Captain Woolley – Foundation of the Galway Sea Scouts

In March 1932, the first investiture of the Port of Galway Sea Scouts took place at the Town Hall in Woodquay. The scouts owe their origin to Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell. He was a British army officer, writer, founder and first Chief Scout of the worldwide scouting movement. The organisation was triggered following the publication of his book, Scouting for Boys in 1908.

Scouting Groups began forming spontaneously throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Baden-Powell soon realised that there was also a great interest in extending the movement to include sea scouts. Thus, the Sea Scouts were officially recognised in 1910. He wrote the first introductory pamphlet entitled, Sea Scouting for Boys. His brother Warrington, then a well-known yachtsman, later wrote a handbook entitled, Sea Scouting and Seamanship for Boys, which he published in 1912. The first Irish Sea Scout Groups were registered in 1912 at Ringsend under the name, 1^st Port of Dublin and Bray.

Following the investiture in the Town Hall, there were eight scouts in both the Port Watch and Starboard Watch. Among them were Frank Kelly, Walter Macken, Ronnie Grealish, Jimmy Reid, Sean O’Neill, Desmond Glennon, Paddy Joyce, Walter Broderick, Sean O’Beirne, Donald O’Donovan, Louis Kelly, Billy Dwyer, John McDonald and Michael Delaney. Tom Coogan was first mate and a Mr. Moran was second mate. The Galway Sea Scouts formed a guard of honour at the high altar in Phoenix Park, Dublin, during the Eucharistic Congress during that same year.

Captain William Woolley arrived in Galway in 1930 after spending many years as a Master Mariner in the Merchant Navy. He began teaching Navigation, Seamanship and Mathematics after joining the staff of the Galway Technical School. There was an immediate interest in his classes and he soon founded the first Port of Galway Sea Scouts. This was in 1932, and he was assisted by Harry Warner, a teacher at St. Joseph’s (Bish) Secondary School. This man was also the Area Boy Scout Commissioner. Later that same year their first boat, St Nicholas, arrived from Liverpool on board the SS Moyalla. After the war broke out in 1939, it became almost impossible to charter ships that normally carried cargo between Ireland and England. The government formed Irish Shipping Limited to try and build up a fleet. Second-hand ships were acquired and many of these were manned by the Sea Scouts. Most of these seamen, cadets, and deck and engine-room officers were former students of Captain Woolley. Other members of his group served with the Merchant Navy in the very dangerous convoys that were the main targets of German U-Boats. Despite the war, Captain Woolley continued to train the Sea Scouts. Their base was located near the Galway docks. Under the supervision of Woolley, the scouts built a twenty-six-foot Bermuda-rigged yacht, Eachtra. This boat was built in the fish-curing store of the Ruane Brothers at Spanish Parade.

Padraig McDonagh kept a written record of the fees between 1939 and 1948. This Subscription Record book is in the ownership of his daughter, Anna, who kindly allowed me access to the manuscript. It records the names and the weekly subscriptions of three old pence. In April 1949, Patrick Conneely and Michael Folan paid £4 each for their uniforms. Captain William Woolley returned to sea for a time during the 1960s, acting as relief Master on the Aran ferry, Naomh Eanna and the MV Menapia of the Wexford Steamship Company

One of the men who trained under Captain Woolley was Eamon (Edward) McDonagh from Bohermore. He is in the first photograph; although they look older, they are only about sixteen or seventeen years of age. Eamon went on to serve in the Merchant Navy and kept an incredible record in seamanship, as did all of Captain Woolley’s students. He was discharged in 1958 and became the skipper of his own boat a short time later. His son, Christy, also holds a Skipper’s Licence. Captain Woolley died on 17 March 1978, leaving a wonderful legacy to Galway. The spirit of adventure is a driving force behind the scouting movement. The Sea Scouts encourage responsible and leadership and teach crucial values for life-time challenges.