FERMOY MAN ELECTED AS HEAD SCOUT
A Fermoy local has been re-elected to the highest position in Irish Scouting after decades of service to the organisation. Michael John Shinnick, operations manager at Micro-Bio, this week told The Avondhu of his immense pride at being elected to the role of chief scout of Scouting Ireland.
“I am very proud, honoured really,” Mr Shinnick said, “It is something you wouldn’t have dreamt of. You just get involved in something like the scouts, take up various roles within the organisation. Then, at some stage people come to you and tell you to put your name forward, that you have their support. I am very proud.”
Mr Shinnick first got involved in the scouts as a teenager in the late sixties and now finds himself the head of the largest youth organisation in the island of Ireland.
Spanning the 32 counties, Scouting Ireland has over 35,000 members, 30,000 of which are youths. Amongst his many duties, Mr Shinnick will chair a national management committee of twenty people and will oversee 450 communities in six scouting provinces.
Mr Shinnick was elected at the National Council elections, the largest the scouting organisation has ever held in Ireland, where he won over 400 votes from the 670 people in attendance.
Fermoy town councillor, John Murphy, a first cousin of Mr Shinnick, congratulated him on the significance of this elevation.
“I would like to congratulate him on his achievement, a great personal achievement and for the town of Fermoy. It is fully deserved following years of 100% dedication to the scouts,” Cllr Murphy said.
Published:
Thursday 16th April 6:53pm
