Scouting Ireland

Summary

Scouting Ireland (Irish: Gasóga na hÉireann) is one of the largest youth movements on the island of Ireland, a voluntary educational movement for young people with over 45,000 members, including over 11,000 adult volunteers early 2020.[1] Of the 750,000 people between the ages of 6 and 18 in Ireland, over 6% are involved with the organisation. It was founded in 2004, following the amalgamation of two of the Scouting organisations on the island. It is the World Organization of the Scout Movement-recognised Scouting association in the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland it operates alongside The Scout Association of the UK and the Baden-Powell Scout Association.

Scouting Ireland
Scouting Ireland logo
HeadquartersLarch Hill
CountryRepublic of Ireland, Northern Ireland
Founded1 January 2004
FounderRichard P. Fortune (1908),
Tom and Ernest Farrell (1927)
Membership45,721 as of February 2020
incl. 34,000 juvenile[1]
Chief ScoutJill Pitcher Farrell[2][3]
Chief Executivevacant[4][5]
PatronMichael D. Higgins[6]
AffiliationWorld Organization of the Scout Movement
Website
http://www.scouts.ie/
Neckerchiefs are used to identify Scouts from different groups, e.g. one group might wear blue and red, while another might wear yellow and blue.
 Scouting portal

The organisation is independent, non-political, and open to all young people without distinction of origin, race, creed, sexual orientation, spiritual belief or gender, in accordance with the purpose, principles and method conceived by Lord Baden-Powell and as stated by WOSM.[7] The aim of the organisation is to encourage the social, physical, intellectual, character, emotional, and spiritual development aspects (known as the SPICES) of young people "so that they may achieve their full potential and as responsible citizens, to improve society".[8][9] The process of founding the new organisation came on 21 June 2003, after a merger between Scouting Ireland C.S.I. and Scouting Ireland S.A.I. was announced, becoming effective on 1 January 2004.[7][10] Its national office is at Larch Hill, County Dublin.[7]

The organisation, which is registered with the Companies Registration Office as a company,[11] is headed by the Chief Scout, and governed by a board of directors who are answerable to the Scout Groups as company members. A small professional staff team is led by a chief executive officer.

Sections edit

The organisation is known for, and primarily operates through, its Youth Programme, for members aged between 6 and 25 years,[12] divided into the following Sections:

Sea Scouts – Sea Scouting is a model for implementing the Scout Method with an emphasis on maritime tradition, nautical skills and water-based activities. Sea Scouting operates throughout the sections, consistent with the above age ranges.

Organisation edit

Scout Group edit

The basic unit of Scouting in Ireland is the Scout Group. Each Group is based around a single meeting place, often a dedicated Scout hall or Scout Den,[13] or may sometimes be a school assembly hall or community facility. A Group may have a number of sections, meeting at different times, and a meeting place may be used by more than one Scout Troop or Cub Scout Pack. Each Group is coordinated by a Scout Group Council, headed up by the Group Leader and Deputy Group Leader, these roles being appointed by the Chief Commissioner (Adult Resources) based on nomination by the Scout Group Council and recommendation by the relevant Scout County Commissioner. Membership also includes roles such as Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Quartermaster, and adult representatives of all sections, and youth representatives of the Scouts, Venture Scout and Rover Scout sections, made by the Scout Group Council itself. In 2018, there were around 520 Scout Groups,[14] while in 2020 there were 492.[1]

Scout County edit

Scout Groups are members of their local Scout County, some are which based on geographical counties, while others, depending on membership density, are based in parts of cities or across county boundaries. The Scout County supports the training of Scouters, the youth programme, and the development of Groups within the county. Each Scout County is coordinated by a County Commissioner.[citation needed]

Scout Provinces edit

Above the Scout County level, Ireland is divided into six Scout Provinces, namely the Northern, Southern, North Eastern, South Eastern, Western and Dublin provinces. Each Province is coordinated by a Provincial Commissioner,[15] who in turn appoints a Training Co-Ordinator as well as Youth Programme and International representatives. The Provincial Management / Support Committee consists of County Commissioners, Provincial Officers, co-ordinators and representatives. Each Province has a professional Provincial Support Officer.[16]

National Council edit

The National Council was the primary decision-making body of Scouting Ireland from 2004 to 2018 and met at least once a year. National Council was the body responsible for amendments to the movement's Rules and Constitution. It also elected the Chief Scout and national officers.

