Scouts weathered the weather

That the Kilcullen Scout Troop wasn't washed out at last week's Jamboree in Punchestown was largely down to the good equipment they'd been able to buy thanks to the generosity of the people and businesses in Kilcullen.



"We had a new marquee tent," says Scout Leader Roy Champ, "and we also had new Icelandic sleeping tents and cooking equipment."

The weather was so bad that the organisers offically called off the Visitors Day planned for the Wednesday, and though many came anyway the mucky state of the camping area meant that it had to remain off limits to visitors.

The deluge on Wednesday morning provided an opportunity to show key elements of the scouting ethos -- being prepared and rallying around. Without being asked or directed, the youngsters got stuck in to dig drainage channels and divert miniature rivers away from tented areas.

The event closed on Saturday and Sunday was spent breaking camp and heading for home. For the Kilcullen group, that wasn't far away. But they had made friends from many far corners of the world and that is likely to be the most enduring outcome of the whole event.

There were 24 scouts and seven leaders in the Kilcullen involvement. The Troop is now in its 31st year.

Brian Byrne.