And this year's Tipperary Scout County Shield goes to.... County Waterford!

The Cobra Patrol from Ballymacarbry Scout Group emerged victorious at the Scout County Shield held in Burncourt at the weekend and will go on to the National event later this year.  Scout Patrols from across the Tipperary Scout County competed in the first competitive Shield event since Covid over the weekend to attempt to bring home the top prize to their Scout Groups.

Among the many skills the scouts had to demonstrate were Campcraft, Pioneering, Tent Pitching, Backwoods Cooking, First Aid, and Navigation. The Cobra patrol from Ballymacarbry, ably led by patrol leader Emma Wall and assistant patrol leader Roisín O’Grady, fended of stiff opposition from the Shark Patrol from 22nd Clonmel group and the Mongoose Patrol also from Ballymacarbry who finished second and third respectively.

Commenting after the event Ballymacarbry Scout Group Leader Muiris Ó’Súilleabháin described the results as a fantastic achievement for group, “To have two patrols from Ballymac in the top three was amazing. I’m really proud of all our scouts and the time and effort they put into preparing for this event. It’s also a testament to their leaders and the program they provide.”

The Tipperary Scout County is a new scout county following the amalgamation of Cois Siúire Scout County with North Tipperary Scout County and this was its first competitive Shield event. So, an interesting side note is that the Count Waterford Scout Group, as a former member of the Cois Siúire Scout County, found itself in the Tipperary Scout County.

So the very first Tipperary Scout County Shield has gone to County Waterford!