Our story

From a first meeting in a school hall to 50 years of Scouting in Ballinteer.

History research and text by local historian Liam Muldowney, presented at our 50th anniversary celebrations, November 2025.

Our timeline

Early 1970s
Ballinteer is growing fast. The Woodpark and Broadford estates are built, a new church opens in 1973, and Our Lady's Boys and Girls schools follow. Children from the area are travelling to the 63rd Dundrum Troop to get their Scouting, meeting first in Dundrum church hall and later at the old Dundrum Family Recreation Centre (now the Meadowbrook Swimming Pool). But the 63rd is full and turning children away.
1975
Ballinteer parents approach Fr. Michael Loftus, curate at St. John the Evangelist church, to help start a local troop. Charlie Rowland and Don Kerrigan from the 63rd officially get it going: the 115th is born. Charlie later moves on to set up another troop in Balally; Don becomes Unit Leader and stays on for many years. Other early leaders include Dermot Dunne, John Broderick, Tony McGinty and Peter Curran.

The first meeting is held in Our Lady's school hall with just 8 members recorded on the first night. Don Kerrigan chooses navy as the group colour, buys large pieces of cloth and cuts and sews the first batch of neckers himself. His wife meticulously makes the 115's first flag, featuring the Eagle emblem, symbol of St. John the Evangelist. That flag still survives today.

The original flag, still in remarkable condition.

Don Kerrigan (left) and Peter Curran (right) with the original flag at our 50th anniversary, November 2025.

The reverse: "Gasóga Caitlicí na hÉireann · 115 · Dublin" — the original Irish name for the Catholic Scouts before the 2004 merger that formed Scouting Ireland.
1976
115th Ballinteer is officially registered with Scouting Ireland at Larch Hill.
1980
Membership has grown to 150 children. The school hall is struggling to cope, sometimes double-booked, leading to impromptu hikes or games in the schoolyard. It's clear the 115th needs its own home. A meeting is held with parents to find a suitable site. The Girl Guides, who also use the school hall, join the project. A lease is secured from the St. Laurence Trust for a site on Broadford Rise, beside the school and church.
December 1981
Planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála after an oral hearing. The den is built on Broadford Rise at a total cost of £85,000. Dublin County Council contributes £7,000; a £20,000 loan from the Trustee Savings Bank covers the rest. The 115th finally has a home of its own.
1983
The final loan payment is made to the Trustee Savings Bank, two years ahead of schedule, clearing all debt on the premises. The den now caters for over 450 boys and girls. A second Scout section is formed, and the Venture group goes co-ed, including both boys and girls aged 15–18.
2008
Major refurbishment: external fire doors replaced, internal fire doors fitted, walls replastered. The building brought fully up to date for safety and comfort.
Since then
Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Ventures and Rovers have kept the place busy through camps, badges, hikes and weeknight programmes. Today we also hire the den overnight to other Scout groups visiting Dublin and the mountains.

115th Ballinteer on the road, 1980s.

From the archives

Aerial photograph of Ballinteer in the early 1970s showing the new housing estates being built — Ballinteer in the early 1970s. Woodpark and Broadford taking shape.

Dublin County Council planning permission document for the new scout den, December 1981 — Planning permission granted by Dublin County Council, December 1981.

Original bank loan letter from Trustee Savings Bank Dublin for the scout den construction — The original loan letter from Trustee Savings Bank Dublin for the den build.

Newspaper clipping showing members of 115th Ballinteer receiving Chief Scout Awards — Members receiving Chief Scout Awards: Kenneth Kirwan, Robert Ryan, Fra Curran and Graham Caulwell with Chief Scout Paul Ring.

The den is for our youth members. It's theirs to enjoy and make use of. We're very proud to look after it and pass it on, generation after generation.

50th anniversary badge for 115th Ballinteer Scout Group, 2025

50 years: 1975–2025

November 8th, 2025 · The Den

In November 2025 we marked our 50th anniversary with a celebration at the den. The badge was designed by one of our own members. The evening ran in two parts: Daytime Explorers (4–5pm) welcomed families to wander a history display, enjoy s'mores and bury a time capsule; Twilight Journeys (7–8pm) brought together adult members, past and present, for stories and reflections from across the years.

Event poster for the 50th anniversary celebration, November 8th 2025 — The event poster.

50th anniversary banner on the front of the scout den — The den dressed for the occasion.

Chief Scout Eoin Callanan with a 115th Ballinteer leader at the history display, 50th anniversary evening — Chief Scout Eoin Callanan at the history display, curated by Liam Muldowney.

Chief Scout Eoin Callanan with 115th Ballinteer members holding the handmade 50 Scout Years frame — Chief Scout Eoin Callanan with 115th Ballinteer members.

Leaders gathered in the garden at dusk for the time capsule burial at the 50th anniversary — Leaders bury the time capsule in the garden.

Collage of photographs from Ballinteer 115 early camps — Ballinteer 115 early camps.

Newspaper clipping and archive photos from the history display — Archive material from the history display.

Don Kerrigan, founding leader of 115th Ballinteer, addressing a packed room of past and present members at the Twilight Journeys evening, November 8th 2025 — Don Kerrigan addressing past and present members at the Twilight Journeys evening.

Liam Muldowney wrote up his own account of the 50th anniversary evening. Read it on Facebook.

Got a memory, old photo or correction? We'd love to hear from past members and leaders. Get in touch.