Irish Jamborees
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Portumna July 30th to August 8th 1985.

Portumna was the first Jamboree organised by the 3 Scout Associations on the island of Ireland, the Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Northern Ireland Scout Council N.I.S.C. and Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland C.B.S.I. The Jamboree was held in the grounds of Portumna Castle County Galway. 16 Scouts from Kenya and Uganda as well as 16 Scouts and 3 leaders from Troop 502 Woburn Massachusetts were among the 10,000 Scouts and 2,000 Leaders from 23 different countries who attended the Jamboree.
C.I.E. (the Irish transport network operators) mounted a major operation to transport the Scouts to Galway. A fleet of over 100 busses and 6 trains were involved, 11 double-decker busses were painted in the Jamboree colours. As well as the traditional Scouting activities of hikes and canoeing Scouts took part in the ‘Krypton Scout’ described as a very difficult assault course, a BMX trail, computer-based technology course and a television link-up with the American space shuttle.
The Official Theme Song
We’ll sing together, a song of joy
Let’s show each other we can get by
All scouts forever Portumna 85
Let’s sing together a song of joy
Let’s build a future a world as one
Let’s make today the day it’s done
We have a vision we can be free
Let’s sing together in harmony
Sing a song of joy, sing a song of joy
So many nations, so many lands
So many people all joining hands
We are all ages, all have one dream
Let’s sing together one more time
Sing a song of joy, sing a song of joy
And when it’s over, and we're all gone
Let’s remember, the songs, the fun
The Shannon hillsides, the Irish sky
Let’s sing together a song of joy
Sing a song of joy, sing a song of joy
![]() | Goll Sub-Camp badge Portumna 1985 |

Ballyfin 1993
Ballyfin National Jamboree was held in the grounds of Ballyfin College in County Laois, it was the third of a series of four Jamborees organized jointly by the three Irish Scout associations, C.S.I., S.A.I. and Northern Ireland Scout Association. The Jamboree was held from the 27th of July to the 5th of August 1993. The campsite was split into seven sub-camps for Scout Troops, Cubs Scouts and staff, each named after an Irish Lough:
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![]() | Ballyfin sub-camp badge. |