It was replaced with a company general meeting structure in October 2018.[17]

Board of directors edit

The board of directors is the non-executive oversight body between general meetings of the company.[17] From 2018, it consists of 10 elected members,[17] and up to 3 co-opted members. It receives reports from Heads of Department and has the authority to create structures and appoint heads for those structures.

National Management Committee edit

From June 2003[18] until October 2018,[17] the National Management Committee (NMC) was the executive body which guided the association between National Council meetings. It made decisions relating to policies and strategies, and their implementation on behalf of National Council. The NMC, which included National and Provincial Commissioners, also handled representation of the organisation both nationally and internationally. The NMC also drove development of both the youth programme and materials to support the management of adult members and other supporters.[14]

The NMC had the same membership as the Board of the not-for-profit company acting for Scouting Ireland when appropriate. As of 2020 the association was in the process of merging with the company with the Board of Directors at the helm.[19]

Chief Scout edit

The leader of the overall organisation is the Chief Scout, who is its leading volunteer and public representative, chairs general meetings and other bodies, and makes key awards. The Chief reports to the board of directors.

The first Chief Scout elected was Martin Burbridge, the former National Treasurer of Scouting Ireland (CSI). He was re-elected at National Council in 2007 for a second term which was due to end in 2010. For personal reasons Burbridge announced his resignation in August 2008, and the NMC elected Michael John Shinnick, the then Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources, as SI's second Chief Scout in September 2008.[18][20] He was elected by National Council in March 2009, and again in 2012, for a term to end in 2015.[21][22] Christy McCann was elected as SI's third Chief Scout in September 2015.[23][24] McCann was elected unopposed for a second term in April 2018, serving until February 2021.[25][26]

In May 2021, history was made when Jill Pitcher Farrell was elected as Chief Scout of Scouting Ireland. As a current Rover Scout, this was the first time that Scouting Ireland elected not only a female Chief Scout, but a Youth Member to this role. She is also the first to be elected at a company general meeting, rather than a National Council.[27][2]

Membership participation in governance edit

A National Youth Forum is held each year with representatives from the Scout, Venture Scout and Rover Scout sections. Representatives debate motions relating to the running of the association and their own sections. Successful motions are carried forward to the relevant national bodies, including general meetings. Each forum elects 9 representatives who then represent the interests of youth members on various committees throughout their term of office (generally one year).

Professional staff edit

A staff of administrative and support professionals are led by Scouting Ireland's chief executive officer based in the National Office at the Larch Hill campsite.[5]

National policies edit

The organisation's governance is supported by a number of national policies, largely set by general meetings and overseen by the board of directors. In addition to policies on finance, personnel, uniforms and facilities, these include documents on the Youth Programme, adult resource management, and safeguarding.

The organisation maintains a risk management strategy and policy, an anti-fraud policy, a whistle blower policy, and a crisis management policy.[28]

There are also policies on adults in Scouting,[29] adults working with young people,[30] and recognition for adult contributors.[31]

Scouting Ireland maintains a Code of Good Practice, Garda vetting and Northern Ireland access policies, and guidance on reporting, social media and drug incidents.[32]

History edit

 
Plaque at 3 Dame Street, Dublin which marks the site of the first Scout meeting in Ireland

Roots edit

Scouting Ireland has its history in two legacy Scouting organisations — the Scout Association of Ireland (SAI), formerly known as the Boy Scouts of Ireland, and the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI). The former traces its roots to 1908, and the latter was founded in 1927 – both trace their legacy to Lord Baden-Powell's Scout Movement.

