All Sections National Badge.
There were several versions of the Association National badge. The Free State were the first issue, issued from 1922 to 1937, with the new Constitution in 1937 the Free State was renamed Eire and the National Strip changed to Eire. In 1949 the Constitution changed the name of the country to the Republic of Ireland and the name strip changed to Ireland.
One version of the badge had a green backing on the Irish Free State lettering. The badge in the images above was obtained by a French scout from an Irish Free State scout at the 4th World Scout Jamboree held at Gödöllő Hungary in 1933. The badge measures approximately 70mm across.
Similar in design, the older badge has a more Gold coloured lettering the latter has a more yellow coloured lettering.
In 1937 the country was renamed EIRE or in English Ireland, the EIRE national badge was used from 1937 to 1949.
In the 12 years that the Eire strip was used several shades and slightly varying designs were used.
In 1949 Ireland became a republic and the EIRE badge was changed to Ireland.
I am not sure if the above strips were official Scout issue but they were used by Scouts travelling abroad when the Ireland name change first came into effect.
The first official Scout badge used when travelling abroad. The Boy Scouts of Ireland were renamed the Scout Association of Ireland in 1968.
There were several versions of this badge issued over the years. The IRELAND strip was introduced in 1968 when The Boy Scouts of Ireland became The Scout Association of Ireland. The badge measures 80mm by 20mm.
The first international badge with Gasoga na hEireann was issued in the 1970s, I think the one above was worn at the World Scout Jamboree in Norway in 1975.
There was also a European Union version of the Gasoga na hEireann badge.
Association Badge
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. badges in English and Gaelic. This was the first design used by SAI.
The above association badge was used by SAI in the late 1980s early 1990s.
All Sections Group Name Strip
The Boy Scouts of Ireland and the Scout Association of Ireland used group name strips. Usually, red lettering on a white background for Scouts and blue lettering on white for Sea Scouts.
Generally, the bigger the lettering on the badge the older the badge is. On the above example from the 1st Dublin the letters measure 10mm. We know this badge was given to a Scout when he was invested in the 1st Dublin in 1928 and we have been told it was the design used since the 1st Dublin was founded in 1911.
The above badges date from 1961 when the 30th Dublin (Dun laoghaire) formed a Sea Scout Group, the lettering on these badges is slightly over 3mm.
Silver Shamrock and Silver Elk
Awards for Special Service were updated as published in Scout Ceremonies and Group Function booklet 1982.
SAI Service Stars
The SAI Service Star had six points, the metal version was chrome or silver in colour and there were a variety of metal stars both faceted and plain.
1 year Cub Scout Service Star, yellow background, and three 1 year Scout Service Stars on a Scout Association of Ireland uniform dating from the 1920s.
Leaders
Service knots were used by the Scout Association of Ireland. Service knots awarded to SAI leaders were worn on the Scouting Ireland uniform after the merger.
- Green = 10 Years
- Grey = 15 Years
- Purple = 25 Years
- Orange = 40 Years
Sea Scout Leader Cap Badge
Scout Association of Ireland SAI, measures 58mm by 46mm, padded with a plastic backing. They were designed to be wedged under the brim but as this was an unsatisfactory method of attaching the badge to the cap it was usually glued. The badge was in use up to about 2004.
Group Pastor
Group Pastor Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. This position could be held by any adult, usually a Vicar, Minister or someone connected with the Church. A catholic priest could hold this position (I would suspect subject to Papal dispensation as it involved coming into contact with other religions.) Although the job description contained all sorts of things about faith and guardianship the usual job was to organize and conduct Scouts Own on district camps.
Venture Scouts
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Venture Scout section strip. Variations of letter size and shade as well as varying shades of background exist.
Air Scouts
Air Crew Navigator
Scout Association of Ireland Air Crew Navigator Badge measures 80mm by 35mm.
Air Spotter
SAI Air Spotter Badge. measures 48mm by 48mm.
Beaver Scouts
The Scout Association of Ireland started Beaver Scouts in May 1976.
