Macaoimh
Encyclopedia
Cub Scouts or Macaoimh (ˈmakiːvʲ) is the name given to youth members Scouting Ireland
and previously Scouting Ireland (CSI)
, of the Cub Scout
age group. The terms Macaoimh and Cub are often co-existent though Macaoimh represents a different tradition. Both boys and girls participate in the Macaoimh programme though some Scout Groups accept boys only. Its membership is the largest of the four Scouting Ireland
Sections. The Macaoimh programme is part of the worldwide Scouting
movement and aims to promote character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.
Mythology
. A number of clans who meet together is called a Macaoimh "cath" (Irish
for Tribe). Each clan has a rí
(Irish
for King) which is equivalent to a sixer or denner in Cub Scouts who adopts a position of responsibity for the clan. Each rí is assisted by an aire (Irish
for Helper). Often an Árd Rí (Irish
for High King) is appointed to supervise the operation of the clan system. The methodology is consistent with the Scout method
as prescribed by the World Organization of the Scout Movement
and is firmly in the tradition of Baden-Powell
. The small groups have a clearly defined leadership system and the emphasis is certainly on learning by doing.
to determine how far along in the programme the Macaoimh is. The three stages are bronze
(one arrow), silver
(two arrows) and gold
(three arrows).
, Cúchulainn
. The titles are similar to Akela
and help to surround the youth members with the national folklore
and an environment of role play that is unique to Scouting and to Scouting in Ireland in particular. Baden-Powell
chose Kipling's Jungle Book as a source of symbolism and allegorical framework for the youngest members of the Scouting movement and Macaoimh follows in his footsteps by putting this educational tool into an Irish context.
Scouting Ireland
Scouting Ireland is the World Organization of the Scout Movement-recognised Scouting association in the Republic of Ireland, although it also has Scout Groups in Northern Ireland. Scouting Ireland is a voluntary, non-formal educational movement for young people...
and previously Scouting Ireland (CSI)
Scouting Ireland (CSI)
Scouting Ireland was a WOSM affiliated National Scout Organisation in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland from 1927 to December 31, 2003. It has since merged with Scouting Ireland S.A.I. to form Scouting Ireland...
, of the Cub Scout
Cub Scout
A Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
age group. The terms Macaoimh and Cub are often co-existent though Macaoimh represents a different tradition. Both boys and girls participate in the Macaoimh programme though some Scout Groups accept boys only. Its membership is the largest of the four Scouting Ireland
Scouting Ireland
Scouting Ireland is the World Organization of the Scout Movement-recognised Scouting association in the Republic of Ireland, although it also has Scout Groups in Northern Ireland. Scouting Ireland is a voluntary, non-formal educational movement for young people...
Sections. The Macaoimh programme is part of the worldwide Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
movement and aims to promote character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.
Methodology
Macaoimh are arranged into clans, each named for a character in GaelicGaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
Mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
. A number of clans who meet together is called a Macaoimh "cath" (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...
for Tribe). Each clan has a rí
Rí
Rí, or very commonly ríg , is an ancient Gaelic word meaning "King". It is used in historical texts referring to the Irish and Scottish kings and those of similar rank. While the modern Irish word is exactly the same, in modern Scottish it is Rìgh, apparently derived from the genitive. The word...
(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...
for King) which is equivalent to a sixer or denner in Cub Scouts who adopts a position of responsibity for the clan. Each rí is assisted by an aire (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...
for Helper). Often an Árd Rí (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...
for High King) is appointed to supervise the operation of the clan system. The methodology is consistent with the Scout method
Scout method
The Scout method is the informal educational system used by Scouting. The aim of Scouting is character training with the goal of helping participants become independent and helpful,and thereby become "healthy, happy, helpful citizens"....
as prescribed by the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
and is firmly in the tradition of Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
. The small groups have a clearly defined leadership system and the emphasis is certainly on learning by doing.
Personal Progression
The personal progressive scheme takes the form of badges which use a certain number of arrowsArrows
Arrows Grand Prix International was a British Formula One team active from to . For a period of time, it was also known as Footwork.-Origins :...
to determine how far along in the programme the Macaoimh is. The three stages are bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
(one arrow), silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
(two arrows) and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
(three arrows).
Leadership
Leaders also adopt a persona, eg Fionn, NiamhNiamh
In Irish mythology, Niamh is the daughter of Manannán mac Lir. She is one of the Queens of Tir na nÓg, and might also be the daughter of Fand....
, Cúchulainn
Cúchulainn
Cú Chulainn or Cúchulainn , and sometimes known in English as Cuhullin , is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore...
. The titles are similar to Akela
Akela (Scouting)
The Scouting program has used themes from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling since 1916.In 1914 Baden Powell announced a Junior Section for Scouting. In 1916, he published his own outlines for such a scheme, it was to be called Wolf Cubbing. It has been speculated that Baden-Powell may have had a...
and help to surround the youth members with the national folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
and an environment of role play that is unique to Scouting and to Scouting in Ireland in particular. Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
chose Kipling's Jungle Book as a source of symbolism and allegorical framework for the youngest members of the Scouting movement and Macaoimh follows in his footsteps by putting this educational tool into an Irish context.