Mt. Leinster Way Walk
The annual Mt. Leinster Way Walk took place this year on Sat. July 3 from Corubut Gap to Rathanna. A large crowd turned out to walk and refreshments were provided throughout the day. Music was provided by Coady’s, Rathanna and certificates were presented to each walker.
The organising committee would like to thank McEvoys, Spruhans and O’Neills for providing buses on the way, also all the local businesses for their support and the people who sponsored the walkers. A special word of thanks to all the walkers and the Buzz Newsletter. As the committee would like to set a date for the presentation of the cheques to the Irish Cancer Society, Home Care Team and Carlow Hospice they would appreciate if walkers would return their cards as soon as possible.
Mad Hatters Party
Carlow Town Traders in association with KCLR and the Nationalist present the Mad Hatters Party on Sat. August 21 from 12 noon to 4 pm in the Tullow Street pedestrian area.
Street theatre, music, dancing, cookery demonstrations, fashion shows, and lots more. Proceeds to Carlow Hospice Fund
Heritage Talk and Clean-up
Help combat the problem of litter in your area and learn a little something about local heritage. Heritage talk and clean-up at the quays in Bagenalstown on Wed. August 25 at 2pm as part of Carlow Anti-Littler Herit. Everyone welcome. For more information contact Fionnghuala, Carlow County Council at 91-36240.
Self Management Programme
If you or a family member ha experienced pain, tiredness, stress, loss of mobility, fear for the future, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, isolation or any of the many other consequences of long term and enduring ill-health or disability, a Self Management Programme may help you. Self management is about using simple skills to take control of the way you think and feel about your health condition/your caring situation and how you cope with everyday life.
A six week course will begin on Wed. September 8 Irish Wheelchair Association, Carlow. For further information contact Anne Cody at 087 – 9028534 or check the website www.ceartpatientwise.ie
Day of Prayer and Healing
A day of prayer and healing will be held in Emmanuel House of Providence, Clonfert, on Sat. August 28. Speakers are Fr. Noel Burke and Eddie Stone. Bus will leave Church car park, Tullow at 8am. via Closh Stores and bus stop, Barrack Street, Carlow. Bring packed lunch. For booking contact Lily at 9151245 or Isla 9151120.
Mood
Moving on Overcoming Depression. A group for relatives of those experiencing depression meets in Carlow Cathedral Parish Centre, College Street, every Tuesday at 8pm. The meetings are confidential and offer an opportunity for relatives and friends to get information and support.
Mood is a voluntary organisation that receives no funding for its operation in the south-east region, so if you would like to sponsor a group, make a donation, become a volunteer or get information about the service you can contact Michael at 087-9498100 or email mickosborne1@gmail.com
Muine Bheag Kopites:
Open meeting on Wed August 18 in Kilree Arms, Bagenalstown. All welcome. Anyone interested in going to matches should attend. Annual membership now due. Adult €10, child €5, family €25. Tickets for upcoming games Aston Villa, Arsenal, Wolves, Sunderland, Blackburn and Chelsea €60 per ticket on a first come first served basis..
Golf Classic
The Saplings School for Children with Autism is holding a golf classic on Saturday, August 21 in Killerig Golf Club. Team of 4 €200, includes your meal. If you would like to sponsor a tee or enter a team please contact Carol Kelly – 087-99527727.
Bagenalstown Scouts scale the heights of Switzerland
On Sunday, Aug 8, forty four members of the 1st Bagenalstown Baden-Powell Scouts Troop arrived back at the McGrath Hall in Bagenalstown tired, tanned and irrevocably different after their ten day Eurocamp based high in the Swiss Alps. The thirty seven young members from the Scout and Senior Scout sections along with their seven leaders had just closed another lengthy and magnificent chapter in the story of one of the youngest and biggest Scout Troops in Ireland. This expedition was planned organised, co-ordinated and supervised solely by the Troop themselves.
The adventure began in the early hours of the morning of
Friday July 30, as the Scouts and Senior Scouts (ranging in age from 10 to 18) departed Bagenalstown for an early morning flight to Charleroi in Belgium. The Troop stopped off at the battle field site of Waterloo, before continuing on their overnight journey by bus through Luxembourg and Germany en route to Switzerland.
