Scouting Ireland recently presented its highest award to Peter Tobin of 8ú Calafort Gasóga Mara (Cuan Dhún Laoghaire).

Chief Scout Jill Pitcher-Farrell presented the Order of CúChulainn award at Dun Laoghaire Sea Scout den to acknowledge over 50 years of voluntary contribution to Sea Scouting at a local and national level.

Having started his Sea Scouting journey at 5th Port Sea Scouts (Dollymount), he was a founder member of the Irish-speaking Sea Scout Group, originally based in Monkstown in 1966 along with Eoghan Lavelle and Sean Fitzgerald, and has been involved ever since. In the intervening years, he served in various voluntary capacities, including in recent years as Group Chairman. He also served as Deputy National Commissioner for Sea Scouting at a time of significant growth of the youth organisation.

Fewer than 25 Sea Scouts have been presented with Scouting Ireland’s highest award in the history of the Cup.

Fry Cup winners 2023 - Howth Sea Scouts

His voluntary contributions are diverse, having served as Commodore of Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club and vice Commodore of Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club and being the current secretary of the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association.

The award was presented at the Sir William Fry Cup, Sea Scouting’s senior seamanship competition, which has run since 1918, testing seamanship and leadership skills, including navigation, water safety and boat maintenance. Howth Sea Scouts were winners for only the third time in their history.