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At Orbit 2025, the Trefoil Guilds are centre stage, and their members are about reliving, re-engaging, and reaching across generations.
Sharing Guiding across Generations at Orbit 2025
When our members were asked over a year ago if they wanted to get involved in Orbit 2025, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Trefoil Guild members have great memories of Camps: local, National, and international.
A sub-committee led by Margery Godinho was formed, and the group set to work designing a meaningful contribution to the Camp.
The result? An activity space focused on traditional camping skills, a nod to our own memories as Guides and Leaders.
From gadget-making to campfire singing, we are ready to share the joy and knowledge we have gained from years of experience.
Members have been collecting wood on walks in preparation for the gadget activity. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will move indoors for a spontaneous campfire singalong complete with stories, songs, and smiles.
Members have been collecting wood on walks in preparation for the gadget activity. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will move indoors for a spontaneous campfire singalong complete with stories, songs, and smiles.
Some Trefoil Guild members will stay on-site overnight, while others will travel from across the county for one or more days.
We have also been invited to share our Guiding stories with today’s girls and Leaders, and we are thrilled to do so.
We have all been busy digging out old photos, previous uniform items, and other memorabilia, which will be on display indoors alongside information about the Trefoil Guild’s activities and our international opportunities.
“Most importantly, we want to share our love of Guiding with the present-day members and Leaders. You never know, we might even recruit some new members!” – Sally Smith, Trefoil Guild Chair
A history of Guiding in Camps: reflections from Margaret Dunne
Margaret Dunne has attended numerous international and National Camps over the years, always in a variety of roles. Here are just a few highlights from her incredible Guiding journey:
- 1961 – Blarney: Camped as MO alongside Elaine O’Donovan (CO), one of her earliest international Camp experiences.
- 1971 – Curragh Camp: Welcomed the Jubilee Trail, an international group of Leaders travelling around Ireland.
- 1980 – ‘Emo 80’, Co. Laois: A proud moment as the Kildare Area attended with their own Camp group for the first time.
- 1986 – ‘Siamsa Ballyfin’, Co. Laois: A memorable Camp that ended just as Hurricane Charlie struck! Clearing up as the storm hit is a story that’s never been forgotten.
- 1991 – Mellary Camp: Serving as treasurer, Margaret recalls torrential rain as the most vivid memory.
- 1996 – ‘Campa Cairde’, Ballyfin: Attended some days before flying to Canada for the World Conference, where Ireland successfully bid to host the next one.
- 2002 – ‘Solas’, Charleville: Worked in transport and logistics, a familiar and important role across many years.
- 2007 – ‘Campa le Chéile’, Tattersalls, Meath: Once again in charge of transport.
- 2012 – ‘Camp 101’, Lough Key: Continued her transport leadership role.
- 2017 – ‘IGGNITE, Rockwell College, Tipperary: This time helped out in the Camp supermarket, another side of the Camp experience.
“I could go on and on about the pleasures of attending large Camps, whether with a group of Guides or being part of the central staff.” – Margaret Dunne
Tents, storms, and stories: Camp memories from Margery Godinho
Margery Godinho, Leader of the Trefoil Guild’s Orbit 2025 Committee, shares some of her most vivid (and often hilarious) memories from decades of Camps.
- Curragh Camp, 1971: Just 19 years old and fresh from earning her Camper’s License, Margery was asked to be CO of a large subgroup: 40 people total! With borrowed army marquees (and soldiers nearby to keep an eye on them), the experience was a big learning curve. “Nice young soldiers were quite popular with the older Guides!” she added.
One of the activities was a hike across the Curragh to the Japanese Gardens, and she also taught lanyard making to lots of Guides.
- Kilruddery, 1975: By this time Margery was a lot more experienced, but this Camp didn’t run so smoothly. The weather was mixed and quite windy. Their marquee was blown down twice before a wise Leader, Kitty Richardson, saved the day by triple-pegging the guy ropes.
Unfortunately, a “vomiting bug” spread through Camp, with some Guides ending up in IGG head office in Dublin for care. Despite the stress, the girls had a great time, and one even recognised Margery years later to thank her for the experience: “She mentioned that Camp as one of her best experiences!”
- Emo ‘80, Emo Court: A scenic location closed to the woods and with a lake for canoeing and other water activities, but not without drama.
An intruder damaged tents (not the army’s marquees though!), prompting a soldier to use his tracking skills and established that the intruder had come through the woods. He booby trapped a tent, wrapping brambles around the guy ropes and sat up all night to see if he could catch the man, but no luck.
The story lives on… Excitement for the Guides!
- Melleray, 1991: Now with five children, Margery decided that the best way she could assist with this Camp was to run a creche for other Leaders’ children, using her own as the nucleus.
The weather was wet and the site turned muddy, but she still remembers the excellent catering and the Camp’s strong sense of community.
“I had huge admiration for the Leaders who managed to produce amazing meals including pizza,” she said.
- Solas, 2002: As QM for a group near Charleville, North Cork, she hosted a contingent of US Girl Scouts. Expecting high-maintenance campers, she was pleasantly surprised by how relaxed and adaptable they were. “One girl held out her plate, still covered in Bolognese sauce, for jelly and fruit. When I offered a clean plate, she replied: ‘No thanks, it’s all going in the same direction!’”
Why the Trefoil Guild still Camps on
For decades, Trefoil Guild members have contributed to the heart of Guiding, on the ground, in tents, in kitchens, and out on muddy fields. At Orbit 2025, they are continuing that tradition, not just by sharing their skills, but by showing that a love of Guiding never retires.
We are so grateful that our Trefoil Guild came to share their stories, and we are incredibly proud of them. We only hope to be as dynamic and funny as they are in the future!
If you are a former Guide or Leader and would like to stay connected (or reconnect) with the Movement, the Trefoil Guild is always open to new members (aged 18+). Come for the friendships, stay for the fun.
