When Robert Baden-Powell published "Scouting for Boys" in January 1908,
boys all over Britain and Ireland began to meet in “Patrols” to try out the
various activities. B-P never intended to start a new separate Movement;
rather it was the boys of the world who started Scouting, as we know it today. There were Scouts in Ireland within a couple of weeks of the appearance of
the first Scouts in Brita
in and it is a fact that the beginnings here in Ireland
were virtually contemporaneous with those in Britain; several Dublin and
Belfast Troops and one each in Bray and Dundalk were amongst the earliest
to be formed anywhere in the world. In the autumn of 1908 there was a rally of 800 Scouts in Dublin's Phoenix
Park. Inter-denominational Scouting evolved through several names before
becoming the Boy Scouts of Ireland in 1949. In preparation for girls joining
the association the name was changed to the Scout Association of Ireland in
1968. Tom and Ernest Farrell, examined the
development of scout associations in Europe, particularly the Scouts de
France. They considered Scouting to be a very valuable tool for the
development of young Irish catholic boys. In 1927, following Episcopal
approval, they founded the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland which
subsequently became the largest scout association on the island. As Ireland and Scouting developed, both associations, having far more
commonalities than differences, agreed in 1965 to establish the Federation of
Irish Scout Associations (FISA). The formation of FISA allowed both
associations to be full and active members of the World Organisation of the
Scout Movement through FISA
Having worked together for over thirty-five years both associations agreed in
1998 to the objective of establishing a new single association. In the years
preceding, the two associations took the names Scouting Ireland S.A.I. and
Scouting Ireland (CSI) respectively. With the acceptance of the Constitution
which follows the membership of both associations - Scouting Ireland S.A.I. and Scouting Ireland (CSI) joined together and became the first members of
Scouting Ireland. In moving forward as one we seek to show positive leadership in the
community; to present a single, modern and relevant image; to revise what
we offer to young people and adults; to bring about improvements based on
the strength of both traditions; and to make the most efficient use of
resources to provide Scouting in Ireland.
