Betty Barry was nominated by the Dodder Youth Service to receive an award from Conascadh Naisiunta Na nOg for her outstanding achievement. Betty has dedicated thirty years of her life as a volunteer in the Catholic Girl Guides.

She joined the guides when she was 10 years old. At sixteen she became a leader in the organisation and has remained dedicated to the aims and traditions of the guides ever since.

Betty says that some of the girls who are leaders now were with her as brigins, and she also has girls in the brigins whose mothers and aunts were members of her troop.

She was surprised and honoured to hear of her nomination for the award. Betty hopes the publicity she and the guides receive will encourage other girls to join the guides. She said they have the capacity to cater for more young people in the Ringsend troop.

The mission statement of the CGI is to provide a challenging programme within a safe environment to enable all girls and young women to develop their full potential.

Gone are the days of the drab brown uniform. Guides today wear tracksuit bottoms and sweat shirts of various colours denoting their rank and coloured neckerchiefs that denote their troop or company.

The guides are divided in up to five sections catering for girls from five or six year olds up. The younger girls are called cygnets and they meet in the CYMS on Irishtown Road each Saturday between the hours of 1.45 and 3pm.

The next stage is called brigin, after St Bridget, catering for the age group of 6 to 11 who meet in the CYMS between 2.30 and 4.00pm, also on Saturdays. The older girls are guides and meet on Friday night at 6.30.

The girls have the choice at sixteen to join the rangers, who are a more adventurous group or they can train as leaders.

This year has been a hectic and exciting year for CGI as it celebrated its 75th anniversary. Girls took part in visits to the zoo, pantomime, jamborees and campfire singalongs and quiz nights. They also attended services of celebration that were held through the country. This was in addition to the regular hikes, camps, nature trips and regular outings and fun things which the girls love to take part in.