Survivalist Portlaoise scouts take double national Silver awards
A group of capable Laois teenagers have done their scout group, families and county proud in a national competition.
A Portlaoise scout team have won silver in a national Scouting Ireland competition, to the pride of their group and town.
The eight boys and girls had to spend four days fending for themselves, erecting their tents, building a table, cooking meals over their own open fire, all whilst taking part in challenges against other county’s scouts.
They won a silver award and the silver Spirit of Scouting award, for their camaraderie.
The Portlaoise patrol had qualified to take part in Scouting Ireland's Phoenix Challenge 2026, which took place from Thursday to Sunday, August 13 to 16 at the Castle Saunderson International Scout Centre in Cavan, along with hundreds of other young people from across the island of Ireland.
The team were: camp chef Leona Behan Deegan, patrol leader Stephanie Weidling, assistant chef Chloe Maher, Quartermaster Aisha Niamh Riippa, Fire person Michael Clear, Assistant patrol leader Adam Karem Riippa, scribe Sean Feirtear and first aider Rafael Brage de Mello.
This year's event was themed “Tom Crean and the Lost Journal", inspired by the remarkable life and expeditions of Irish Antarctic explorer Tom Crean.
Portlaoise scout leader Paddy Lynch is proud of his team.
“It’s not often you get eight kids between the ages of 12 to 15 that you can leave them alone and they work as a team. They had their moments but they got past them. They did very well,” he said.
“We have been training them for this since January. They had qualified in another competition in Port Lick, coming in second place there,” Paddy said.
Throughout the weekend, the scouts had faced challenges designed to develop teamwork, problem-solving, creativity and leadership while uncovering clues from a fictional lost expedition journal.
The competition combines practical scoutcraft skills, campcraft, outdoor cooking, sustainability initiatives and programme challenges, with patrols competing for the Phoenix Challenge Trophy alongside awards recognising excellence in leadership, campcraft, environmental practices, entrepreneurship and teamwork.
The Phoenix Challenge is the largest annual scouting competition in Ireland, bringing together patrols from across the country for four days, to test their skills, leadership, teamwork and resilience, ending with a shared campfire and trek cart race.
The Scouting Ireland CEO is Seán Sheehan.
"The Phoenix Challenge showcases scouting at its best; young people from across Ireland come together to challenge themselves, work as a team and demonstrate the practical and leadership skills they have learned throughout the year,” he said.
“This year's Tom Crean-inspired theme encouraged participants to embrace adventure, resilience and exploration, values that continue to inspire young people today."
The Portlaoise scouts group meet weekly at their den beside St Mary’s Hall in Portlaoise.
Anyone who is interested in joining Portlaoise Scouts, and particularly anyone interested in becoming a scout leader, is invited to email [email protected] or contact Scouting Ireland for more information.
Laois also has scout groups in Portarlington, Mountrath and Rathdowney.