Irish Medals

Over the years all the Irish Scout associations held various types of competitions and challenges.

Melvin Cup

 The Melvin Trophy was presented to the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland by Sir Martin Melvin proprietor of “The Universe” the Trophy was designed by Liam S. Gogan a noted Gaelic scholar and made by noted Irish silversmith Mia Carnwill. The enamelled panels depict images of Irelands past present and future. A Lepel badge belonging to the founder of the C.B.S.I. Father Tom Farrell is incorporated into the lid of the Trophy. The first Melvin Trophy took place at Larch Hill in August 1949. In order to take part in the Melvin competition a Patrol had to qualify. Each Diocese had an annual Diocesan Shield competition and the winning Troop of the Diocesan Shield would send a team to the Melvin Trophy. All Troops in the Diocese would contribute to the expenses of the team representing their Diocese. The Diocesan Shield competition included how a Troop was run. Below are the points awarded for a Diocesan Shield held in the 1950s.

1. Camping 300
2. Site Layout 50
3. Latrine 50
4. Kitchen 60
5. Gadgets 50
6. Condition of site after camp 100
7. Pioneering 200
8. Patrol dining table 150
9. Knots and lashing used on site 50
10. Cooking 200 - Tea 20, lunch 50, breakfast 40, tea 20, copy of menus and costing to be handed to DC on site 20, fire lighting 50.
11. Mapping and Compass total 200, use of map and compass 50, journey 150.
12. Discipline 200

1. Each Patrol will be self-sufficient as regards transport, adequate equipment for carrying out above programme.
2. Each Patrol will have prepared two camp-fire items (Song, Skit, ect.)
3. Each patrol will have prepared one outdoor Scout game.
4. Each Patrol will supply complete week-end menu and costings to dc on site.
5. Inspection of uniform 100
6. Troop Programme 100
7. Troop Records 100
8. Condition of hall 50
9. Patrol corners 50
11. 1949

The final stages of the competition were held at Larch Hill on the 20th and 21st of August and won by the 26th Dublin (Iona Road). The presentation of the Trophy was made in the grounds of the Central Model Schools Marlboro Street Dublin.

1950

In August 1950 the Melvin Cup was held in the grounds of Wilton College Cork, this was the only occasion the Melvin Cup was held outside Larch Hill. The competition was won by the 26th Dublin (Iona Road) retaining the Cup having won it in 1949. Second was the 21st Cork (St. Joseph’s, Mayfield) and third place was taken by the 4th Waterford (Abbeyside).

1951

The competition was held at Larch Hill and was won by 21st Cork St. Joseph’s (Mayfield) Troop. The members of the winning Cork Patrol were Patrol Leader Derry O’Sullivan, A.P.L. Michael O’Callaghan, Frank Fitzgerald, Sean Kelly, Patrick Goggin, Patrick Finn, Denis Mullins and Thomas Clancy. Four dioceses qualified to take part, Dublin, Cork, Down and Connor (Belfast) and Waterford. Cork won with 83 per cent, Dublin was second with 81 per cent and Waterford were third.

Winners of the Melvin Cup 1951, from left: Patrick Goggin, Denis Mullins, Frankie Fitzgerald, Tom Clancy, Pat Finn, Sean Kelly, Michael O’Callaghan, Derry O’Sullivan and John McCarthy.

1952

The competition was held at Larch Hill. Three Troops representing Dublin, Belfast and Cork qualified. The competition was held over the weekend of the 29th, 30th and 31th of August. The Trophy was won by the 41st Dublin(Donnybrook).

National Commissioner Mr. C. J. Murphy presents a Melvin Cup winners badge to John O’Connor Patrol Leader of the victorious patrol from the 41st Dublin.

1953

The competition was held at Larch Hill over the weekend of the 18th to the 30th of August. Troops from Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Cashel dioceses took part. The competition was won by the 4th Waterford (Abbeyside) Troop Scoutmaster Mr. L. F. Lanigan. The Chief Scout J. Whelehan presented the trophy to Patrol Leader Larry Fraher.

