Guiding the proto-feminists of the modern Irish Girl Guides

The modern Irish Girl Guide is a feminist who not only learns lessons but also takes action

Until recently, when I thought of Girl Guides I thought of campfires, weird uniforms, learning to tie knots and singing peculiar songs with unfathomable lyrics (‘ging gang goolie’ anyone?). My own darling daughters never expressed any interest in joining a local patrol and so I presumed that Guiding was most likely stuck back in the 1970s in an Enid Blyton world of chumminess and jolly hockey sticks. I am thoroughly ashamed to admit I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I recently met with the leaders and some of the girl guides from a patrol in Dundrum in Dublin and was amazed and really delighted to learn that not only are the Irish Girl Guides alive and kicking but they are very much on top of many of the issues that affect our girls today. Yes, there are still campfires and Girl Guides still achieve ‘badges’ which are sewn onto sashes worn over their uniform sweatshirts but the modern Irish Girl Guide is a feminist who not only learns about but also takes action on issues such as climate change, gender equality and body confidence.