Irish Girl Guides members were delighted with the warm welcome they received from the people of Achill when their toughest challenge took place on the island recently.
Fourteen young women took part in the Chief Commissioner’s Award event, which involved a 60km hike over five days. Participants, who completed the challenge in pairs, had to survive on €4 a day each for food and were expected to undertake eight projects. These included designing a brochure of the island, completing a community service project and composing a song about their experiences on Achill as well as finding out about the experiences of islanders, the local fishing community, women’s groups and the role the Famine played in the deserted village.
Both staff and participants would like to thank the people of Achill for their generosity and kindness. Emma Walsh, one of the organisers, said: “We have never received such hospitality on a ‘Chiefs’ in all the years it’s been run.”
Lydia O’Connor, one of the participants, said: “The people of Achill Island were kind and generous, always highly willing to help us in any way they could, be it opening their cupboards to our hungry bellies or sharing their knowledge with us, or even just letting us use their bathroom. The award couldn’t have been held in a better place. We were welcomed like locals and treated like guests all over the island.”
At the end of the challenge, the teams were assessed by means of their projects and log books and a consultation with members of the Chief Commissioner’s Award staff. They were delighted to receive special woggles and certificates in recognition of their achievement. Six young people won the top award of a Celtic knot silver pin.
