Irish Medals

Scouts

CBSI Felt Merit Badges from the 1940s

Athletics Camping

Cooking Swimming

The type of cert awarded with the 1940s badges

As can be seen in this image of a CBSI Scout’s badges taken in 1963 a lot of the merit badges were of a different design to those used in the UK.

CBSI 1970s nylon Merit Badges

Alter Server Angler Archaeologist

Artist Astronomy Athlete (early issue) Athlete (later issue)

Bell Ringer Birdwatcher Book Binder

Bugler Camp Chef

Camper Camp Leader Campfire Leader

Canoeist Advanced Canoeist Canoeist (new version) Civics

Collector Computer (new version) Consumer Cycling

Electronics Expedition Explorer Fireman

First Aid Forester (new version) Gardener Guide

Guide (Old Issue) Hike leader Home Maker

Irish Dancer Land Navigator Leather Craft Librarian

Life Saver

Life Saver Advanced Link Badge Master at Arms Map Maker

Metal Worker Meteorologist Mountaineer Musician

Observer Pet Keeper Old and Newer Version Photographer

Pioneer Printer Public Health Public Speaker

Quartermaster

Quest (religious) Radio Man Sailing 1 Sailing 2

Secretary

Sportsman (First Issue) Sportsman Signaller

Swimmer Swimmer Advanced Skin Diver Woodworker

World Friendship

C.B.S.I. Merit Badges

The list above from the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland book The Scouting Trail (first edition 1964) lists the merit badges a Scout could earn. Some badges had different requirements for different age groups. In order to progress from Second Class Scout to First Class Scout a Scout had to earn a required number of merit badges, at least one from each section A to F.

In the mid-1970s, I think the scheme was proposed in 1975 and introduced in 1978, a new merit badge scheme cane into effect.

Like the previous scheme the badges were grouped and while the groups remained much the same some badges were retired and new ones added. One of the biggest changes was in the religious group which was reduced from 5 to 2 badges and the requirements of the Quest Badge included other religions.

Catholic Scouts of Ireland Merit Badges

In use from the 1940s up to the 2004. The design and requirements for the badge were similar to the UK version, Catholic Scouts of Ireland badges did not have the Scout logo on them, it was not unusual to see a mixture of Scout logo and non-Scout logo worn by a C.S.I. Scout. The badges measured approximately 45mm by 45mm. The newer version of the badge had rounded corners and a black felt backing, older versions had a white backing.

Scout Association of Ireland Sea Scouts

Progressive Badge Scheme

In 2002 the S.A.I. introduced a new badge scheme for the Sea Scout section. The new scheme was known as the Progressive Badge Scheme. When the two associations merged in 2004 the scheme was continued by former S.A.I. Sea Scout Troops up until 2010, the scheme was discontinued with the introduction of the One Programme. Sea Scout Troops participating in the Progressive Badge Scheme could also were badges introduced in 2004 when they became part of Scouting Ireland although from what I have seen it appears Sea Scout Troops either adapted the new Scouting Ireland badges or remained with the Progressive Badge Scheme, I did not see any Troops using both schemes at the same time.

Attainment Badges

As part of the Progressive Badge Scheme new proficiency badges were introduced, these were known as Attainment Badges. The badges measure 30mm by 40mm with black felt backing.

Camp Skills Hiking Expedition Cycling Camping

Canoeing Backwoods First Aid Survival Power Boating

Rowing Rafting Sailing Swimming

Catholic Scouts of Ireland and Scout Association of Ireland

Cub Scout Merit Badges

In use from the 1980s up to the 2004, some Packs did continue using them up to the introduction of the One Programme in 2010. The design and requirements for the badge were similar to the UK version, Catholic Scouts of Ireland badges did not have the Scout logo on them, it was not unusual to see a mixture of Scout logo and non-Scout logo worn by a C.S.I. Cub Scout. The badges measured approximately 40mm by 30mm.

These badges were also used by the Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. from the late 1980s up to the merger in 2004. Although the badge design was the same in the three stage badges Athlete and Swimmer the colour of the badge was different for S.A.I. Stage 1 Red, Stage 2 Yellow and stage three was Green. The requirements for the S.A.I. badge were different, a Cub had to take part in four different athletic competitions, 50 metre sprint, throwing a cricket ball, high jump and long jump, points were awarded for each event, the number of points gained determined the stage of badge awarded.

Artist Athlete Stage 1(SAI 2) Athlete Stage2 (SAI 3) Athlete Stage3 (SAI 1)

Angler

Book Reader Computer Skills Entertainer

First Aid Pet Care

Good Samaritan Home Safety Map Reader Musician

Camper Photographer Swimmer 2 (SAI 3) Swimmer 3 (SAI 1)

Tracker Travel Pet Care

Explorer Sports Man World Faiths

Gardener Chef Collector Cyclist

Handyman Scientist Communicator World Faiths

Home Help Rescuer Pathfinder My Faith

Orator Badge

Bob-a-Job Badges

One on the main sources of fundraising for the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland was Bob-a-Job week. Bob-a-Job week and was renamed Scout Job Week in 1971 and was advertised and reported on in the national newspapers. The first Irish Bob-a-Job took place in 1951. Before the Golden Jubilee of the CBSI in 1977 badges were usually undated. The badges for the Jubilee had Jubilee Year on them, after Jubilee Year the year appeared on the squirrel badge and other designs although some badges after Jubilee Year some designs did not contain the year.

The badge depicting two squirrels was given to Scouts who had earned above a certain amount of money, this was replaced by the Super Jobbers badge. The squirrels on the Scout badge were yellow or gold and the Cub badge had a red squirrel.

Golden Jubilee Year 1977

1978

1979

1981

1984

1985
Undated CSI. This one was issued in 1985 for the release of the Ghost Busters film.
1986
Diamond Jubilee 1987
1988
1989
Bob-a-Job week badges. In 1989 the two Irish Scout Associations, C.B.S.I. and S.A.I. joined together for Scout Job Week sponsored by Johnson Wax (Ireland) who made household cleaning products. Scouts manned 200 stalls at supermarkets around the country where they did shoe-shining and members of the public could leave details of jobs they wanted done and the Scouts would call at an appointed time, accompanied by adults, to perform the allotted tasks. A Super-Jobber badge was awarded for collecting over a certain amount of money.
Jobber
Scouting Ireland S.I. Jobber badge, awarded to Scouts who took part in a group fund raising Bob-a-Job type activity. Badge measures 40mm by 40mm.

Super-Jobber 1991

Jobber 1993

Jobber 1995

Scouting Ireland Skills Badges 2004 to 2010

Below are the Skills badges used by Scouting Ireland from 2004 until the introduction of the One Programme in 2010. They are similar to the present design although there were only four levels instead of the present nine levels.