1954

No competition held  due to the Polio Epidemic

1955

The competition was held at Larch Hill over the weekend of the 26th to the 28th of July. The winners were the 4th Waterford (Abbeyside) Troop Scoutmaster Liam F Lanigan, solicitor. Very Rev. D. P. Gallagher National Scout Chaplain presented the Trophy to Patrol Leader Cyril O’Farrell, other members of the winning Patrol were P. Burke, N. Shanahan, F. Straine, M. Phelan, P. Duggan, O. Clancy and J. Cullinan. The winning Troop received a rousing reception on their return to Abbeyside with dance at the Old Pond and several bonfires blazed. 1955 was the 25th anniversary of the 4th Waterford (Abbeyside) Troop.

1956

No Results

 1957

The competition was held at Larch Hill over the weekend of the 23th to the 25th of August. The winners were the 4th Waterford (Abbeyside) Troop Scoutmaster Liam F Lanigan, solicitor. This was their third win in the past five years. Very Rev. D. P. Gallagher National Scout Chaplain presented the Trophy to Patrol Leader O. Clancy, other members of the winning Patrol were J. Browne, J Cullinan, J. O’Dea, J. Duggan, R O’Regan, G. Kyne and K. O’Mahoney.

1958

The competition was held at Larch Hill over the weekend of the 29th to the 31th of August. The winners were the 4th Waterford (Abbeyside) Troop Scoutmaster Liam F Lanigan, solicitor. Chief Scout J. B. Whelehan M.A. presented the Trophy. Members of the winning Patrol were S. Browne, S Duggan, J. O’Dea, M. Regan, B. Morrissey, G. Kyne, P. Langan and K. Mahony. The Waterford Troop scored 814 with the 21st Cork (Mayfield) a close second with 811 points and Dublin taking third place.

1959

No Results

1960

Won by the 12th Cork (St. Patrick’s). The competition was held at Larch Hill from the 26th to the 28th of August.

1961

Held at Larch Hill from 25th to the 27th of August. Won by the 4th Cork (St. Peter and St. Paul's)Troop. Patrol Leader Morris Laythorne, Denis Kidney, Kevin Kidney, Aidan Hayes, Gerard Hayes, Florence Neffe, Andrew Murphy, Ormond Cowman. The Scoutmaster was J. K. Hurley.

1962

Winners of the Melvin Cup in 1962 were the 12th Cork. A victory dinner was held in the Cork Metropole Hotel. The photo shows Scoutmaster Finbarr Keenan with the Chief Scout and National Commissioner showing the trophy to Father Thomas Riordan chaplain to the 12th Cork Troop.  

The competition was held at Larch Hill from the 24th to the 26th of August. 13 Patrols took part in the competition. Second place was taken by the 5th Limerick (St. Joseph’s) Patrol, third was the 1st Galway (Galway City) Patrol and fourth went to the 77th Dublin (Blackrock College) Patrol. The winning team were Thomas Mangan, Sean Coleman, Denis Buckley, Liam Mangan, Dominick Buckley, Tom Ryan, Sean Dunne and Barry McCarthy. The winning Patrol had an average of 14 years old. Thomas Mangan, Sean Coleman and Liam Mangan were members of the winning Patrol in the 1960 Melvin Cup.

1963

Winners of the Melvin Cup in 1963 were the 4th Cork (St. Peter and St. Paul’s). Pictured are the winning Patrol, Patrol Leader Liam Twomey and Scoutmaster J. K. Hurley admire the trophy surrounded by the winning Troop.

1964

Held at Larch Hill from 27th to the 30th of August. The winners were 5th Limerick (St. Joseph’s) Troop. The Trophy was presented by National Chaplain Very Rev. D. P. Gallagher P.P.to Patrol Leader Michael Madigan, the other members of the winning Patrol were A.P.L. Joseph Kearns and Scouts Michael Finan, Michael Fitzgibbon, David Barry, Joseph O’Rahilly, James Pidgeon and Thomas Shine. Scoutmaster of the Troop Mr. Hugh McGrath and Assistant Scoutmaster Patrick Madigan also attended the competition. Second place was taken by the 10th Dublin (Aughrim Street), third was the 4th Waterford (Abbeyside), fourth the 15th Cork (South parish). Teams from Cobh, Kilrush, Castleblayney, Emyvale, Westland Row and Baldoyle (Dublin) also took part.

