The story of the Bethlehem Peace Light is a true Christmas Story: a land in political uncertainty, a long and challenging journey, and the gift of the hope of peace to relieve the dark.

In December, each year, a candle is lit in the grotto in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. An Israeli scout, and a Palestinian scout, took this light together and brought it to Tel Aviv, from where an Austrian scout took it by air to Vienna. At a service for the Gift of Peace in Vienna, Scouts and Guides from all over Europe took a flame from the light and transported it by foot, by rail, by road, all across Europe.

Our light, in Ashbourne, travelled across Austria, Switzerland, France, through the Channel Tunnel, and on to Holyhead in Wales, from where it was taken by an Irish scout across the Irish Sea to the Church of the Visitation in Fairview on December 18.

Ashbourne Venture Scouts went to Fairview to take a Flame, and to see scouts from all over Ireland take their flames for transport to all over Ireland.

Then, on Saturday 20, Ashbourne scouts, in turn, gave the gift of this peace light, which had made the long and challenging journey all the way from Bethlehem, the place of the nativity, to Ashbourne Parish, in front of the parish's own nativity scene, during a short ceremony at 6pm mass.

Ashbourne Scout Group wishes all its members, its parents, its friends, its supports and the entire community of Ashboure, a very merry Christmas and the gift of hope for peace.

We look forward to seeing you all involved in the adventure of Scouting during 2015!

Find out more about the Bethlehem Peace Light at facebook.com/IrishPeaceLight