Fed Notes W/E January 16 2010

A New Year, a New Decade when resolutions are made, plans put in train and hopes and aspirations are high. It is also a time of reflection, remembering past events, absent friends, forgotten dreams and the many successes of the past twelve months.
I invite you to join with me as we take a trip together ar Bhóithrín Na Smaointe.

Guild History
During the past year guilds were afforded the opportunity to compile a history of their guild for the year 2008/09. Encouragement towards this project was by way of the generosity of the colleagues of the late Betty Manning of Wicklow.

Each of the submissions was unique offering a picture of ICA activities from various parts of the county during a year in the first decade of the 21st century. Participants included Ballyhahill/Loughill, Cappamore, Castlemahon, Drombanna, Feenagh and Kildimo with Cappamore entry advancing to national level.

Monster Raffle
The Rugby connection came to the fore with first prize at the Fundraising Raffle of a framed and signed Munster Rugby jersey. A wonderful success which saw over €10,000 being presented to national funds.
Golden Membership
Special certificates to mark the achievement of have reached fifty years or more membership of ICA were presented by Limerick Federation. Among the recipients were former federation president May O’Connor of Castlemahon Guild and Mary Carr of Doon ICA who joined Virginia Guild in Cavan in 1939 and has been a member ever since in various locations where she resided.
Surely this is a record?
Something for Everybody
Among the most successful visits made by our members last year was a short trip to Yorkshire. Nearer to home Queens County was the destination of a group interested in Mountmellick embroidery and our foreign travellers embarked on a Baltic cruise. The East Limerick village of Murroe and Glenstal Abbey provided a very interesting local outing.

An Grianán

2009 was the year long standing Teachta Pauline Power of Feenagh stepped down, not before she trained in her successor Helen Lane of Murroe who had everything in place for Limerick Week.Congratulations to these two ladies atá ag obair as lámh a céile.

Future of Women in Europe

One of the participants at a seminar on ‘The future of Women in Ireland’ attended by European Commissioner José Manuel Barrosa in The Savoy Hotel, Limerick was West Limerick lady Anne Marie Dennison, President of the Irish Country women’s Association.

Absent Friends
Among the members we remember fondly atá imithe ar shlí na fírinne during the past year are:
Joan Carroll (nee O’Leary) Mountfox, a founder member of Kilmallock ICA (1946). Joan had unbroken membership since its foundation and was a frequent attendee at various ICA events with her daughter Kay Kelleher of Dromin/Athlacca guild. until ill health intervened in more recent times.

Also remembered is Ann O’Malley (nee McDonald), Foynes a member of Glin guild, former Federation Vice President Jenny McCarthy (nee Kirby) of Fedamore, and Catherine Hyland (nee Carroll) of Castleconnell ICA.

Go dtuga Día suaimhneas sioraí dóibh agus sólás da mhuintir.

ICA ladies from various parts of the country including members from her own native county of Limerick mourned the passing of Sr Teresa Margaret McCarthy in her 99th year. A native of Mainistir Na Féile, Sr Teresa Margaret had been a teacher with her order in Mountmellick for many years but it was her interest in craftwork and particularly in Mountmellick Embroidery that forged a link and friendship with so many like-minded women throughout the land.

Icing on the Cake

When the National President of the Irish Country Women’s Association was installed, in Kilkenny last May it was a West Limerick Woman who stepped forward to receive the chain of office .It was our member from Mainistir na Féile Anne Maria Dennison who leads the organisation for the next three years,

Well-done Anne Maria Dennison. We are proud of you.

This selective list does not fully illustrate the many activities of our members

during 2009.With the coming of the centenary year we look forward to many new challenges and the positive responses of our members who are always ready with support and encouragement.