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St. Pauls triumph in Melvin' for sixth time .by John Jackson
Results
The 29th Cork Troop from Mitchelstown captured an award from FÁS in Waterford who ran a number of training courses on the site which had been transformed into a tented village. Detailed results can be found on our Melvin 96 results page. Article Courtesy of
Copyright © St. Pauls Scout Unit 1998
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The l7th Waterford
Troop (St. Pauls) retained the Melvin Trophy at the All-Ireland Scout Crafts competition
which concluded at Mount Melleray near Cappoquin, Co. Waterford yesterday afternoon. It
was the sixth time that the Waterford . group have won the coveted trophy which is valued
at £10,000. Some 62 patrols took part in the competition which commenced on Thursday
last, with a total of 525 scouts, including 200 girls and 200 leaders involved in the
exercises. Scouts from all over Ireland took part, but information Director, David Barry,
expressed disappointment that no competitors from either Kerry or Wexford, who are both
strong scouting counties, were involved. Mr. Barry said the event was a huge success
despite the adverse weather conditions over the four days. Safety was the top priority
following last weekend's scare when a group of four scouts and two leaders from Youghal,
Co. Cork, were trapped in dense fog in the Comeragh Mountains overnight. The group were
found safe and well following a search involving a mountain rescue team and a helicopter.
Mr. Barry said that three of the patrols competing for the Melvin Trophy were prevented
from taking part because they did not have the proper safety gear and were insufficiently
clothed. A radio base was also put in place to ensure that radio contact was maintained
with the patrols at all times. The theme of this year's Melvin competition was A Bridge to
Development. Four members of each patrol had to build a bridge on campsite equal to a
bridge spanning a major river, while the other four members of the team spent 36 hours on
an endurance test on the Comeragh Mountains. The jamboree, last held in Mount Melleray in
1989, had a new initiative this year with a public speaking competition sponsored by the
Mental Health Association of Ireland. The inaugural winners were the 92and Cork Patrol
(Glanmire) who were presented with their perpetual trophy by Mr. Aidan Foley,
Vice-Chairman of the Association. The chief organisers of the weekend activities were Mr.
Joe McLoughlin, National Scouts Commissioner, and Mr. Pat Murphy, Waterford Area
Co-Ordinator, while Mr. Joseph Lawlor, Chief Scout of the Catholic Scouts of Ireland
attended the presentation ceremony. 
