The international gathering for Portumna '85 is the biggest scout jamboree ever held in Ireland.
The first of 2,000 visitors arrive at Dublin Airport for the International Scouting Jamboree, which is being held in Portumna, County Galway. The visiting scouts represent 24 different countries from Europe, Australia, Africa, the United States, and Canada. They will join 8,000 scouts from Ireland.
Michael McMahon of the Portumna Development Company says local people are looking forward to hosting the event, the biggest held in Ireland, and undoubtedly the biggest event ever held in Portumna.
The publicity generated by the jamboree will certainly have a very positive effect.
For months Jamboree staff have been preparing the Portunma site, a monumental undertaking.
Lying head to toe, the scouts would stretch from eight and a half miles and they’ll eat over ten miles of sausages.
Camp Chief Michael Webb outlines a packed agenda of activities planned for the jamboree. Portumna '85 is an event of some importance for scouting in Ireland. It is the first occasion the three scouting organisations, the Scouts Association of Ireland, the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Scouts Council, have worked together on a joint venture.
Michael Webb hopes the hard work of the 1,200 adult leaders involved with planning the camp,
Will lead to closer co-operation, stronger scouting brotherhood and stronger links between scouts in all parts of this island.
President of Ireland Patrick Hillery will officially open the jamboree on 31 July, and the event runs until 8 August 1985.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 July 1985. The reporter is Andrew Kelly.