 1965

The winners, 5th Limerick (St. Joseph’s) Troop, preparing to receive the trophy

Held at Larch Hill from 27th to the 29th of August. The winners were 5th Limerick (St. Joseph’s) Troop who had also won the competition last year. The Trophy was presented by National Chaplain Very Rev. D. P. Gallagher P.P.to Patrol Leader Michael Finan who was also a member of last year’s winning Patrol. The other members of the winning Patrol were Tom Shine, David Barry and Joseph O’ Reilly all members of last year’s winning team and Colum Greaney, David Carey, Christopher Madigan and Frank Fitzgibbon. Second place was taken by the 12th Cork (St. Patrick’s), third the 10th Belfast and fourth the 4th Waterford (Abbeyside). Ten Troops competed in the competition.

1966

Winners of the Melvin Cup in 1966 were the 2nd Cork (South Parish). The National Chaplin D. P. Gallagher presenting the trophy to Patrol Leader Denis Ahern. 9 Patrols took part in 1966, second was 13th Dublin (Rathfarnham), third place went to 30th Dublin (Dominick Street and fourth was the 3rd Limerick (St. John’s). Both first and second places went to Troops who were taking part in the competition for the first time. The competition was described as the most ‘Scouty’ ever seen in the history of the competition. Also in the photo are National Commissioner Mr. D Coleman, chaplain to the competition Reverend C Ryan and Scoutmaster J. Goulding.

1967

No competition held due to CBSI's first National Camp - Lios Mór '67.

1968

Held at Larch Hill from 23th to the 25th of August. Won by the 17th Cork (Blackrock) Troop. They won the opportunity to represent Cork at the competition by winning the Cork Diocesan Shield in May. Chief Scout Mr. C. J. Murphy presented the Trophy to Patrol leader Eamonn Cotter, the other members of the winning Patrol were Pat Hourihane, Michael Dorney, John Daly, Michael D. Dorney, Harry Kidney, Frank Brennan and Liam Mulchy. The 13th Dublin (Rathfarnham) took second place. Scoutmaster of the winning Troop Mr. Tom Dorgan and Scout Leaders Sean Coleman, John Coughlan and Richard Guiton also attended the event.

1969

Winners 30th Dublin (Dominick Street)

1970

Held at Larch Hill from 20th to the 23th of August. Won by the 17th Cork (Blackrock) Troop. Despite very bad weather on the Friday and Saturday the competition continued. The winning Patrol Leader Dan Negle received the Trophy from Chief Scout Lieutenant Colonel P. D. Hogan. The winning Troop were John O’Reilly, Harry Kidney, John MacCurtain, Liam Mulcahy, Jim Kelly, Pat Whelan and Liam Courtney. Scoutmaster Mr. Tom Dorgan also attended.

 1971

Held at Larch Hill from 19th to the 22nd of August. With a record entry of eighteen Patrols 1971 was the largest Melvin Trophy competition held to date. The competition was won by the 30th Dublin (Dominick Street) Troop, second were the 17th Cork (Blackrock) and third were the 18th Cork (Fermoy). The Trophy was presented by National Commissioner Mr. Stephen Spain to Patrol Leader Fran Dalton, the winning team were Joseph Dalton, Anthony Maguire, Christopher Laffan, Frank Flood, James Quinn, Tony Murphy and Des Deane. Chief Scout Lieut. Col. P. G. Hogan sent a message of congratulations to the winning Patrol, he was away on United Nations duty with the Irish Defence Forces. This year’s competition contained a new country code with the emphasis on conservation.

 1972

Held at Larch Hill from 24th to the 27th of August. Twenty-one Patrols took part and the winning Patrol were the 18th Cork (Fermoy) Troop. Second were the 37th Cork (SS. Peter and Paul) and third were the 11th Belfast (St. Colmcille’s). Chief Scout Col. P. D. Hogan presented the Trophy to Patrol Leader Michael Dennehy. The other member of the winning Patrol were Niall O Lianthain, Maurice Gibbino, P. J. King, Joe O’Connor, Kevin Dennehy, David O’Keeffe and Bernard Fleming., the Scoutmaster of the winning Patrol was Mr. Pat Bartley.  

