Half the children who made their Confirmation in a Kerry town last Friday have declined the traditional pledge on alcohol.Of the 215 who received the sacrament in Killarney, only 107 had signed up to abstain from drinking until the age of 18.
In some of the eight Killarney schools who took part in the ceremony, the uptake was as low as 38%.
However, Tiernaboul NS, on the rural outskirts of the town, had a 100% uptake.
A long-serving pioneer called for a need to modernise the image of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association.
Niall O’Callaghan, a Killarney town councillor, said that young people did not see it as "cool" to be non-drinkers.
In an age of rampant teenage drinking, he said, it did not come as a surprise to learn just half the children making their Confirmation were "taking the pledge".
A non-drinker since he made his Confirmation almost 30 years ago, Cllr O’Callaghan said there was a need to "modernise the pin and make it cooler".
Entertainers such as Jedward, who are non- drinkers, and leading sports people should be used as role models for young people, he suggested.
"The message has to be got across that you can be successful and have a good time without drinking, but that’s not getting home to young people," he said.
"Look at all the young people on the streets of any town on any weekend and you won’t see one of them wearing a pioneer pin.
"It needs to be made trendy. For instance, could there not be something like a Lance Armstrong yellow band for young non- drinkers?
"I think the philosophy of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association is 100% correct, but it needs to be revamped in the modern world."
The 42-year-old is very involved in sporting and entertainment activities for young people in Killarney.
His daughter, Amy, 12, made her Confirmation and took the pledge.
Kerry Diocesan Pioneer Council spokesman PJ Harnett said cultural issues were involved and there seemed to be a general acceptance that celebrations, of many occasions including Holy Communion and Confirmation, were based around alcohol.
In such situations, he said, parents could not be told what to do.
He noted the disparity between the ages of the pioneer association’s role models and the children.
In some of the eight Killarney schools who took part in the ceremony, the uptake was as low as 38%.
However, Tiernaboul NS, on the rural outskirts of the town, had a 100% uptake.
A long-serving pioneer called for a need to modernise the image of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association.
Niall O’Callaghan, a Killarney town councillor, said that young people did not see it as "cool" to be non-drinkers.
In an age of rampant teenage drinking, he said, it did not come as a surprise to learn just half the children making their Confirmation were "taking the pledge".
A non-drinker since he made his Confirmation almost 30 years ago, Cllr O’Callaghan said there was a need to "modernise the pin and make it cooler".
Entertainers such as Jedward, who are non- drinkers, and leading sports people should be used as role models for young people, he suggested.
"The message has to be got across that you can be successful and have a good time without drinking, but that’s not getting home to young people," he said.
"Look at all the young people on the streets of any town on any weekend and you won’t see one of them wearing a pioneer pin.
"It needs to be made trendy. For instance, could there not be something like a Lance Armstrong yellow band for young non- drinkers?
"I think the philosophy of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association is 100% correct, but it needs to be revamped in the modern world."
The 42-year-old is very involved in sporting and entertainment activities for young people in Killarney.
His daughter, Amy, 12, made her Confirmation and took the pledge.
Kerry Diocesan Pioneer Council spokesman PJ Harnett said cultural issues were involved and there seemed to be a general acceptance that celebrations, of many occasions including Holy Communion and Confirmation, were based around alcohol.
In such situations, he said, parents could not be told what to do.
He noted the disparity between the ages of the pioneer association’s role models and the children.