Bikes, Fast Ferries and Lighthouses?

The De La Salle Scout Unit Annual Camp for 2000 was held over 7 days from Saturday the 29th of July to Friday the 4th of August at Fethard in Co. Wexford. What would the first camp of the millenium bring? Better weather, softer ground, fewer midgets, bigger campfires, steeper rock to climb and warm calm seas? Some of the above were in evidence for Camp 2000 at Fethard on Sea but fortunately camping in the 21st century hasn't changed radically - things are as good as they ever were.

Above: The Camp 2000 contingent at Hook Head Lighthouse.

Camp got off to a flying start on Saturday the 29th of July at 9.00am with the contingent gathering on their bikes at the den. After a major scramble for cycling helmets, we headed off in patrols. Good progress was made although there was a few people glad that we were cycling down the hill into Passage East and not up it. Tom Casey and his group also managed to get stuck in the only thunder shower in Munster on that day. After smuggling a few French cyclists across on the car ferry with us, the 7 patrols made about 7 different approaches into the village of Fethard. Everybody had arrived by lunchtime and we got stuck into setting up camp. It was the flattest and biggest field we'd had for years although a nice thick thermarest or an air bed was a big plus.

Above: Canoeing or 'kayaking' at Grange Strand.

After the hard work we headed to Grange Strand for a swim. As usual there was no shortage of jibbers, even a few of the Venturers moaned about not swimming in this climate. Venturers just aren't as tough as they used to be. On the way back to the field, the local shops got a taste of business to come when ice cream sales for the week were doubled. That evening, Camp Chief, Colm Ennis got his first slagging of the week for failing to provide a sauce for the pasta and after dinner, mass was said by the Unit Chaplain, Fr. Boyle. Later, we got a chance to try out Ian Sinnott's volleyball court and the first controversial game of soccer was held in the interpatrol supergames. The first round of the Bro. Virgilius Megaquiz was very close with Michael Egan's patrol showing early promise while being watched closely by Breda Collins and her cubs as well as the mysterious Go Girls.

Above: Bernard Cunningham leads the windsurfing at Grange Strand.

Sunday was our first day of activities with Shielbaggin Outdoor Education Centre and the contingent was split into two groups. One headed in the direction of Wexford town for some rockclimbing at the local crag. Meanwhile the rest braved the weather , this time with wetsuits for some canoeing and sailing. It was a challenging climb at Rocklands even if Paul McSweeney of the Venturers managed to complete it in 41 seconds. The toughest part was keeping Ronan Power away from the abseiling rope after he had made at least 3 descents. That evening the weather started to get nasty on us and it proceeded to rain for the whole night. The patrol icelandics met the challenge well and the only ones that got wet were the venturers in the old DD300s so that was okay.

Above: On the left Colm O h'Ogartaigh of the 3rd on that tricky 4c climbing move and on the right Colin Power on his third abseil.

On Monday morning the wet weather programme was unearthed. The Jenga record of 47 moves was very safe however with 21 being the maximum score. Taboo provided a greater challenge with Paddy Kelly and Michael Egan's patrol having to go head to head for first place. Despite slick back tyres on some bikes we were out of the marquee for the afternoon for the visit to Hook Head and it's 800 year old lighthouse. The cycle down brought us past the infamous Loftus Hall and after a quick group photo, we went for a tour of the lighthouse.

Above: Jack Quinlan of the 7th ponders the view from the top of Hook lighthouse.

We could make out the Saltees from the top and miraculously nobody was thrown off what is the oldest working lighthouse in Europe. That evening, James White of the 7th reffed the Venturers versus what he called the 'leaders trying to be venturers' soccer match (or more accurately he didn't ref it). After some outstanding scores by Billy Collins in particular, the final score was 5-4 to the Venturers with numerous leaders suffering aches and pains for a fortnight afterwards.

Above: Eoin Beglin, Justin O'Reilly, Padraig O'Griofa, Matthew Murphy and Billy Collins look out from Hook lighthouse.

