary among different countries and many laws have...
in Ireland). The PTAA is active in this drive, and encourages teenagers, particularly in religious-run secondary schools
Voluntary secondary school
A voluntary secondary school in Ireland is a type of secondary education school that is privately owned and managed, often by church authorities, especially in the case of the Roman Catholic religion...
, to join the PTAA and "keep the pledge". In spite of these efforts, underage drinking is widespread in Ireland. In train with the growing secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
of Irish society, membership of the association is increasingly restricted to older people
Senior citizen
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
. Younger Catholics who choose not to drink alcohol are unlikely to belong to the PTAA.
The PTAA does not strive to simply stop people from drinking. It also aims to create opportunities for fun and social activities without the need for the presence of alcohol. It organises many competitions, such as table quizzes, Réadóirí (a talent competition; Réadóirí is the Irish
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...
word for Pioneers), and sports. Local centres (parishes or schools) compete in these competitions at regional (against local parishes), diocesan, provincial and all-Ireland level. The Pioneers also run two annual seminars, one for young pioneers (13-18), and one for older Pioneers (18+).
The Association issued an appeal for funds from its website in April 2011 in an effort to prevent closure because of the organization's indebtedness.