History of 13th Rathfarnham

In the Begining.......

Although the 13th is one of the oldest Units in Dublin, Scouting in Rathfarnham didn't begin until 1943, 16 years after the founding of CBSI in 1927. On 28th March 1943, the Parish Council wrote to Paudge O Broin, Scoutmaster of the 45th Dublin, Mt. Argus, inviting him to attend a meeting to discuss the setting up of a troop. Paudge was persuaded to take on the job despite heavy commitments to the 45th. The Troop received it's Charter as the 13th Dublin. It was not the first troop to have that title. In the early days of CBSI a number of troops had not survived the early enthusiasm of their founders. Some people thought that the new 13th would go the same way, and it indeed it wasn't easy at the start. There were difficulties with money, accomodation and indifference in the Parish towards the troop. The first troop consisted of one Patrol and subs was 2 old pence a week (quite a lot for some in those days). The Whit Weekend of 1943 brought the first Troop camp in Larch Hill (3 Miles Away). This was a weekend shared with the 45th as Paudge O Broin was S/M of both troops. During the "Emergency" of the 1940's money was scarce and the Rathfarnham Scouts helped out by cutting turf on the Featherbeds for the poor of the parish. They also made a tidy profit after Annual Camp in 1946 by bringing back Butter (a scarce commodity) from Donegal and selling it in Dublin. In 1950 Frank Doolin became S/M. The troop was well established and there were no fears of it going under. The yellow neckerchief with it's distinctive black border had become part of Rathfarnham Life and the troop refrain was being chanted by more and more scouts:

"Who are we, who can guess? The 13th the 13th. Yes. Yes. Yes. From  Rathfarnham on the hill We go scouting with our will. Out in Scouting is our yen. The 13th. The 13th Yes. Yes. Yes."

First troop Camp in Larch Hill June 6th 1943

Diarmuid O Broin receiving attention at a First Aid Display in 1947

Into the 1950's........

For most of the 1950's (1951 -1958) M.J. Redmond was S/M. He is best remembered for his enthusiasm for Campfires and outdoor activities in all kinds of weather. In 1951 the 13th was represented on the Continent for the first time with the Dublin Diocesan Pilggrimage to Lourdes. The Senior Leaders travelled by Boat and Train to the South of France. The troop had their first camp north of the Border in Cushendun Co. Antrim. In 1953 the 13th joined with another troop (7th Kildare) for Annual in Courtown Co. Wexford. The only thing mentioned from this camp was the "Pancake Epidemic". We have no idea what  it was all about. The outstanding Annual of the 50's was probably Church Island on Lough Gill  Co. Sligo in 1956. The weather was wet and windy. The lake was so Choppy that the scouts were marooned.No supplies could be brought to the island for a few days. Rabbit stew was the order of the day. Mick mercere from H.Q. Troop was stabbed through the wrist by a homemade spear meant for a rabbit. In the late 1950's, the Everest Competition encouraged patrols to climb the hight of Mt. Everest by accumulating the 29,000 feet by climbing the mountains of Dublin and Wicklow.There was increasing interest in Rathfarnham to get younger boys interested in Scouting and in 1957 a Cub section was set up by Myles Nolan from the High St. Troop under an invitation to do so by the 13th Troop Committee. Their first Annual was a joint camp with Artane Cubs in Portmarnock Co. Dublin. They will be best remembered gor Mylie Nolans' Ghost Stories which were always told in the dark!

Sean Mooney & Jimmy Callan launching a raft in Larch Hill 1957

On the way to Lourdes 1951

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