Beaver Scout Section Badge
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Beaver Scout section strip. Variations of letter size and shade as well as varying shades of background exist.
Cub Scouts
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Cub Scout section strip. Variations of letter size and shade as well as varying shades of background exist.
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Cub Scout section strip Gaelic version. Macaoimh literal translation is Youths although it is can also be used as Young Person or Boy.
Cub Scouts Cap Badge
The badge was worn by Scout Association of Ireland Cub Scouts on their cap, I think the Cap was discontinued sometime in the 1970s.
Cub Scout Arrow progression scheme.
Bronze Arrow
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Bronze Cub Scout Arrow progression scheme. Was in use in the 1978 edition of the Cub Scout handbook and I think was in use up to the merger in 2004. The first issue was a lighter green as can be seen in the image.
Sliver Arrow
Gold Arrow
Cub Scout Rank Badges
Seconder
Worn by SAI Cub Sixers from the 1970s up to about 2010.
Sixer
Worn by SAI Cub Seconder from the 1970s up to about 2010.
Scouts
S.A.I. Scout Membership Badge.
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Scout membership badge, this version was in use from 1984 up to 2004.
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Scout section strip. Variations of letter size and shade as well as varying shades of background exist.
SAI Patrol Badges
SAI Scouts wore Patrol badges identical to those used by UK Scouts, the same type of patrol badge was also used by the CBSI.
SAI Progressive Badge Scheme 1972 - 1984
Scout Standard
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I., measures 40mm by 40mm. The badge was used from the early 1970s (I think 1972) up to 1984 when it was replaced by the larger blue oval badges. The badge was one of a progressive scheme, this badge was called the Scout Standard. later issues of the Scout version of the badge had a lighter blue background.
First Class Award
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I., measures 40mm by 40mm. The second badge in the SAI Progressive Badge Scheme 1972 – 1984.
S.A.I. Progressive 1984
Investiture Badge
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Investiture Badge also known as the Promise Badge, measures 59mm by 52mm. The badge was the first of 3 badges in a progressive scheme introduced in 1984, Frontier Scout and Explorer Scout were the other two stages.
Frontier Scout
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Frontier Scout measures 60mm by 52mm. The badge was the 2nd in a 3 stage progressive scheme introduced in 1984.
Explorer Scout
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Explorer Scout, measures 58mm by 52mm. The badge was the 3rd stage in a progressive scheme introduced by the Scout Association of Ireland in 1984 and was used up to 2004.
Saint Patrick’s Badge
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Saint Patrick’s award badge. Measures 65mm by 45mm. This was the highest award in the scheme.
Sea Scouts.
Sea Scout Standard
Sea Scouts wore the all dark blue version Scouts wore the same design with a darker background and yellow border.
Sea Scout First Class Award
Sea Scout Venture Award
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I., measures 40mm by 40mm. The 3rd badge in the SAI Progressive Badge Scheme 1972 – 1984. Sea Scouts wore the all dark blue version Scouts wore the same design with a darker background and yellow border.
Section Name Strip
Sea Scout Chest Patch
Scout Association of Ireland S.A.I. Sea Scout chest patch. 140mm by 37mm. In the days when Irish Mammies use to knit a Sea Scout’s jumper the chest patch was supplied to sew onto the front of the jumper. I think the English version was discontinued sometime in the 1980s when Irish Mammies put the knitting needles beyond reach.
Scout Association of Ireland Sea Scout chest patch Gaelic version. Measures 175mm across.
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.
Sea Scout Badge.
Measures 40mm by 40mm. Used by Scouting Ireland from 2004 to 2010.
Boatman Badge
Measures 40mm by 40mm. Used by Scouting Ireland from 2004 to 2010, the design changed in 2010 when the Scouting Ireland logo was added.
Coxswain Badge
Measures 40mm by 40mm. Used by Scouting Ireland from 2004 to 2010, the design changed in 2010 when the Scouting Ireland logo was added.
Mariner, this level was aimed at Venture Scouts.