1973

Held at Larch Hill in August. The Trophy was won by the 8th Cork (Cathedral) Troop, second was the 17th Cork (Blackrock) and third was the 37th Dublin (Templeogue). Twenty five Patrols competed. The Patrol leader of the winning Patrol was Noel Sheehan.

 1974

Held at Larch Hill on the 24th and 25th of August. The Trophy was won by the37th Cork (Togher) Troop. President Childers toured the site during the competition. The Chief Scout Mr. James D. Hally made the presentation. The 9th Dublin (Aughrim Street) were second.  

1975

Held at Larch Hill on the 23rd and 24th of August. The Cork (Togher) Troop retained the Trophy having won it in 1974. Thirty-two Patrols took part in the competition. Second was the 8th Cork (Cathedral) and third was the 78th Dublin (Clondalkin). Chief Scout Mr. James D. Hally presented the Trophy. The winning Patrol were Patrol Leader Paul Morgan, Edward McCarthy, Patrick O’Sullivan, Brendan Cooper and Patrick Bradley. Scout Christopher Madden a member of the Connor Diocese team was taken to Saint Vincent’s hospital during the competition suffering from appendicitis, he was reported well after under-going an operation.  

1976

Held at Larch Hill on the 19th to the 22nd of August. The 37th Cork (Togher) Troop retained the Trophy having won it in 1975. Patrol Leader David Kidney received the Trophy from Chief Scout Mr. James D. Hally at larch Hill. Other members of the winning Patrol were Jerry Murphy, Seamus Moriarty, Martin Dunlea, Victor Horgan, Sean Dunlea and Patrick Bradley. The Scout Leader of the winning Patrol was Martin McCarthy. 39 Patrols took part in the competition.  

1977

Held at Larch Hill on the 25th to the 28th of August. No results.

1978

Held at Larch Hill on the 17th to the 20th of August. 42nd Cork SS Peter and Paul's.

 1979

Held at Larch Hill on the 24th to the 26th of August. The 60th Cork (Togher) Troop won the Trophy. Cork Troops swept the winners board with the 8th Cork (St. Marys) second, 17th Cork (Blackrock) third and fourth place went to the 45th Cork, the 19th Belfast (Northern Ireland Scout Council) were fifth. Eight hundred Scouts from 28 Troops competed in the competition.

1980

Held at Kilcully County Cork from the 28th to the 31st of August. The 13th Kildare (Clane) Troop won the Trophy. Six hundred Scouts from 20 Troops took part.

1981

Held at Larch Hill from the 20th to the 23rd of August. No results.

1982

Held at Larch Hill from the 20th to the 22nd of August. The winners were the 14th Kerry (Caherciveen). The winning Troops were Sean Gill, P. J. Casey, Diarmuid Cournane, Jim Sugrue, Brian O’Sullivan, Matthew O’Neill, Brendan McCarthy, and John Kavanagh. Scout Kieran Quinlan was substitute on stand-by in case of illness. Their leaders were Unit Leader Brother Campion, Scout Leader Kevin Murphy and Assistant Leader Michael Kenneaslly.

1983

Held at Larch Hill from the 18th to the 21st of August. The Trophy was won by the 21st Limerick (Holy Family, Southill) Troop. The winning team were Patrol Leader Thomas Hayes, APL Timothy Farrelly, John O’Neill, Joseph Sheehan, Harry Barry, Christopher O’Gorman, Sean Costello and Derek McLnerney. Over 450 Scouts making up 58 Patrols took part.

1984

Held at Larch Hill from the 23rd to the 26th of August. Won by the 78th Dublin (Clondalkin). 54 Troops took part.

1985

Held at Kilcully campsite in Cork to celebrate Corks 800th anniversary from the 22nd to the 25th of August. Won by the 17th Waterford (St Paul's). One thousand Scouts from fifty-eight Troops took part.  

1986

Held at the Royal Dublin Society (R.D.S.) grounds in Dublin from the 22nd to the 24th of August. Won by a Troop from Dublin.

1987

Held at Larch Hill from the 21st to the 23rd of August. No results.

