A group of young people take on an Irish Defence Forces challenge in the Wicklow mountains.
Twenty five young people from all over the country are put through their paces by the army over four days of manoeuvres in the Wicklow mountains. The young participants were taking part in training to achieve a Gaisce award. Gaisce - The President's Award is recognition of an achievement in the personal development of a young person.
On day four, training kicks off in the Wicklow mountains at 6.30 am as the young people are taken to a secret location. The trainees have had little sleep over the past four days and have no advance warning of what lies ahead. So far, activities have included rock climbing, river crossing, abseiling, and making emergency rafts. Today, they will be taken by helicopter to a location that is not revealed until 8.00 am when they arrive at Lough Dan in the Wicklow Mountains.
One participant hopes to join the Defence Forces when he leaves school, said that the training provided a good taste of army life. Another participant described the experience as scary but pretty cool.
The 25 taking part were chosen from 11,000 young people looking ot earn Gaisce awards.
This is the 25th year that the Irish army has helped prepare young participants for the Gaisce Awards and they say this year's group is the best yet.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 1 September 2000. The reporter is Flor MacCarthy.