By 1908, the influence of Baden-Powell's Scout Movement had spread from Great Britain to Ireland. The first recorded meeting of Scouts in Ireland took place at the home of Richard P. Fortune, a Royal Naval Volunteer Reservist, at 3 Dame Street, Dublin on 15 February 1908 where four boys were enrolled in the Wolf Patrol of the 1st Dublin Troop. The earliest known Scouting event in Ireland took place in the Phoenix Park in 1908 with members of the Dublin City Boy Scouts (later Scouting Ireland S.A.I.) taking part.

Because of the impacts to available adult leadership, the coming of the Great War in 1914 could have affected the viability of Scouting in Ireland. Scouts contributed to the war effort in several ways, with the Sea Scouts supporting the RN Coastguard.

In Dublin in the 1920s, two Roman Catholic priests, Fathers Tom and Ernest Farrell, followed the progress of Scouting. They noted that in other countries, the Catholic Church had taken up the idea of Scouting as a means of imprinting a Catholic ethos on young people. After some study and experimentation, they made a proposal to the Catholic Hierarchy of Ireland and were granted a constitution and Episcopal patronage in November 1926. Thus, the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI) (Gasóga Catoilici na hÉireann) was created. CBSI would later become the largest Scout association on the island.

Parallel operations edit

Although the two associations cooperated, particularly in international contexts, these two separate Scouting organisations (SAI and the much larger CBSI) operated as separate entities through the latter half of the 20th century.

2004 Merger edit

On 1 January 2004, the two organisations were merged to form 'Scouting Ireland'. Each organisation had added 'Scouting Ireland' to their names in the decade before the merger.[33][34] The merger was sanctioned in May 2003, when both associations agreed to join together to form a new single association. This in turn had followed from decisions in 1998 to set this process in motion.[10][35]

As of February 2020, Scouting Ireland had over 45,000 members across the island of Ireland, including Northern Ireland, where it works in tandem with the Scout Association in Northern Ireland (SANI), which is part of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom. This number consists of 34,000 young people, and 11,000 adult volunteers.[1] In 2019, the numbers were, over 38,000 were juvenile members, and 12,000 adult volunteers.[36]

Controversies edit

Safeguarding issues resulted in controversy in 2017 and 2018, though the organisation and individual Scout Groups emphasised that operations continued as usual.

2017 review edit

In July 2017, Scouting Ireland commissioned a review of the handling of child protection cases, which included an initial check on a small sample of more serious allegations. Arising from this review, led by safeguarding specialist Ian Elliott, a recommendation was made in November 2017 that the files on all historic cases of alleged abuse be further checked, in particular to understand if persons against whom allegations were made were still active in the organisation. The review did not make any assessment of allegations, major or minor, but noted areas for improvement in handling such cases, such as "without prejudice" suspensions instead of the then-operational "voluntary stepping aside" approach, and a recommendation against lobbying by accusees, which it concluded was happening in some cases. It was also reported that there were sometimes tensions between professional staff and volunteers, with the former feeling pressure from volunteers, while some volunteers perceived "heavy-handed" treatment of some allegations.[37]

The organisation made changes to its processes in response to the work of Elliott, including implementation of the "suspension without prejudice" concept, pending investigation, and plans for recruitment of a safeguarding co-ordinator and additional child-protection officers.[37]

Funding suspension and officer changes edit

The historic handling of one case, dating back to 2009 and relating to allegation by a then-18 year old volunteer against an older volunteer, caused particular concern in public and governmental circles. This resulted, in April 2018, in the suspension of the remainder of Irish State funding pending discussions with the relevant department.[37] With the State funding accounting for one third of the organisation's budget, the suspension had a serious effect. The Taoiseach himself commented on the handling of this case, and the Irish Times published an editorial on the handling of related matters.