1988

Held in the grounds of University College Dublin (U.C.D.) from the 19th to the 21st of August. Over 800 Scouts making up 112 Patrols attended the event which had the sub-title of ‘The Millennium Camp’ as 1988 was the 1000th anniversary of Dublin City. The competition was won by 17th Waterford Troop. Scout Association of Ireland Scouts also took part in the event.

1989

Held in the grounds of Mount Mellery, Lismore, County Waterford, from the 17th to the 20th of August. The competition was won by the 17th Waterford City (St. Paul’s) with the 13th De La Salle Troop from Waterford City taking a close second place. Other competitions including what was described as the most colourful event was the ‘French Fair’ held to mark the Bicentenary of the French Revolution saw the 23rd Dublin Troop take the Dermot Murphy Trophy for the best interpretation of the theme. The Melleray Cup for best Visiting Troop went to the 10th Belfast. The Trek Cart Trophy donated by Kelloggs went to the 11th Armagh and the Camp-craft Trophy went to the 1st/2nd Kerry (Tralee).

1990

Held at Larch Hill sometime in August. The Trophy was won by 1st Wicklow 2nd Dublin St. Kilian’s Greystones.

1991

The results for the 1991 Melvin Trophy held in Tollymore Forest Park near Newcastle, County Down were, 1st place 23rd Limerick Caherdavin, Patrol Leader Shane Riordan. This was the first time the competition was held in Northern Ireland.

1992

Held in Ballincollig Regional Park, Cork from the 20th to the 23rd of August. The winners were the 38th/40th Cork (Ballinlough), the 37th Cork (Togher) took second place and third went to the 94th Dublin (Walkinstown).

1993

No results.

1994

The competition was held in the grounds of Copsewood College, Pallaskenry, County Limerick from the 18th to the 21st of August. Two Troops from Cork shared first place, joint winners 24th Cork (Charleville) and 46th Cork (Glanmire) defeated 60 other Patrols for the honour. The winning Charleville Patrol were Patrol Leader Michael Browne, APL Kevin O’Leary, Eoin Browne, Paul O’Leary, Pat Custir, Barry Ryan, Patrick Quain and Cian O’Laoithe. The camp was divided into four sub-camps, Wolves, Curlews, Bulls and Ravens, twenty of the 62 Patrols were mixed (boys and girls).

1995

The competition was held in Larch Hill from the 17th to the 20th of August. The winning Troop were Saint Pauls Waterford. 64 Patrols took part. The winning Patrol were PL Declan Kelly, APL Keith Walsh, and Scouts James O’Rourke, Neal O’Brien, Damian Fitzgerald, Kevin Butler, Conor Kenny and Colin Greany, scoring a total of 1636 out of a possible 2000.

1996

The competition was held in Mount Melleray near Cappoquin County Waterford from the 21st to the 25th of August. The winning Patrol were from the 17th Waterford (Lisduggan), second place went to the 103rd Dublin (Wellington). 525 Scout took part in the competition including 200 girls.

1997

The competition was held in Larch Hill from the 21st to the 25th of August. The winning Patrol were from the 17th Waterford (Lisduggan), second place went to the 80th Cork (Little Island) and third was the 13th Waterford (De La Salle).  Scout Troops from Europe and the US also took part in the competition.

1998

The competition was held in Kilcully, County Cork from the 20th to the 23rd of August. Cork swept the board taking the top three places, the winning Patrol were from Ballinlough, Charleville were second and Carrigaline third. Nearly 600 Scouts took part including Scouts from Kenya and the US.

1999

The competition was held in Larch Hill. The Trophy was won by Saint Paul’s Unit Waterford, the winning Patrol were Claire Guilfoyle, Sarah Johnston, Emer O’Connor, Deirdre Guilfoyle, David O’Neill, James Errit, Robbie Kelly, Ian Allen and Alan Walker. It was the first time in the history of the competition that the winning Patrol was led by a girl.

2000

The competition was held in Larch Hill from the 17th to the 20th of August. The Trophy was won by the 3rd Waterford (De La Salle) Troop. The Scout Leader of the 3rd Waterford Paschal Guilfoyle is the father of the first girl to lead a winning Patrol in the competition, his daughter Clare Guilfoyle was Patrol Leader of the 1999 winning Patrol. The winning 2000 team were Leon Mullally, Conor Walsh, Kieran Gleeson, Ian Griffin, John Cummins, Brian Brazil, Conor Dempsey and Patrick Kelly.

