Page 103 - Our Wexford

to allow the centre stand on its
feet so it has to maximise revenue
from other sources, whether that’s
school bookings or corporate team-
building days.

One such was organised recently
by Sheilbaggan’s staff for a group
of executives who flew in from all
corners of the globe for a meeting
of a multi-national company with a
base in the southeast of Ireland, and
wanted something with a difference
away from their business campus.
Weeks of planning went into the
event which involved the hiring
of nearby Loftus Hall (known as
Ireland’s most haunted house) on
Hook Head, and challenging the
execs with a number of exercises
and projects.
So variety is the spice of life at
Sheilbaggan. “We have 65 kids
walking up Mount Leinster in
different waves and they will have
an experience that many of them
will never have had before.”
Future plans for the centre includes
a potential move to Fourth
Mountain, north of Wexford town,
where there would be access to a
five-acre lake, thousands of acres
Bill Gates is handy with computers. located at Ramsgrange on Hook of forest and more of the famous
He has also spent much time over Head, is on school groups and southeastern coastline. “It’s an ideal
the years travelling, teaching in education. spot to put in an outdoor facility.”
the UK, mountaineering, sailing The other side of the coin is the
professionally, and has an MBA weekends and the summer season, This would allow the team
which included crisis management when the centre is popular with to continue to expand their
training in its course work. programme of activities and once
local visitors and tourists while more use the natural amenity
All manner of outdoor activities are summer camps are also run for offered by Wexford’s great exterior.
offered at Sheilbaggan, to school young people, offering a huge range “We have an amazing coastal
groups, work groups, company of activities in the great outdoors. landscape here and we need to keep
executives, even stag parties. From At the moment, Sheilbaggan is promoting that,” Colin says. “If
sea-kayaking to rock-climbing, averaging about 11,000 visitor days you’re a local, you know where to
canoeing to abseiling, high-rope per annum and staff numbers vary go but if you’re a visitor you need
walking to archery, orienteering to from three or four during winter to to be given more access to the sea
coasteering. The latter is a relatively 15 or 20 in high season. A common and the woods and forestry. Raven
recent phenomenon and involves, trait is that they are all “passionate” Point, for example, looking down
as the name suggests, plotting a about the outdoors and passing on over Wexford is one of the most
way along a stretch of coastline their knowledge to their charges. beautiful places in the world. We
which could include jumping off need to make that part of the tourist
cliffs, swimming through caves and These days the centre is run experience.”
climbing over rocks. under the auspices of the VEC’s
successor, the Waterford and Sheilbaggan Outdoor Education
“It’s quite adventurous,” as Colin Wexford Education and Training Centre are certainly helping to do
puts it, with understatement. that, with their mission statement
Board (ETB) and is one of 12
Monday to Friday, particularly such places located around the “to actively resource the education,
between September and June, country. But while there’s a grant environmental, social, sporting and
the focus at Sheilbaggan which is via the ETB, that’s not enough fun needs of all participants.”

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