Also in mid-April 2018, four senior figures in Scouting Ireland voluntarily stepped away temporarily from their roles, pending a barrister-led review of certain matters.[clarification needed] Still standing aside as of October 2020, these were the Chief Scout, re-elected in early April 2018, two Chief Commissioners, and a member of National Management Committee.[38]

Governance changes and funding restorations edit

The Minister for Children partially restored State funding in June 2018.[39] Funding was again suspended when the Chief Scout was invited to chair an EGM called to reform governance structures, and again restored after the meeting voted in favour of proposed changes, and the entire board stood down, allowing a completely new board to be elected.[40]

Cases raised, November 2018 edit

In November 2018 Scouting Ireland officials and the Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone noted to the relevant committee of the Oireachtas that a study of the organisation's records, and contacts from alleged victims, had revealed allegations related to abuse incidents, most notably from the 1960s to the 1980s. Most alleged abusers are dead, but where alleged abusers are living, Scouting Ireland has reported the allegations the Garda Síochána and Ireland's child protection agency, Tusla. To date, there was evidence of 108 alleged child sex abuse victims, from more than 400,000 members, and 71 alleged abusers (of whom 14 may have abused multiple children), out of more than 30,000 adult volunteers. Both records review and contacts are ongoing, and the numbers are likely to rise somewhat. The Minister noted that no alleged abuser is currently in Scouting Ireland.[41][42]

2020 sex abuse report edit

In 2019, Scouting Ireland commissioned Ian Elliot to undertake a "learning review" on the issue of sexual abuse within the organisation.[43][44] The resulting report, titled "Historical Sexual Abuse in Scouting: A Learning Review", noted that the safety and wellbeing of young people had not always been prioritised "particularly through the eighties and nineties". The report found that there was "coverup and [..] a failure to report abuse".[44] The full extent of abuse could not be determined as records were lost or destroyed.[44]

The report stated that a "characteristic of the poor governance that existed in scouting was the existence of a culture driven by self-interest, with little attention paid to the young people involved".[44] There report also noted that there appeared "to have been an almost complete absence of any concern for the young people that were abused" and that, where attempts were made to support abuse victims or those reporting abuse, it was "poorly recorded".[44] The report criticised the emergence of small cliques which played too great a role in the operation of Scouting bodies.[44] Adults with a sexual interest in young people sometimes rose to positions of power and influence and controlled any fledgling accountability processes, preventing known offenders from being removed.[44] The report said "Cronyism thrived and remained a significant problem in scouting up to and including the reviewer's involvement with Scouting Ireland" (in 2017).[44] It also said that the introduction of an accountability framework was resisted and that "Individuals, who were suspected or known to be sex offenders, gained positions of power and became largely impregnable".[44]

In his Executive Summary, Ian Elliot said that the existence of a "negative culture driven by self-interest, along with poor governance structures [were] the main cause of the continuation of sexual abuse in scouting".[44] He also wrote that independent monitoring of practise and strict adherence to robust accountability procedures are essential for Scouting Ireland to ensuring that the progress that Scouting Ireland made in this area continues.[44]

He wrote that those who volunteer to be Scout leaders should realise that to be a volunteer is a privilege, and that volunteers should expect to have their behaviour scrutinised and commented upon.[44] If a volunteer's behaviour falls below standards, they should be helped raise it above the standard, and if they cannot raise their behaviour that they should leave Scouting. If their behaviour is a risk to young people, this should be reported immediately to statutory authorities.[44]

He also wrote that the protection of children is not just the duty of a professional safeguarding team, but of every adult in the organisation.[44] He concluded that Scouting Ireland is a considerable organisation that makes a "valuable contribution to the lives of many in Ireland today", but that the organisation must learn from its history to eliminate abuse and mismanagement and that "The volunteer is not supreme. The young person is.".[44]

In May 2020, the report was published by the organisation which confirmed that the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI) and the Scout Association of Ireland (SAI), which merged to form Scouting Ireland in 2004, identified at least 275 known or suspected sex predators across the two organizations, mainly dating from the 1960s and 1990s.[45][46] Scouting Ireland backed the findings of the report and issued an apology.[46]

