13th Wexford Scouts Group (Clonard) in the new Outdoor Adventure Centre in Tagoat. Pic: Nicola Reddy.

ON THE day County Wexford’s new International Outdoor Adventure Centre (IOAC) was officially opened at Sixacre, Tagoat, some 150 young scouts from across the county displayed a touching tribute to inspiring voluntary Irish Coastguard crews.

A massive cohort of local scouts aged between 12 and 15 years old chose to create a giant ‘R116’ formation on the site to honour the crew of the Rescue 116 helicopter who tragically lost their lives earlier this year.

What they weren’t aware of, however, was that arrangements had been made behind the scenes to have the Rescue 117 Irish Coastguard helicopter fly past their base at just the right time to create one of the first magical moments at one of the county’s most significant tourism developments in many years.

Chief Scout Christy McCann and National Guide Commissioner Emily McCann, a Wexford woman, were also both in attendance on the final day of the Wexford Scout County Shield.

Read more in the Wexford Echo.