Carlow scouts had a blast at big event in England

Scouts had a blast at international jamboree in England By Ethna Quirke CARLOW was well represented at an international scouting jamboree last week as two local groups joined over 5,000 young people from across the world.

Members and leaders from the Fourth Carlow Leighlinbridge and the Fifth Carlow Town scouts groups attended the weeklong event in England. The Essex International Jamboree has been welcoming international scouts since 1949 and was the temporary home to around 8,000 visitors across the week.

With more than 100 activities on offer, children could try everything from abseiling to caving, archery, talent shows, survival skills, a wet and wild zone and zorbing. Participants travelled from over 40 countries, including Australia, Ukraine, Japan, Nigeria, Kenya and Malta. Ireland had ten troops in attendance, two locally based.

Speaking to The Nationalist from Essex, Roy Fitzgerald, leader with the Fourth Carlow Leighlinbridge group, described the event as a “celebration of scouting and the great outdoors”.

Fourteen scouts and five adult leaders from the group travelled to the 300-acre site in Chelmsford, where Roy said: “It’s a fantastic event; the weather has been brilliant. It’s been a great week and the kids are having a ball, making many new friends and enjoying themselves immensely.” Fourteen-year-old Naomi Picovici told The Nationalist: “We go to bed exhausted every night because there is so much to do.” Elizabeth O’Brien, aged 12, added: “Everybody is so happy and friendly; we have made loads of new friends.” Leighlinbridge leader Orlaith Hennessy described the event as an “absolutely incredible experience” for the children, while fellow leader Paul Byrne said “all the children from the Carlow contingent are enjoying their once-in-a-scout-lifetime trip, an experience they will never forget, coming home with friends from across the world and a lifetime of memories”.

There are 29 young people and seven scout leaders attending from the Fifth Carlow Town group and leader Jennifer Rath said they have been “on the go non-stop” enjoying a full programme of activities every day, meeting new people and making new friends from around the world.