In 2021, a former CBSI Scout leader was jailed for sexual assaults that occurred during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.[47]

2021 "No Confidence" motion edit

At the annual general meeting in 2021, the members approved a motion of no confidence in the board, with regard to the changes made since the change to a company-only structure.[48]

Campsites edit

Campsites and Scout centres in Scouting Ireland may be operated by local groups, with a number owned centrally and managed by the national organisation itself. Larch Hill in Tibradden, County Dublin, and Lough Dan near Roundwood, County Wicklow were inherited from Scouting Ireland (CSI) and Scouting Ireland S.A.I. as national campsites. Other nationally owned campsites include Mount Melleray Scout Centre in the Knockmealdown Mountains near Cappoquin, County Waterford and Castle Saunderson International Scouting Centre, a new campsite in County Cavan, as well as a water activity centre in Killaloe, County Clare. Locally run campsites include Kilcully, County Cork, Collon, County Louth, Dundrum International Scout Campsite, Dundrum, County Tipperary, Castleconnell Scout Campsite, County Limerick and Glendale Lodge, Glencree, Enniskerry, County Wicklow.[49][50][51] Scouting Ireland have published a map of their campsite network including both national and local campsites.[52]

 
Beaver and Cub Scouts at Scouting Ireland JamÓige event 2016

International participation edit

 
Irish Scouts at the 2015 World Scout Jamboree in Japan

The organisation and its legacy associations are represented in several international forums. As of 2020, Scouting Ireland is the sole World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM)-recognised body in the Republic of Ireland, and works with the Scout Association in Northern Ireland (which also has a Baden-Powell Scout Association group). In 2014, Scouting Ireland won the bid to host the 16th World Scout Moot, which was intended to take place in 2021, but was cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[53][54][55]

Memberships edit

In 1965, CBSI joined with SAI to form the Federation of Irish Scout Associations, FISA. Through FISA, Irish Scouts were able to play a full part in international Scouting. Prior to this, because the WOSM traditionally recognises only one Scouting body in each country, only SAI had been recognised by WOSM (since 1949).[56] Similarly, the Northern Irish Scout Council (NISC) had observer status in the Federation, as CBSI's membership extended across the 32 counties on the island of Ireland and WOSM usually only recognises associations that observe political boundaries.

Individual representation and recognition edit

A number of Irish people have held office at international level, including as Chairman of the European Scout Committee and as Vice Chairman of the World Scout Committee. Howard E. Kilroy served as Chairman of the World Scout Foundation's Investment Committee.[57] In 2001 John Geoghegan was appointed director of the World Scout Foundation[58]

Six Irish Scouts have been awarded World Scouting's only award, the Bronze Wolf Award by the World Scout Committee, Edward J. Montgomery (1977), Desmond Fay (1984), Jeremiah Kelly (1985), Howard Kilroy (2010), Therese Bermingham (2015), [59] and Máire Fitzgerald (2023).[60]

Jamborees edit

Scouting Ireland hosted Jamboree 2008, its first international Jamboree, from 2–10 August 2008.[61] It was held at Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare with the aim of celebrating one hundred years of Scouting in Ireland.[61] Around 12,500 Irish and overseas Scouts attended the event.[61] The next Scouting Ireland National Jamboree, "JamboRí 2018" was held in 2018 at Stradbally, County Laois, with 4,000 in attendance.[62][63]

Partnerships edit

Scouting Ireland has a number of international partnerships, including with the Lesotho Scouts Association,[64] and with Denmark's largest Scout Association, Det Danske Spejderkorps.[65]

Created in 2012, the "Crean Challenge" is an annual partnership between Scouting Ireland and Bandalag íslenskra skáta (BIS), the Icelandic Boy and Girl Scout Association. Irish Scouts travel to Iceland to improve their winter skills, navigation and mountaineering. The challenge is named after Irish polar explorer, Tom Crean.[66][67]

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ a b Power, Jack (23 May 2021). "Scouting Ireland members pass motion of no confidence in board". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Scouting AGM 2021 on Livestream". livestream.com.
  4. ^ "E10-2024 - Scouting Ireland CEO Update" (Mailing list). Scouting Ireland. 22 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b McDermott, Stephen (11 October 2019). "Scouting Ireland announces organiser of Pope Francis visit as new CEO". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  6. ^ Power, Jack (14 December 2018). "President Michael D Higgins 'concerned' at scout abuse revelations". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Scouts Link across the Border". The News Letter. 1 January 2004. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Scouting in a Nutshell". Scouts.ie. 2017. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Scouting Ireland Constitution" (PDF). Scouting Ireland. 2017. section 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  10. ^ a b "The creation of Scouting Ireland" (PDF). World Organization of the Scout Movement. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2006.
  11. ^ "GASÓGA NA hÉIREANN /SCOUTING IRELAND". Companies Registration Office. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Scouting Ireland - InSIde Out" (PDF). Scouting Ireland. April 2013. p. 8. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Meeting Place And Equipment". scouts.ie. Scouting Ireland. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021. Many Scout Groups will have a committee or team which looks after maintenance and upkeep of the Scout Hall/Den [.. and give..] reports on the maintenance and upkeep of the Scout hall
  14. ^ a b "Scouting Ireland - Organisation Structure". Scouting Ireland. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Scouts honoured for life". Wexford People. 7 September 2021 – via Independent.ie.
  16. ^ Quinn, Jessica (3 December 2022). "Highest scouting honour awarded to Fiona after 40 years' service". ClareChampion.ie. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022.
  17. ^ a b c d "Scouting Ireland appoints new directors to board". RTE.ie. RTÉ. 6 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018.
  18. ^ a b Martin Burbridge (12 August 2008). "Letter from Chief Scout to the NMC on his impending Resignation". Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  19. ^ Board of Directors (2019). The Wind-Down of the Association (PDF) (Report). Scouting Ireland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  20. ^ "New Chief Scout Elected". Scouting Ireland. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  21. ^ "First Minister meets new Chief Scout". Archived from the original on 16 July 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  22. ^ "Press Release - Scouting Ireland Elects Chief Scout For Second Term" (Press release). Scouting Ireland. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  23. ^ Scouting Ireland official [@ScoutingIreland] (12 September 2015). "Chief Scout Christy McCann delivering his first address as Scouting Ireland's new Chief Scout! #ScoutsIE" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 September 2015 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Scouting Ireland [@ScoutingIreland] (18 April 2015). "The NMC will appoint a chairperson for the National Team of Policy Implementation until an emergency national Council is organised #NC15" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 April 2015 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "AGM of the National Council 2018 - Election Results" (PDF). Scouts.ie. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2018.
  26. ^ Scouting Ireland Board of Directors (8 February 2021). "Statement to Membership from Board of Directors". Scouting Ireland – via Mailchimp.
  27. ^ "huge congratulations to Jill for Chief Scout on being elected Scouting Ireland's Chief Scout. A Rover Scout, Scouter and the first female to hold this role in Scouting Ireland". Facebook. Lough Dan campsite. 22 May 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Scouting Ireland - Risk Management". Scouting Ireland. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  29. ^ "SID 96-13 Adults in Scouting Policy by Scouting Ireland - Issuu". 5 April 2022.
  30. ^ "SID-AR02 - Adults Working with Young People by Scouting Ireland - Issuu". 5 April 2022.
  31. ^ "Adults Awards Sample Citations by Scouting Ireland - Issuu". 10 June 2022.
  32. ^ "Scouting Ireland - policies and procedures - Safeguarding". Scouting Ireland. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  33. ^ Godison, Lisa (19 May 2002). "Designer Ireland; No 132". Sunday Times. p. 17. – via Academic OneFile (subscription required)
  34. ^ "Scouting's future". The Irish Times. 10 May 2003. p. 15 – via InfoTrac.
