The History of the Group
In 1907 Major General Robert Baden-Powell (later Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell) took twenty boys on camp to Brownsea Island, near Poole in Dorset. He was trying out an idea that had grown in his mind over many years. At Brownsea Island he saw that his idea of Scouting worked, and in 1908 he published "Scouting for Boys" in fortnightly parts. At once all over England boys took up the idea and formed their own patrols. Then finding that they needed help they asked grown-ups to give a hand, so Scout Troops began to bind these troops together, the Boy Scouts Association was founded in 1908.
Because Royal Charter protected this Association, no other Scout group could be started in Ireland until we got our independence. Though a few individual Scout groups existed in Ireland earlier, it was not until 1927 that the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland was formed by Father Tom Farrell, then a curate in the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin.
On the 24th May 1935 Mr Vincent Dempsey, Senior Member of Knights of St. Columbanus of 7, Sandyford Terrace, Drogheda, wrote to the Secretary of the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland at 87 St Stephens Green Dublin as follows:
Chara,
A committee has been formed here and a Scoutmaster and Assistant provisionally
selected with a view to establishing a Troop of the C.B.S.I. in the parish
of St. Peter's.
The project has the enthusiastic support of Rt. Rev. Monsgr. P. Lyons,
P.P., V.G., Drogheda, who has called the Committee together.
As acting Secretary I have been asked to apply to you for registration
and the necessary official permission to form a Troop, and shall be glad
to have a reply as soon as possible.
"Mise le meas."
Headquarters replied the very next day granting official permission to start the Troop, and so eight years after the founding of C.B.S.I., the 3rd Louth Troop joined the ranks of the Scouting organisation.
Blessed Oliver Plunkett was adopted as the Patron of the Troop and the colour of the neckerchiefs was decided on as scarlet and light purple. The late William (Billy) Martin of 33 Magdalene Street was chosen as Scoutmaster, and William (Billy) Kelly of Rathmullen was chosen as Assistant Scoutmaster.
The first Troop Committee comprised the following:
On the 8th December 1935 the first patrol of eight scouts were invested. These were:
The patrol named themselves the Fox Patrol and Turlough Lynch was their Patrol Leader.
More info:
