THE IRISH COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION (ICA)
The Irish Country Women’s Association (ICA) was set up in 1910 as the women’s side of the co-operative movement. Known then as the “Society of the United Irishwomen” the aims were to improve life in rural Ireland through educating women in a variety of skills. Today the objective is a little different………..’to bring women together in fellowship and through co-operative effort to develop and improve the standard of rural and urban life in Ireland having due regard for our Irish culture and to encourage the use of the Irish language’
In 1935 the ‘Society of the United Irishwomen’ changed its name to the ‘Irish Country Women’s Association’ ( ICA ) and was perceived as a rural organisation. At around the same time, Town Associations were formed to meet the needs of the urban woman.
The main objects of the Association are to advance education and benefit the community through
An Grianán
An Grianán in Co Louth is the Adult Education College run by ICA. Its aim is to educate in various skills, arts and crafts and is open to all…women children and men. It is so invigorating to go for a week or a weekend, meeting women from all over the country and further afield in beautiful surroundings and come home having had a lovely time in addition to learning a new skill.
The ICA has close associations with the Women’s Institute of Northern Ireland. Many WI members are regular visitors to An Grianán .
SANDYFORD ICA GUILD
Sandyford Guild was ‘born’ in 1955. Dundrum and Sandyford were very different places way back then. Sandyford Road was a country byway and Dundrum was a quiet country-like village. Most families shopped for necessities in the village and caught the train to town at Dundrum Station. Happily, 50 plus years on, we now can catch the Luas at Dundrum Station. Sandyford Guild held its first meeting in 1955 in the Tennis Pavilion in Sandyford. As the years went on the venue moved from the Courthouse in Dundrum to Power’s Chemist Shop, to the Library and the Taney Church Hall, to the gatehouse at ‘Homestead’ and many other places. In 1972 the Guild met at St Olaf’s National School. By that time the country byway had given over to housing and today’s busy suburb was on its way. For the past 32 years, since 1981, our meeting place has been St Tiernan’s Community School, Parkvale, Sandyford Rd -- so now we are settled and have a home of our own. We meet on the first and third Monday of each month at 7.30 pm and always welcome new members.
There were seven founder members among whom were Diana Tomlin (President) Ida Sargent (Vice President) Mrs N Reilly (Secretary ), Mrs S Davis (Treasurer) and Guild member Bessie Campbell. Although not in the original seven, Cait Murphy from The Aran Islands, Ida Walsh and Olive Hanna were members from an early stage.
The membership of Sandyford Guild has fluctuated over the years, and sadly we no longer have any founder members in our midst. However one Guild member from the early years was Olive Hanna who, as the years went on, brought along her daughter Valerie Hale. Valerie is the strongest link we have to those early days of Sandyford Guild and has been a member for over 40 years.
The Presidents of our guild are the driving force that keeps the members happy and the committee on their toes.
A Year in the Life of Sandyford ICA Guild
What’s another year? Well in Sandyford Guild each year brings its own special highlights, starting with our first meeting back after the summer, in early September, when we all regroup and exchange our news of the long hot (or not so hot!) summer, our travels and adventures.
Our next highlight is our International Night in October/November when we choose a country from around the world and devote a night to learning about its history and culture.
Our Christmas party is always enjoyable when everyone chips in and we have a night of festive fun, sometimes a quiz, lots of delicious goodies, our Kris Kindle gifts, and we finish off with our carol singing by candlelight. Nora Connolly usually pops in to surprise us playing the role of one of her many historical characters-------her costumes always fascinate us and we enjoy her impersonations so much.
Irish Night in March is another highlight where we use the cúpla focail and dance to Irish music supplied by Davy Patterson.
We usually enjoy a trip to An Grianán in the Spring or Autumn where we attend a wide variety of courses and enjoy the facilities of our ICA College.
Our Annual Summer Outing is always a day we look forward to. We have wonderful memories of our outings to Kilkenny, Carlingford, Abbeyleix, the Jumping Church in Ardee, some wonderful gardens and castles, and so many more places, always ending our day out with a delicious meal.
Our twice monthly meeting and activity nights are a time to learn with lots of interesting speakers, demonstrations, and activities. We have had talks on health issues such as Osteoporosis, the Red Cross, Adelaide Hospital, working with Angels. Counselling, the League of Health, Massage & Relaxation, Beauty and Toxin-free skin care and Mental Health. We have had talks in environmental and local issues, such as composting and waste reduction, Citizens Advice Bureau the history of Dundrum and environs, researching your family tree, the origins of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, An Óige, The Lord Nelson sailing ship for the disabled, Amnesty International and antiques.
Our talks on nature included Bird Watch Ireland, the Flora and Fauna of Co Kerry, the DSPCA, the Donkey Sanctuary, Irish Wild Flowers, etc. We’ve had Cookery and Craft demonstrations and talks on historical characters such as Matilda Tone and Maria Edgesworth.
The cup of tea and chat is an important and lively part of the evening when the members exchange news with each other.
March brings our Birthday Dinner in a local hotel or restaurant. This is always a special night which we all look forward to. Our President and committee put a lot of work and effort into choosing the right venue for the night , which is always a great success.
To add to all of this, our visits to local places of interest, like the National Gallery, Collins Barracks Museum, to Dáil Eireann and Árus an Uachtarain, trips to the theatre, to Airfield, to Farmleigh House, etc, are just part of the wonder that is Sandyford Guild.
Of course the Guild is nothing without its members and we are blessed in Sandyford Guild to have a membership that is not only talented, and united in friendship but it is also committed to the ideals of the ICA.
MEMORIES
Joan Ringrose joined our Guild when she moved to Dublin from Leixlip where she was a founder member of Leixlip Guild. She remembers a wonderful outing to Dunamase Hill and environs with Nora Connolly in charge and dressed as Lady Gregory. When we stopped for a meal which had been arranged previously, Nora sailed unselfconsciously up to the desk. The expression on the faces of the receptionists were a picture. Another occasion Joan remembers involved another inimitable member Ann Phelan. One Guild night, Ann paused dramatically in the doorway and without preamble asked “Where were you? It was so cheap I thought I’d see you all”. She and her beloved Jerry had just returned from a Caribbean Cruise, which she had sourced on the Internet.
Ann Phelan joined our guild when she saw an article in Panorama about an Effective Speaking course being run at the time and feels it was the most worthwhile thing she ever did as she gained confidence to go on and pursue many other activities. Dance featured highly and in Ann’s own words she ended up dancing for years. Ann for years has supplied us with her ‘Gay Byrne’ cake for our tea and chat. Much appreciated.
BENEATH THE GRANITE THRONE
Some years ago Sandyford Guild published a small book “Beneath the Granite Throne” a history of Sandyford and surrounding area. Many members were involved in the research and work involved, learning along the way the vast and varied history of this place we call our own.
The Irish Country Women’s Association (ICA) was set up in 1910 as the women’s side of the co-operative movement. Known then as the “Society of the United Irishwomen” the aims were to improve life in rural Ireland through educating women in a variety of skills. Today the objective is a little different………..’to bring women together in fellowship and through co-operative effort to develop and improve the standard of rural and urban life in Ireland having due regard for our Irish culture and to encourage the use of the Irish language’
In 1935 the ‘Society of the United Irishwomen’ changed its name to the ‘Irish Country Women’s Association’ ( ICA ) and was perceived as a rural organisation. At around the same time, Town Associations were formed to meet the needs of the urban woman.
The main objects of the Association are to advance education and benefit the community through
- Bringing women together in fellowship and friendship and developing and improving the well being, knowledge and skills of women and improving the general quality of life in Ireland through co-operative effort of women;
- Supporting and promoting Irish language and culture;
- Promoting the development of women in Ireland and internationally
An Grianán
An Grianán in Co Louth is the Adult Education College run by ICA. Its aim is to educate in various skills, arts and crafts and is open to all…women children and men. It is so invigorating to go for a week or a weekend, meeting women from all over the country and further afield in beautiful surroundings and come home having had a lovely time in addition to learning a new skill.
The ICA has close associations with the Women’s Institute of Northern Ireland. Many WI members are regular visitors to An Grianán .
SANDYFORD ICA GUILD
Sandyford Guild was ‘born’ in 1955. Dundrum and Sandyford were very different places way back then. Sandyford Road was a country byway and Dundrum was a quiet country-like village. Most families shopped for necessities in the village and caught the train to town at Dundrum Station. Happily, 50 plus years on, we now can catch the Luas at Dundrum Station. Sandyford Guild held its first meeting in 1955 in the Tennis Pavilion in Sandyford. As the years went on the venue moved from the Courthouse in Dundrum to Power’s Chemist Shop, to the Library and the Taney Church Hall, to the gatehouse at ‘Homestead’ and many other places. In 1972 the Guild met at St Olaf’s National School. By that time the country byway had given over to housing and today’s busy suburb was on its way. For the past 32 years, since 1981, our meeting place has been St Tiernan’s Community School, Parkvale, Sandyford Rd -- so now we are settled and have a home of our own. We meet on the first and third Monday of each month at 7.30 pm and always welcome new members.
There were seven founder members among whom were Diana Tomlin (President) Ida Sargent (Vice President) Mrs N Reilly (Secretary ), Mrs S Davis (Treasurer) and Guild member Bessie Campbell. Although not in the original seven, Cait Murphy from The Aran Islands, Ida Walsh and Olive Hanna were members from an early stage.
The membership of Sandyford Guild has fluctuated over the years, and sadly we no longer have any founder members in our midst. However one Guild member from the early years was Olive Hanna who, as the years went on, brought along her daughter Valerie Hale. Valerie is the strongest link we have to those early days of Sandyford Guild and has been a member for over 40 years.
The Presidents of our guild are the driving force that keeps the members happy and the committee on their toes.
A Year in the Life of Sandyford ICA Guild
What’s another year? Well in Sandyford Guild each year brings its own special highlights, starting with our first meeting back after the summer, in early September, when we all regroup and exchange our news of the long hot (or not so hot!) summer, our travels and adventures.
Our next highlight is our International Night in October/November when we choose a country from around the world and devote a night to learning about its history and culture.
Our Christmas party is always enjoyable when everyone chips in and we have a night of festive fun, sometimes a quiz, lots of delicious goodies, our Kris Kindle gifts, and we finish off with our carol singing by candlelight. Nora Connolly usually pops in to surprise us playing the role of one of her many historical characters-------her costumes always fascinate us and we enjoy her impersonations so much.
Irish Night in March is another highlight where we use the cúpla focail and dance to Irish music supplied by Davy Patterson.
We usually enjoy a trip to An Grianán in the Spring or Autumn where we attend a wide variety of courses and enjoy the facilities of our ICA College.
Our Annual Summer Outing is always a day we look forward to. We have wonderful memories of our outings to Kilkenny, Carlingford, Abbeyleix, the Jumping Church in Ardee, some wonderful gardens and castles, and so many more places, always ending our day out with a delicious meal.
Our twice monthly meeting and activity nights are a time to learn with lots of interesting speakers, demonstrations, and activities. We have had talks on health issues such as Osteoporosis, the Red Cross, Adelaide Hospital, working with Angels. Counselling, the League of Health, Massage & Relaxation, Beauty and Toxin-free skin care and Mental Health. We have had talks in environmental and local issues, such as composting and waste reduction, Citizens Advice Bureau the history of Dundrum and environs, researching your family tree, the origins of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, An Óige, The Lord Nelson sailing ship for the disabled, Amnesty International and antiques.
Our talks on nature included Bird Watch Ireland, the Flora and Fauna of Co Kerry, the DSPCA, the Donkey Sanctuary, Irish Wild Flowers, etc. We’ve had Cookery and Craft demonstrations and talks on historical characters such as Matilda Tone and Maria Edgesworth.
The cup of tea and chat is an important and lively part of the evening when the members exchange news with each other.
March brings our Birthday Dinner in a local hotel or restaurant. This is always a special night which we all look forward to. Our President and committee put a lot of work and effort into choosing the right venue for the night , which is always a great success.
To add to all of this, our visits to local places of interest, like the National Gallery, Collins Barracks Museum, to Dáil Eireann and Árus an Uachtarain, trips to the theatre, to Airfield, to Farmleigh House, etc, are just part of the wonder that is Sandyford Guild.
Of course the Guild is nothing without its members and we are blessed in Sandyford Guild to have a membership that is not only talented, and united in friendship but it is also committed to the ideals of the ICA.
MEMORIES
Joan Ringrose joined our Guild when she moved to Dublin from Leixlip where she was a founder member of Leixlip Guild. She remembers a wonderful outing to Dunamase Hill and environs with Nora Connolly in charge and dressed as Lady Gregory. When we stopped for a meal which had been arranged previously, Nora sailed unselfconsciously up to the desk. The expression on the faces of the receptionists were a picture. Another occasion Joan remembers involved another inimitable member Ann Phelan. One Guild night, Ann paused dramatically in the doorway and without preamble asked “Where were you? It was so cheap I thought I’d see you all”. She and her beloved Jerry had just returned from a Caribbean Cruise, which she had sourced on the Internet.
Ann Phelan joined our guild when she saw an article in Panorama about an Effective Speaking course being run at the time and feels it was the most worthwhile thing she ever did as she gained confidence to go on and pursue many other activities. Dance featured highly and in Ann’s own words she ended up dancing for years. Ann for years has supplied us with her ‘Gay Byrne’ cake for our tea and chat. Much appreciated.
BENEATH THE GRANITE THRONE
Some years ago Sandyford Guild published a small book “Beneath the Granite Throne” a history of Sandyford and surrounding area. Many members were involved in the research and work involved, learning along the way the vast and varied history of this place we call our own.