Longford
Map of Guilds – Welcome – What's On – Contacts – News
Treel Nurseries, Legan are hosting a demonstration and talk on gardening on Monday 15th June next at 7pm. There will be a Bring & Buy Sale at the same event by ICA members and a raffle with an array of gardening prizes, too. Bring your questions and a friend or two along for a pleasant and informative evening, courtesy of Treel Nurseries, Legan.
Welcome to Longford ICA ........ wondering should you join.... Read on
My thoughts on my years in ICA. After 37 years as a member of ICA, I often wonder how my life would have been if I had not joined this splendid all-women's organisation. Over the years it has opened so many doors to me which have made my life richer, more challenging, interesting and life-enhancing. ICA looks out for the needs of it's local community as well as the individual member, so in this way I have found myself involved in many local projects both at guild and County level. This has brought me into contact with such a variety of women who have shared their gifts and their friendship with me. As we work on our crafts, sing our songs, act in our plays, learn to run a meeting, publish a local history book, follow our interests or just chat over the cup of tea - what I most treasure after the thirty seven years is the companionship and lasting friendships with women from all walks of life.This for me is the spirit of the ICA - the reason I continue to be a member.- Margot Gearty
Longford Guilds
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History of Longford Federation
In 1939 Alice MacEoin invited some of her women neighbours to her home at Garvagh , Ballinalee with a view to forming a branch of ICA in the area. The meeting was a success and so the first Guild of ICA in Longford was born. The Association gradually spread to other areas and first records from the Federation minutes show that by 1947 there were guilds in Lenamore, Killashee, Melview, Kenagh, Clonahard, Ballymacormack and Knockloughlin. Some idea of those early meetings can be gleaned from the following recollections of an early member.
“I joined the Lenamore Guild in the early 1950’s. There were between 30 and 40 members in the Kilglass Parish Hall – a corrugated iron structure with interior timber lined walls and ceilings. Dedicated honorary secretaries arrived 15 to 20 minutes before starting time to “open up” and cope with temperamental tilly lamps and oil stoves. These had to be filled with paraffin oil and wicks had to be trimmed before a match was put to them. The hazards of setting fire to the woodlined walls did not seem to cause near insolvency which would arise today with insurance costs. If tea was on the agenda the urn had to be filled with water from the village well and then swung into place over the reluctant flames.
The ICA was a negotiating agency for VEC adult education classes in cookery, dressmaking and carpentry and these were availed of widely. Very importantly women learned through the ICA handbooks (still available today) and from talks and training courses how to elect guild officers and how to conduct meetings in a business like way when decisions made and recorded could be upheld at future dates.”
From a very early date there was involvement with Longford Show, an involvement that still continues to this day. A Council meeting, attended by delegates from all over Ireland was held in the Temperance Hall on 10th and 11th February 1950 and another one was held in 1989 in the Fountain Blue where 400 – 500 women attended.
Federation Presidents
1948 Mrs Kellock
1949 Mrs Murray
1950 Mai Farrell
1951 Sybil Magan
1954 Mrs McLarnon
1955 Elizabeth Potter
1956 Lena Farrell
1957 Elizabeth Potter
1966 Josephine Quinn
1968 Mary O’Brien
1971 Eileen Farrell
1974 Val Hourican
1977 Eva Wilson
1980 Marcella Higgins
1983 Joan Johnson
1984 Tess Ledwith
1987 Maura O’Brien
1990 Mary O’Hara
1993 Elsie Moxham
1996 Tess Murphy
1999 Margot Gearty
2002 Jen Doherty
2006 Anne Donohoe
2009 Stephanie Igoe
2012 May Campbell
2015 Mary Carthy
What's On – Longford
FEDERATION OFFICERS
President : Mary Carthy 087 763 7325
Vice Presidents : Margo Ward 087 947 5314
May Campbell 086 375 1242
Secretary : Breege Kenny 086 871 1653
Treasurer : Anne Marie Donoghue 087 713 6550
P.R.O. ……Colleen McHale 087 265 9307
Federation Specialiasts
Arts Officer …… Mary Doyle 087 754 5413
Craft Promoter……Roisin Lennon 086 350 1339
Produce Secretary ….Angela McKeon 086 168 7372
Contest Secretary …. Lillian Walsh 086 601 4661
International Officer…..Anna Delaney 085 888 8876
Teachta ……..Anne O'Reilly 086 831 2785
Timire ………. Margaret McDonald 086 391 8577
Sports Officer……. Gretta Tynan 087 990 1097
Liasion Officer ……… Helen O'Shea085 710 1053
Information Officer … Kathleen Kelly 086 319 4662
Catherine Gallagher 086 343 5747
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