A Visit from the Irish Ambassador

Twelve Irish Scout Groups are taking part in Jamboree Denmark 2026. The Jamboree, Spejdernes Lejr”, is host to 30,000 participants, 300 of whom are from one of the Irish Groups, with a few volunteers here on their own (this writer included).

With such a large number of attendees from the emerald isle, Kyle O’Sullivan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Denmark accepted an invite from the Irish International Commissioner (IC), Máire Fitzgerald, to visit some of the sites, and meet some of the Scouts and Ventures. Kyle was a member of 28th Dublin Howth, (7th Port Howth Sea Scouts), in the days of SAI, and his children, now grown up, have been Scouts both in Brussels and in Dublin.

The plan to invite the Ambassador actually arose when Skerries Scout leader David Morgan was getting Danish lessons from local teacher Connie. When David told Connie the Group’s plans to attend this Jamboree — after multiple suggestions from Connie to visit Denmark —  she stopped him: “wait till I tell you about a former pupil of mine…”. Ambassador Kyle had previously taken lessons from Connie. And so a plan was hatched.

Kyle has been in the post for about a year, and has set about learning Danish, “I see the words ‘Spejdernes Lejr’ around the place, and I try to pronounce it,” he said

I can read Danish, but the pronunciation is still a struggle for me”.

And so on Friday morning, IC Máire, Ambassador Kyle, Deputy Head of Mission 

Dan and this intrepid reporter boarded the Klan Rover Landrover driven by Nils, a member of  Klan Rover. We visited six of the Irish sites across the Jamboree. Much of the talk in the Landrover was about the Landrover. 

Visiting the 13th Clane, Kildare Scouts, Kyle was told about how valued the Irish necker, or scarf is. “The Scots wanted our necker,” said one Scout, “because they all have Irish heritage!”. The favourite activity thus far for the Clane Scouts was the Debate Corner where they learned how to make their voices heard, and how to discuss policies with politicians, or ambassadors. 

All of their meals have been cooked on an open fire, something they’re not used to doing. There was much talk about the meat free diet available on camp, with ‘chilli sin carne’ featuring on the menu. “The café sells chips, so they’ve been eating a lot of chips!”.

One Scout wielding a mallet prompted a question from the Ambassador:”Is that for discipline or..?”. “I’ve just been doing routine fix-ups, on pegs and staves”, was the response.

Balbriggan’s 34th/161st Dublin Scouts were next on the road trip. The Scouts were singing Wonderwall when we arrived. The delegation was introduced to the Group’s shipping crate ‘Zig’ which was used to ship the group’s kit across. “It might have been a bit heavier than we thought!,” explained Scouter Shane Richardson. Shane and Ryan Whelan, twin Scout leaders, have been impressed by the mini Spejder and micro Spejder visitors to their site, so they’ve started giving ‘Spejder’ titles to everyone.

Máire’s own Scout Group, 109th Cork, Ballinora, (known to Balbriggan as the “International Queen Spejder’s Own”) welcomed the Ambassador with a badge and a pennant. When asked how the camp was going, there was a general mood of satisfaction, but a comment from the back: “We miss meat”.

The site that 11th Meath – Kilcloon are guests at has an impressive tower and flagpole at the gate.”Today, I got to go to the top of the tower to help raise the Danish flag,” Róisín told the Ambassador, ” it made me really proud to be a Scout.” A tour of the Group’s site including pioneering gadgets – dining and dresser tables – concluded with a presentation of the Group neckerchief to the Ambassador by Emily. Kyle was impressed by the campcraft involved. “How did you know how to do it?” he asked. “We learned and we practiced,” was the reply.

When we arrived at 4th Galway Craughwell’s site some of the Venture Scouts were heading off to attend a Jamboree in Sweden. Those who remained told us that each of the different Danish and international sites they’re sharing with provides lunch on rotation. Today the dish was mackerel in tomato sauce. “The food has been a bit testing for our Group”, says one Scouter, “but they’ve all given it a try.” When asked about their travel, they said the “plane was full of neckers”. Their flight home leaves at 5am on Sunday, so they’ll be in Dublin at midday.

98th Skerries was the last stop on the tour. The welcome was warm. “We have tea!”. No indication was given as to which of the two major Irish tea brands was on offer. The Group has become used to trips overseas, “I haven’t been on an annual camp that wasn’t outside Ireland!” said one of the Scouts. Their site is located on a raised part of the site, so the views are impressive, “the hill is less impressive when pulling up a trailer full of milk,” said David.

Before departing back to Copenhagen, Kyle was presented with one of said coveted Irish international scarves. He thanked the Scouts for “making the rest of us look good.”.