Richard P. Fortune

Captain Richard Percival Fortune RNVR (born 1878) was the founder of the Scouting movement in Ireland.

One of four children born to boarding house keeper Elizabeth Fortune, his time as a mariner ensured early Scouting activities afloat.

He was subsequently promoted to Lieutenant in March 1916 [3] while in command of ML580, the highest numbered of the World War I motor launches, a 37 tonne vessel with a crew of 8.

Fortune's Royal Naval Volunteer service card shows he was demobilised from 31 December 1919, having been earlier had orders cancelled and leave granted to sit for examination as a merchant Master.

His son was Captain Desmond Fortune, the founder of the Irish Institute of Master Mariners, in whose name the annual senior seamanship competition for Scouting Ireland is awarded.

At this time, the name of Irish Free State Scout Council was adopted, as the association expanded its reach outside of the greater Dublin area, becoming a national organisation.

Ernest Farrell, a curate in Greystones, County Wicklow in 1925/1926, the association was hastened in its initiation by his brother Fr.