LIMERICK scouts are beaming with pride after hosting one of Ireland’s largest youth events, Scouting Ireland’s Phoenix Challenge.
Over 600 scouts from across the country arrived in Pallaskenry from August 14 to 17 to showcase the many skills they have learned during their time scouting.
The theme for this year’s Phoenix Challenge was ‘celebration’, marking 20 years of the competition, which fittingly first took place in Pallaskenry in 2005.
The Phoenix Challenge tests scouts on a wide range of skills, including campcraft, cooking, pioneering, and first aid, as well as their teamwork and leadership skills.
The overall winners of the Phoenix Challenge were the 94th Dublin of Walkinstown.
Limerick was represented at the event by five patrols from scout groups across the county.
The Ravens Patrol from the 34th Limerick (Pallaskenry) and the Vibe Tribe Patrol from 25th Limerick (Shannon Banks) both received a Gold Award during the event.
The Bear Patrol from 45th Limerick (Ahane), the Mustang Patrol from 3rd Limerick (Rathkeale), and the Muntjac Patrol from 46th Limerick (Ballybricken) all received a Silver Award.
The 34th Limerick (Pallaskenry) also picked up special awards for their Environmental Impact and their logbook during the event.
Planning for this year’s Phoenix Challenge started back in August 2024, including several adult scouters across the county.
Among the organisers was Michaela Fitzgerald from the 34th Limerick (Pallaskenry) who was one of the two camp chiefs for the event.
Michaela, along with her co-camp chief Shane Cusack, was a former participant on the Phoenix Challenge.
