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
Entertainer
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
Bookbinder
The bookbinder, Scripture and Librarian badges are very similar, on the Bookbinder badge the pages are all white.
Scripture and Librarian
The Scripture and Librarian badges are the same design
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.
Airman
Air Mechanic
Air Navigator
Boatman
Coxswain
Coxswains Mate
Parascending
Sculpture
The merit badges worn by C.S.I. Scouts were very similar to those worn by Scouts in the U.K., the only difference was C.S.I. badges did not have the Scout symbol. It was common to see a C.S.I. Scout wearing both C.S.I. badges and U.K. badges as can be seen on this Scouts uniform.
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
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.
Camping Skills Paddling Skills
Emergency Skills Pioneering Skills
Hiking Skills Air Skills
Rowing Skills Sailing Skills
Backwoods Skills
Scouting Ireland Skills Badges 2010 Current Issue
A progression of 9 badges numbered 1 to 9 with different borders.
Hiking Backwoods
Camping Skills Emergency Skills
Paddling (Canoe) Skills. Pioneering Skills
Sailing Skills Rowing Skills
Air Skills