The Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA; ) is the largest women's organisation in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

, with 6,100 members. Founded in

1910 Events January * January 6 – Abé people in the French West Africa colony of Côte d'Ivoire rise against the colonial administration; the rebellion is brutally suppressed by the military. * January 8 – By the Treaty of Punakha, t ...

as the Society of United Irishwomen, it exists to prove social and educational opportunities for women and to improve the standard of rural and urban life in Ireland. Its central office is in

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

. It is one of the oldest societies of its kind in the world.

History

Inspired by the work of

Horace Plunkett Sir Horace Curzon Plunkett (24 October 1854 – 26 March 1932), was an Anglo-Irish agricultural reformer, pioneer of agricultural cooperatives, Unionist MP, supporter of Home Rule, Irish Senator and author. Plunkett, a younger brother of J ...

, a first branch of ''the Society of United Irishwomen'' was founded in 1910 by Anita Lett in County Wexford, followed by a second towards the end of that year. The wider association was established by a committee meeting at The Plunkett House, the headquarters of the

Irish Agricultural Organisation Society The Irish Agricultural Organisation Society (IAOS) was an agricultural association in Ireland which advocated, and helped to organise, agricultural cooperativism, including mutual credit facilities. From its establishment by Sir Horace Plunkett ...

, and including Ellice Pilkington, great-granddaughter of

Henry Grattan Henry Grattan (3 July 1746 – 4 June 1820) was an Irish politician and lawyer who campaigned for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century from Britain. He was a Member of the Irish Parliament (MP) from 1775 to 18 ...

, with the support of

. In 1935, the society changed its name to the Irish Countrywomen's Association to avoid any association with the nationalist United Ireland Party (now known as

Fine Gael Fine Gael ( ; ; ) is a centre-right, liberal-conservative, Christian democratic political party in Ireland. Fine Gael is currently the third-largest party in the Republic of Ireland in terms of members of Dáil Éireann. The party had a member ...

). Working against the rampant antifeminism of 20th-century Ireland, the association worked on teaching and promoting rural housewives to establish home industries, maintain a hygienic home, provide a healthy diet for their families, and take an active role in public and intellectual life. From its earliest days, the association was enthusiastic for the development of an Irish artistic and crafts identity. During the 20th century, the ICA was involved in the promotion of good health, education, and access to basic utilities throughout Ireland. It worked closely with the

ESB Group The Electricity Supply Board (ESB; ) is a state owned (95%; the rest are owned by employees) electricity company based in Ireland with operations worldwide. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concer ...

during its roll-out of rural electrification in the 1950s and 1960s.

Activities

The association runs courses in crafts and skills at its centre An Grianán in Termonfeckin,

County Louth County Louth ( ; ) is a coastal Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of County Meath, Meath to the ...

. The centre was purchased using funds secured by an ICA sub-committee on "residential courses", which was founded in 1953 and chaired by

Máirín Beaumont Máirín or Maureen Beaumont (7 December 1894–19 January 1972) was an Irish nationalism, Irish nationalist and teacher. Early life and family Máirín or Maureen Beaumont was born Mary McGavock in Glenarm, County Antrim, on 7 December 1894. H ...

. This centre was founded by

Muriel Gahan Muriel Françoise Gahan (27 October 1897 – 12 July 1995) was an Irish people, Irish rural campaigner and a promoter of traditional crafts and of the cooperative movement. She commissioned the first adult Aran jumper, launched the Irish Ho ...

and

Kathleen Delap Kathleen Delap (27 January 1910 – 29 October 2004) was an Irish activist and feminist. Early life Born Kathleen Hilda Orpen on 27 January 1910 to Charles St George Orpen (1864–1939) and Cerise Maria Darley (d.1950) at home in Lisheens, Car ...

. The centre has a garden house named in honour of the ICA president, Lucy Franks, who oversaw the plans for the centre in the years before it opened. As of 2007, the organisation was campaigning on behalf of women who receive wrong cancer diagnoses. In December 2007, it organised a meeting in Dublin of 1,100 women, one of a series of such meetings around Ireland.

Politics

Former presidents, Kit Ahern, Peggy Farrell, and Camilla Hannon were

nominated by the Taoiseach A candidate, or nominee, is a prospective recipient of an award or honor, or a person seeking or being considered for some kind of position. For example, one can be a candidate for membership in a group or election to an office, in which case a ...

to serve in

Seanad Éireann Seanad Éireann ( ; ; "Senate of Ireland") is the senate of the Oireachtas (the Irish legislature), which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann (defined as the house of representatives). It is commonly called the Seanad or ...

, the upper house of the

Oireachtas The Oireachtas ( ; ), sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the Bicameralism, bicameral parliament of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of the president of Ireland and the two houses of the Oireachtas (): a house ...

(the Irish parliament). Another former president, Patsy Lawlor, was elected to the

Cultural and Educational Panel Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, attitudes, and habits of the individuals in these gr ...

in 1981.

Leadership

Notable former presidents included Elizabeth Burke-Plunkett, Lucy Franks,

Bea Orpen Bea Orpen HRHA (7 March 1913 – 12 July 1980) was an Irish landscape and portrait painter and teacher. She aided in the establishment of the Drogheda Municipal Gallery of Art. Early life and education Beatrice Esther Orpen was born at Lishee ...

, Kit Ahern, Peggy Farrell, and Patsy Lawlor.

References

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External links