  35. ^ McGarry, Patsy (12 May 2003). "Wide welcome as Scouts join forces". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  36. ^ Annual Report 2019 (PDF) (Report). Scouting Ireland. 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  37. ^ a b c Power, Jack (21 April 2018). "Scouting Ireland faces Pandora's box of historic abuse cases". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  38. ^ Power, Jack (20 April 2018). "Four senior Scouting Ireland figures step aside". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  39. ^ Connor, Dyane (25 June 2018). "Funding to be restored to Scouting Ireland". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  40. ^ Power, Jack (1 November 2018). "Scouting Ireland funding is restored for six months". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 22 November 2018. Government restores grants on condition the organisation reforms child protection rules
  41. ^ No reference is made to Northern Ireland police or other authorities in the references available to date on the matter as a whole, or the specific November 2018 update
  42. ^ Power, Jack. "Scouting Ireland child abuse cases expected to rise 'quite considerably'". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 22 November 2018. Audit reveals details of 71 alleged abusers 'none of which are still working in organisation.' ... Most cases related to incidents between the 1960s and 1980s, and the majority of alleged abusers are deceased.
  43. ^ Bodger (12 February 2019). "On Hikes, In Woods, In Tents, In Local Dens". Broadsheet.ie. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Conneely, Ailbhe (14 May 2020). "Report finds failure to report Scouting Ireland abuse". RTÉ News. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  45. ^ "'Sex offenders dominated leadership' of scouting body for decades, report finds". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020. The number of alleged victims of child sex abuse has increased to 356, and 275 alleged perpetrators [..] The alleged abuse primarily occurred between the 1960s and 1990s
  46. ^ a b O'Donoghue, Paul (15 May 2020). "Scouting Ireland abuse: a damning verdict, but there is more to be found". The Times. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  47. ^ Roche, Barry (24 June 2021). "Former scout leader (72) jailed for five years for sexual assault". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  48. ^ Sunderland, Ciarán (22 May 2021). "Scouting Ireland leadership faces no-confidence motion at AGM". Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Ventact". Ventact Team. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
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  51. ^ "County Wicklow Campsites". ScoutingIreland.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  52. ^ "Scouting Ireland Campsites Network". Google My Maps. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
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  54. ^ "Postponement Announcement". WorldScoutMoot.ie. 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  55. ^ "Important Announcement". WorldScoutMoot.ie. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  56. ^ "Some statistics". World Organization of the Scout Movement. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
  57. ^ "Annual Report 2010" (PDF). World Scout Foundation. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  58. ^ "Mr John Geoghegan". World Scout Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  59. ^ "Bronze Wolf Awardees". Scout.org. WOSM. 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022.
  60. ^ "Bronze Wolf awarded to three Scout leaders for outstanding contributions to the Movement". WOSM. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 2 May 2023.
  61. ^ a b c Campbell, Paula (8 August 2008). "Rain stops play for scouts at Punchestown". Leinster Leader. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  62. ^ "Scouting Ireland to host largest gathering of young people in ireland at JamboRí in Laois". Leinster Express. 23 July 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  63. ^ Kiernan, Lynda (26 July 2018). "WATCH: Electric Picnic site is hosting 4,000 kids camping for Scouting Ireland JamboRÍ". Leinster Express. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  64. ^ "Signing of MOU". Facebook. Scouting Ireland. 3 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  65. ^ "Nyt fra korpsledelsen: Irland som samarbejdsland, nye politikker og KRM" [New from the corps leadership: Ireland as a partner country, new policies and KRM]. DDS.dk (in Danish). Det Danske Spejderkorps. 29 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  66. ^ "Írskir og íslenskir skátar í áskorun Crean á Hellisheiði" [Irish and Icelandic scouts in the Crean challenge in Hellisheiði]. Mbl.is (in Icelandic). 21 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  67. ^ O'Regan, Donal. "Limerick Scouts swap storms in Ireland for snowstorms in Iceland". LimerickLeader.ie. Retrieved 24 February 2022.

External links edit

  • Official website