Passage West scouts win two gold awards at national competition

Scouts from the 41st Cork Passage West Scouts have returned home to Cork after winning two gold awards at the Phoenix Challenge 2026, Scouting Ireland’s annual national scout competition.

Patrol leader Cullen McCormack and assistant patrol leader Ben Baxter — together with members Abbey Collins, Alex Wilczewski, Cian Lenihan, Lily Mulcahy, Luke Gargan, and Megan Baxter — qualified to represent 41st Passage West at the three-day event, held at Castle Saunderson International Scout Centre in Co Cavan.

The Phoenix Challenge brings together scout patrols from across Ireland for three days of competition, with a wide range of challenges testing their skills, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, campcraft, and creativity.

The Passage West patrol achieved a gold award overall as well as taking first place nationally in the Entrepreneurship Challenge, winning gold for their trade stand.

A spokesperson for the scouts group said: “Their achievement is a fantastic result for 41st Cork Passage West Scouts and a proud moment for the wider Passage West community.”