2001

The competition was held in Lacca, Castleconnell, County Limerick from the 15th to the 19th of August. Won by Saint Paul’s.

2002

Held at Larch Hill sometime in August. The Trophy was won by St. Paul’s Troop from Limerick.

2003

Held at Larch Hill sometime in August. The Trophy was won by St. Paul’s Troop from Limerick. The winning Patrol were Emer O’Connor, David Kenny, Conor Walsh, Dean McGrath, Sarah Johnston, Lyndsay Farrell, Kate Keoghan and Niall Mahon.

 

The Melvin Cup was a Catholic Scouts of Ireland competition, in 2004 with the formation of Scouting Ireland the Melvin Cup and the Scout Association of Ireland’s Smythe Cup competitions were merged into the Phoenix Patrol Challenge.

 Smythe Cup

The Scout Association of Ireland had the Smythe Cup (also recorded as the Smyth Cup), the Smythe Cup competition started about 1916 and was awarded up to 2003.

1926

The Cup was presented by General Sir William Hickie in Lord Iveagh’s grounds on Saturday the 29th of May to the 1st Dublin Troop (Lord Holmpatrick’s Own). The Scouts’ Sports Cup was won by Sandford, the Wolf Cubs’ Sports Cup was won by Clontarf and the Rover Scout Football League Championship Cup by the 1st Port of Dublin Sea Scouts.

1927

The cup was presented by General Sir Bryan Mahon in Lord Iveagh’s grounds on Saturday the 28th of May to the 32nd Dublin (Rathgar) Troop. The Sir John Arnott’s Leinster Football Challenge Cup was presented to the 1st Port of Dublin Sea Scouts. The band of the British Legion (Ireland) entertained a large crowd including over one thousand Rover Scouts, Wolf Cubs and for the first time taking part in the Smyth Cup, Sea Scouts.

1928

Won by the Sandford Troop Dublin Boy Scouts Association. The Cup was presented by Mr. F. A. Sterling U.S. Minister at the Dublin Boy Scouts annual rally and sports held at Lord Iveagh’s grounds Harcourt Street Dublin on the 23rd of June 1928.

1933

At the annual rally and sports day held in Lord Iveagh’s Ground, Harcourt Street, Dublin on Saturday the 24th of June Major W.S.G. Drummond D.S.O. presented the Smyth Cup to the 23rd Dublin Troop, the Rover Scout Challenge Cup was won for the sixth time by the 11th (Zion) Troop and the Association Football Cup was won by the 23rd Dublin Troop.

1934

At a Sports Day held in Lord Iveagh’s Grounds Dublin on Saturday the 7th of July the Smyth Cup was won by Rathfarnham the 23rd Dublin Company won the Scouts Sports Cup, Zion Troop won the Challenge Cup, Sandford won the Pack-Beresford Cup and Glasnevin won the Oaks Memorial Cup.

1938

On Saturday the 25th of June Travelling Commissioner the Earl of Buckinghamshire presented the Smyth Cup to the 39th Dublin (Morgan School) Troop who also won the Bain Shield. The 32nd Dublin (Christchurch Rathgar) Troop won the Powerscourt Senior Scout Award.

1944

The Cup was presented at the annual sports day at Lansdowne Road, the 31st Rathfarnham won the Smyth Cup. The 27th (St. Andrews College) Troop won the Oakes Memorial Cup and the Scouts Sports Cup. The Bain Junior Cup was won by the 33rd Dublin (Sandford).

1991

In August 1991 the competition was held at the Curraghchase Estate near Limerick City. 250 Scouts in 33 Patrols took part. During the camp the Scouts also took part in a re-enactment of the Siege of Limerick.

2001

The competition was held at Curraghchase Estate near Limerick City. 25 Patrols involving 250 Scouts took part in the competition which included a simulated hot air balloon crash and a raft building competition. The Cup was won by the 54th Dublin (Cornelscourt) Troop.