The activities with Shielbaggin continued on Tuesday. The rock was a bit wet and slippy for climbing so we got in a good session on navigation and orienteering in the forest around Tintern Abbey. There was also more sailing, winsurfing and "kayaking" at the beach. Well done to John Cummins and Eric Whelan on setting a new course record in the orienteering. That night we sacrificed a pig or two (in the form of gammon steaks) in the hope of calm seas for the day trip to Oakwood. (Check out http://www.oakwood-leisure.com). Bro. Virgilius gave his usual good rate of exchange on sterling but decided not to open the bank at 5.00am the next morning.

Above: On the left Tom Casey and Colm Ennis at the first flagbreak of Camp2000 and on the right Patrick Kelly and Paul White in front of Hook Lighthouse.

The so called fast ferry was of course cancelled the next day leaving our day trip to Oakwood in ruins. The good people at Ardcavan coaches did however come up with a bus to take us to Dublin instead. On the way we ate some of the 4809 sandwiches which JD manufactured over the course of camp. There was a complaint that at least 40 percent of these were cheese, with corned dog and red lead still trailing far behind cooked ham in the popularity stakes. 2 people even managed to get sick on the bus so in the end it was a good thing that we weren't on the vomit comet.

Above: On the left Eric Whelan and John Cummins after setting a new orienteering course record and on the right, Conor Dempsey, Brian Brazil and Patrick McCormack during some coasteering on the Hook peninsula.

We hung the bus up outside the Blanchardstown shopping centre before being let loose on the shops for a while. James Brennan found the bargain of the week with a Sprayway fleece jacket for £25. The Perfect Storm and Mission Impossible 2 were the targets at the cinema. We were glad after the Perfect Storm that we hadn't gone out on the Irish Sea, meanwhile plans were made to reinact the Tom Cruise rockclimbing sequence in MI2 on the east facing cliff of Coumshingaun. After plenty of dubious throws at the nearby bowling alley and efforts on that falling 2p game, we squashed back on the bus and somehow managed to find the road back to Wexford. Back at camp, JD had a fair supply of sausages on the go for our return.

Above: Matthew Murphy and Colin Power are definately not jibbers and were up for braving a spot of pier jumping at Slade harbour.

Thursday was the final day of activities with Shielbaggin and fortunately the rock was dry enough for a few routes in Wexford town. The rest took on some archery and coasteering at Slade harbour. Slade also has a pier which the good people at Shielbaggin like to have people jump off. There was a 90 percent jibber rate on that activity, but of those who dared it, Colin Power of the 7th got the award for the most catastrophic landing and got a night in hospital in Wexford for his courage. After unearthing plenty of fossils and losing plenty of arrows, we headed back to the site for dinner and the finals of the volleyball and soccer. Well done to James White and his patrol from the 7th who won the volleyball for the third consecutice year, while Leon Mullally's patrol took the top prize in the soccer.

Above: A battle of wits and water at Slade harbour

We were joined by our host, Con Noonan for the campfire which saw TC and Billy in particularly fine voice. Well done also to Michael Egan's patrol who won the Megaquiz and in the end James White's patrol took the Interpatrol Competition. The PL's got their obligatory party afterwards and the last night proved to be more starry than mad. Friday morning was dry enough for us to get the tents down early. There were a few people who escaped the hard work by heading of early to some uninhabitated island in Donegal and others just headed off home. Nevertheless we had escaped the field by 2.30pm and were going to be back in Waterford City in plenty of time for the Spraoi festival.

Above: Losing arrows practice or Archery courtesy of Shielbaggin OEC.

When the passage east car ferry didn't sink with all the Unit's gear on the way home, we knew that another very successful camp was ended and we hope that the 45 scouts, 6 venturers, 9 leaders and the families of TC, Carmel and Billy all agree. Faithlegg in Co. Waterford was chosen as the venue for the 2001 camp and full details are available on our Camp 2001 page.

Above: On the hunt for fossils and caves on the Hook Peninsula.

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