Scouting Ireland

Scouts100 - An Exhibition Celebrating 100 Years of Scouting in Ireland

AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND

A new exhibition entitled "Scouts100 - living the Adventure” opens to the public on

Sunday 20th April at 2.00pm

The National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History,

Collins Barracks, Dublin 7.

Available for interviews on Sunday 20th April 2008:

Dr Patrick F. Wallace - Director of the National Museum of Ireland

Mr Joseph Marken – Communications Director of Scouting Ireland

Mr Kiernan Gildea – Chief Commissioner for Youth Programme of Scouting Ireland

In its centenary year in Ireland, a temporary exhibition in the Riding School at Collins Barracks explores the experience, adventure and thrills of young people over the last 100 years. Scouting has an enduring appeal to young people and has become part of the fabric of Irish social history.

The exhibition includes - displays spanning the decades from 1908 right up until modern day. It shows the highlights of Scouting throughout the last Century as it affected millions of young people throughout the world and hundreds of thousands of in Ireland. It also includes World and Irish Jamborees during the past century. Some of the highlights of the exhibit are actual footage of the Founder Baden Powell addressing the Scout Association, mementoes taken from the first ever camp in Brownsea Island back in 1907 and the badge that Eagle Scout, Neil Armstrong brought to the Moon on his historic voyage in 1969.

The exhibition will open following a grand parade of Scouts and veterans at Clarke Square, Collins Barracks at 2.25pm on Sunday 20th of April. The highlight of the ceremony will be the sounding of a Kudu horn, first used by Baden Powell at the original Scout camp on Brownsea Island 100 years ago and the raising of the World and Irish Scout flags. The Ceremony will be introduced by the Director of The National Museum of Ireland, Pat Wallace who is delighted to be able to host this major event at Collins Barracks.

This temporary exhibition will run from 20 April - September 2008.

Christy McCann has been recently been appointed as the Camp Chief for our forthcoming International Scout Jamboree in 2008. He has stated that it is his privilege to lead Scouting Ireland’s first ever International Jamboree to celebrate Scouting in Ireland over the last 100 years.

Jamboree 2008 will be a 9 day Scout Camp for approx 10,000 people which will include a 4 day Cub camp and a Beaver day.

This will consist of 6 Provincial Sub Camps providing sites for Irish and International Scouts, a Cub Sub Camp, a Venture Scout Sub Camp, a Staff Sub Camp and a Lone Patrol Sub Camp. The Camp will run a series of programmes both on and off site utilising a wide range of our Scouting Programmes. Scouts will camp under canvas in open fields and set up site alongside scouts from many lands and cultures.

The Venue will be in Punchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare, a 500 hundred acre facility with useful inbuilt infrastructure for access, parking vehicles and deliveries. In addition it has the availability of drinking water, waste removal, sanitary facilities and an adequate electricity supply in selected locations.

During this event the Scouts will be transported from main site to a prime programme facility to Weston Aerodrome where all water and Air activities will be hosted. Jim Mansfield and his staff have offered his grounds and goodwill for this fantastic Jamboree.

Troop sites in most cases will include areas for camp living, dining and programme areas and many facilities will be made available to make the Camp as comfortable and welcoming as possible.

The Camp dates include the arrival on site on 19th July 2008 to departure off site on 27th July 2008.

The Chief Scout of Scouting Ireland Martin Burbridge informed thoes at the launch of this event that Scouting will begin their 100 year celebration now and will end with a mighty party at Jamboree 2008,