About Us
The ICA is the largest women’s association in Ireland, with circa 6,000 members and over 440 Guilds accross the Country. We cook, travel, craft and socialise!
The aims of the ICA is to provide a welcoming and fun organisation which offers support, friendship, personal development, education and life long learning.
Our members regularly learn new skills, participate in local charity initiatives and get involved in their local communities. As a member of the ICA our structure means that your voice is heard locally, in your county and nationally as we work to ensure that women’s interests, family policies and community values are at the forefront of Government policy both nationally and in county councils locally. We build on 110 years of nurturing the Irish Language and culture and we ensure that through teaching and practicing that we preserve the long tradition of heritage crafts that we are so proud of in this country.
ICA is a charity and the Charity Number is RCN 20006730
Mission
The objectives of the Association are 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 the affairs of Bantracht na Tuaithe.
THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD 2021 -2024
Hilda Roche National President. Ashford Guild, Wicklow Federation
Joanne Dunphy Allen National Secretary and Company Secretary. Scariff Guild, Clare Federation
Mary O’ Halloran National Treasurer. Clooney Quin Guild, Clare Federation
Ann Lonergan Chair of the National Advisory Committee Carrick-on-Suir Guild Tipperary South Federation
Patricia Madden Regional President North East. Ballymun Guild, Dublin Federation
Mary D’Arcy Regional President South East. Ballyfad Guild, Wexford Federation
June O’ Dwyer Regional President South West. Carrick-on-suir Guild, South Tipperary Federation
Mary Harkin Regional President North West. Lakeview, Guild Sligo Federation
Helen Ui Mhuineachain Portmarnock Guild Dublin Federation
Liz Dermody Ballyragget Guild Kilkenny Federation
Carol Grogan Drogheda Guild Louth Federation
Catherine O’Dowd Monaghan Town Guild Monaghan Federation
Heather Evans Clonakenny GuildTipperary North Federation
Kathleen Gallagher Sligo Town Guild Sligo Federation
Susanna Braswell Wicklow Town Guild Wicklow Federation
Mairead Phelan, Ballyconnell Guild Carlow Federation
Mary Neylon, Kilmurry McMahon Guild Clare Federation
The National Advisory Committee 2021-2024
Chair of the National Advisory Committee Ann Lonergan
National President Hilda Roche
National Secretary Joanne Dunphy Allen
National Treasurer Mary O’Halloran
Regional President North East Patricia Madden
Regional President South East Mary D’Arcy
Regional President South West June O’ Dwyer
Regional President North West Mary Harkin
CARLOW Federation President Mairead Phelan
CAVAN Federation President Kathleen Farley
CLARE Federation President Mary Nealon
CORK Federation President Ena Howell
DONEGAL Federation President to be announced
DUBLIN Federation President Helen Ui Mhuineachain
GALWAY Federation President Cathy Curlette
KERRY Federation President Mary Connolly Kenny
KILDARE Federation President Mary O’Gorman
KILKENNY Federation President Liz Dermody
LAOIS Federation President Anne Cass
LEITRIM Federation President Helen Rutter
LONGFORD Federation President to be announced
LIMERICK Federation President Carol O’Keefe
LOUTH Federation President Carol Grogan
MAYO Federation President Maura McGuinness
MEATH Federation President Phillis Roe
MONAGHAN Federation President Catherine O’Dowd
OFFALY Federation President to be announced
ROSCOMMON Federation President Marie Gorman
SLIGO Federation President Kathleen Gallagher
TIPPERARY NORTH Federation President Heather Evans
TIPPERARY SOUTH Federation President Ann J Lonergan
WATERFORD Federation President Mary Birney
WESTMEATH Federation President Helen O’Gorman
WEXFORD Federation President Breda Cahill
WICKLOW Federation President Susanna Braswell
NATIONAL COMMITTEES:
The Governance Review Committee: Mary D’Arcy Chair, Mairead Phelan, Patricia Madden, Joanne Allen, Mary O’Gorman and Eufemia Solinas
The Finance Committee: Mary O’ Halloran Chair, Carol Grogan, June O’Dwyer, Mary Harkin, Eufemia Solinas and Eileen Fallon
The Procedures Committee: Lillie Byrne, Margaret Condon, Margaret Houlihan, Mary McNamara, Shirley Power, Nuala Stack, and Caroline Power.
The Handcraft Committee: Bronwyn Murray Chair, Mary O’Gorman, Eleanor Calnan, Ethel Patterson, Breda Bohan and Nora Keady.
The Arts Committee: Ena Howell, Carol O’Keeffe, Mary Moloney, Margaret Smith, Una O’Reilly, and Kathleen Gallagher.
The Produce Committee: Eilish McDonnell, Elizabeth Brooks, Patricia Madden, Helen O’Gorman , and Liz McCormack.
The Climate Action and Sustainability Committee: Susanna Braswell, Eithne Phelan, Kathleen Farrelly, Maureen McLaughlin, Breda Cahill, and Jane Jackson.
Coiste na Gaeilge: Mary Neylon, Helen Ui Mhuineachain, Maura McGuinness and Mary McNamara.