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Scouting Ireland S.A.I.
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Founded	1908
Defunct	2004, merged into Scouting Ireland
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Scouting Ireland S.A.I. was an Irish Scouting association, formed in 1908 and merged into Scouting Ireland in 2004.

History

Scouting Ireland SAI began in 1908 as the Dublin City and Dublin County Boy Scouts. Around the same time, a number of Troops in Co. Wicklow formed the Co. Wicklow Scout Association. Also around that time, Sea Scout Troops in the Dublin area formed the Port of Dublin Sea Scout Local Association, and were allocated “Port of Dublin” numbers, a custom that still continues. Over the years, these associations combined to form one association.

In 1921, following independence, the name was changed to the Irish Free State Scout Council and it became a national organisation. In 1949, when Ireland became a Republic, the name was changed again to the Boy Scouts of Ireland (BSI), and it also became the first Irish Scout Association to be a part of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in this year. It remained the only WOSM recognised Scout Association in Ireland until 1965 when it, and the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI), formed the Federation of Irish Scout Associations (FISA) enabling members of both associations to be members of WOSM.

Further changes in the 1960s and 1990s saw the BSI first become the Scout Association of Ireland (SAI), and then Scouting Ireland SAI. Since its formation in 1908 SAI consistently offered a true scouting programme as it developed over the years, changing its policy, organisation and rules to reflect rapidly changing times as the Republic of Ireland itself developed as an independent nation.

There were major developments over the years. In the mid-sixties the growing ties between the country's two scout associations were formalised with the creation of FISA. SAI and the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI),formed in 1927, were now both members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement through the Federation of Irish Scouts Associations (FISA) and both would play an active role in international scouting.

There is no doubt that Ireland and its people were enriched by the existence of two strong associations who each had a strong will to bring all of the benefits of Scouting to each generation of young people and as Irish society in the south developed, Scouting grew with it and changes were implemented that reflected the new needs and requirements of the community.

SAI had always been multi-denominational and in addition to Cub Scouts and Boy Scout it also had a Sea Scout section. Developments included the formation of Beaver Scouts for younger children and Venture Scouts for older teenagers and young adults.

SAI also became co-educational in the 1970s, and ever since then girls have played a pivotal role in the success of Scouting in the Republic of Ireland. The first female Scout in Ireland was Majella Myler, a member of 9th Wicklow (Port of Arklow Sea Scouts).

Scouting Ireland was formed on 1 January 2004 from the two original Scout associations in Ireland, Scouting Ireland S.A.I. and Scouting Ireland (CSI).

Chief Scouts

The independent state in Ireland was a member of the British Commonwealth until 1949, hence Scouting Ireland S.A.I. (then called the Boy Scouts of Ireland) shared a common Chief Scout with other members of the Commonwealth, most notably Robert Baden-Powell for the first 33 years. Following Ireland's transition to being a republic, leaving the Commonwealth, Scouting Ireland S.A.I. then had its own Chief Scouts. The following people were the Chief Scouts of Scouting Ireland S.A.I. up until the creation of Scouting Ireland in 2004:

• Donald Harvey (1997-2004)
• Kenneth Ramsey (1991-1997)
• Eoghan Lavelle (1984-1991)
• Joseph McGough S.C. (1980-1984)
• Commodore Thomas McKenna (1973-1980)
• Ernest Judge (1966-1973)
• Mervyn Wingfield, 9th Viscount Powerscourt (1949–1965)
• Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan (1945-1949)
• Arthur Somers-Cocks, 6th Baron Somers (1941-1944)
• Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell (1908-1941)

See also

• Lough Dan

References

1. Some statistics / National Scout Organisations / Countries / Around the world / Home - World Organization of the Scout Movement
2. Scouting History

• Scouting Ireland
• Organisations based in Ireland
• Organizations established in 1908
• Organizations disestablished in 2004
• 1908 establishments in Ireland