Waterford scout groups wins national environmental award

A scout group from County Waterford has won a major national award after beating off strong competition from around the country.

The Cobra Patrol of Ballymacarbry Scouts, won the Environmental Award at the All-Ireland Campcraft competition, known as The Phoenix.

The event ran from for four days in the Showgrounds in Cork where Scout patrols from across Ireland were put through their paces in campcraft, pioneering, tent pitching, cooking, backwoods, First Aid and emergencies. The Environmental Award was presented to the County Waterford group for managing all of the challenges and tasks in the most sustainable way.

The Cobra Patrol, from Ballymacarbry, ably led by patrol leader Kate Doocey and assistant patrol leader Sam Carrigan-Smyth, created their own bit of history by becoming the first group of scouts from Ballymacarbry to take home an award in Scouting Irelands most eminent competition.

Speaking after the event, Ballymacarbry Scout Group leader, Muiris O’Súilleabháin described the win as "a fantastic achievement" for the group.

"The scouts put incredible effort into this event and to take home an award from the Phoenix is quite special," he said.

"Kate and her team were just fantastic and credit to themselves, their parents and all their leaders from Beavers, through Cubs and onto Scouts," he added.