Early on Saturday, on passing out of a road tunnel south of the northern Swiss city of Bern, the vista of the distant Alpine peaks confirmed that the Troop were destined for a very new and different experience. The Troop, on arrival in their base in Adelboden, headed off on a small hike up into the town for a much deserved swim in the local outdoor pool, enjoying the uniqueness of swimming in a pool with a backdrop of snow topped mountains all around at an altitude of 1200 metres above sea level.
On Sunday morning the Troop headed off to the neighbouring valley of Kandersteg; the Scouts by bus and the Senior Scout Section on foot for 25 km over the Bunderchrinde Pass (at a breathtaking 2315 metres above sea level). While the Seniors trekked through the midday heat the Scouts had arrived at Ochinesse Lake by cablecar. After a picnic the Scouts passed the afternoon at high speed on the tobogganing run. The purpose of the visit to Kandersteg was for the Troop to participate in the International Scout Ceremony celebrating Swizterland Day (August 1). The Troop was very impressed by the staff at the WOSM Headquarters in Kandersteg who hosted the 1100 Scouts at the pre -ceremony barbecue. The Ceremony itself, attended by Scout Troops from thirty countries, was a special occasion, particularly with 1st Bagenalstown, as one of only two Irish Scout Troops present, being invited to carry the Tricolour.
The Senior Scouts were out and about again early on Monday. Nine of the Senior Scouts are current participants in the Gaisce Presidents Award and were required to complete a further hike in order to achieve the Venture section of their Award. On this occasion they were able to enjoy a relatively short three hour hike to the spectacular Engilsalp Waterfall at the head of the valley.
Tuesday morning began with a ramble to the Woodcarvers Cottage where the Scouts and Seniors acquired their personalised woggles. En route back from the Woodcarvers the Troop diverted down into Choloren Gorge. This incredible feature in the local landscape was well worth a visit. A series of gangways and staircases allow the visitor to pass through the cave, up past the raging torrent and waterfalls and back up into the sunlight. On Tuesday afternoon the Scouts completed the hike to the waterfall. At dawn on Wednesday morning the Troop slipped quietly out of the valley en route to a very special location. After a journey south through western Switzerland, passing the shores of Lake Geneva, the Troop crossed the frontier into France. On rounding another hairpin bend the Chamonix valley came into view. There high up into the morning blue sky stood the massive snow domed Mont
Blanc (the highest mountain in western Europe at 4808 metres above sea level). A few hours and two incredible cable car rides later the Troop were almost in reaching distance of this lofty summit. From their unique perch on the summit of the neighbouring Aiguille du Midi the Troop gained a true appreciation of the scale and magnitude of the high Alps. Every movement at the 3842 metres above sea level (almost 5 times higher than Mount Leinster) was slightly laboured and
the reduction in oxygen was very noticeable. The Scouts observed, with awe, the lines of roped climbers struggling at the various stages in their ten hour attempts to summit the still distant domed summit of Mont Blanc. The visit to
Aiguille du Midi proved to be the highpoint of the week for the Troop.
On Thursday morning the Troop were shedding any lasting fears of heights as one and all geared up for Adelboden Adventures Light. The remote location of a bridge over an Alpine river suddenly came alive with the young people of Bagenalstown shrieking and howling across the valley on the system of zip wires.
On Friday morning the Troop were bussed to Interlaken. Geared up in wet suits and buoyancy jackets they were soon in dinghies and even more suddenly introduced to the thrills and spills of white water rafting. Back in Adelboden the afternoon was spent with a more sedate but much deserved shopping excursion on the high street. Friday evening concluded with a classic Scout Camp Fire. The neighbouring Home Counties Scout Troops were invited to join in this concluding ceremony to an incredible week in the Alps. With an element of sadness the main baggage was loaded onto the van (a massive thanks once again to Nigel, Magella and Rachel) for transporting all the gear.
Saturday afternoon the Troop boarded the bus one last time to leave Adelboden, passing north through Switzerland and into western Germany on the way home.
The most impressive sight of the 10 day Eurocamp was witnessed by parents at the McGrath Hall on Sunday morning. The Group Scout Master complimented, congratulated and thanked all involved.
The Troop would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who made this adventure possible, the sponsors, supporters and participants of ‘Pushing the Envelope’; the flag day collectors; the Tesco bag packers; the Troop DVD team; Mc Evoy’s Coaches; Kidd Enterprises ‘Transporters’; the Troop Committee, the parents and families; the leaders and most importantly the brilliant young members themselves who have now proudly placed the Troop on the international map.
087 994 8505
