Dunsany ICA marks '60 Years of Friendship and Community'

Book on achievements and activities of Horace Plunkett Guild

One of the county's most active guilds of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, Horace Plunkett ICA, Dunsany, has launched a book to mark its 60th anniversary. '60 Years of Friendship and Community' was launched by journalist and local historian, John Donohoe, news editor of the Meath Chronicle, at an event in Dunsany Hall.

The guild was founded on 17th February 1965 at a meeting held in the loft over Caffrey’s Store in what is now the Credit Union office in Kilmessan. This building also had historic connections with Sir Horace Plunkett’s co-operative movement as the location of one of the earliest societies.

The following officers were elected: President, Mrs Bea Corbally-Stourton, Dunsany; vice-president, Lady Dunsany, Dunsany Castle; secretary, Mrs Teresa Gibbons, Ringlestown, Kilmessan; treasurer, Mrs Niall Collier, Dunsany. The committee was made up of Mrs Josie Maguire who became public relations officer (PRO), Mrs J Boyle, Mrs C Gorman, Mrs J Cummins, Mrs O’Brien, Mrs T Mulvany, Mrs T Lynch and Miss M Donnelly. There were 38 members.

In 1966, meetings were changed to the the Parish Hall, Dunsany. For the book, past and present members of the guild have written pieces on their experiences and memories, and reasons for joining. Founder member Patsy Teeling recalls how she and her friend Kathy Walker were young widows in the 1960s, and how the new organisation provided an outlet for them in a time when there wasn't much for young widowed women, or young women in general, to do.

These women and later members found a world of activities, trips, development of crafts, sports like pitch and putt, set dancing, creative writing, painting, fundraising and community work, international travel. Margaret Ferguson became an expert French polisher, the art work of Joan Maguire and Cabrini Doyle was exceptional, and Patsy Teeling added some paintings to her poetry collection.

Breda Feeley’s story tells of a young woman newly arrived in Meath who took part in some horticulture classes after hearing about them from an adviser who addressed an ICA meeting - she went on to run a fruit growing business at Derrypatrick for over 30 years.

There were serious campaigns and issues – Joan Collier’s push for residential care for adults with special needs; the Meath ICA mammogram fundraising for Navan Hospital; Women’s World Day of Prayer services.

There were two ladies hugely prominent in ICA nationally in the 1980s and 1990, the late Kitty Harlin from Kilmessan, and Kiltale’s Camilla Hannon, both originally Dunsany members. These two Sligo women led many campaigns, and recognising the important role if the ICA in Irish life and society, Camilla was appointed to Seanad Eireann by the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, while Kitty became president of COFACE – the Confederation of Family Associations in Europe.

Mary Harrahill from this guild served as national treasurer, and chairperson of the ICA National Centenary Committee, which included an event in Killeen Castle, home of the founder, Lady Daisy Fingall.

It is not known when the guild adopted the name Horace Plunkett, but it was an enlightened idea, keeping alive the memory of the man who encouraged Lady Fingall to set up the then United Irishwomen in 2010, and who himself established the co-operative movement, with a branch at Dunsany Stores, and who was Ireland’s first minister for agriculture.

When the parish hall was restored in the 1990s, Dunsany ICA entered it for a Toyota Heritage Award, which it won, and members are currently at the forefront of a committee which hopes to do further restoration, in conjunction with the Dunsany Estate. Members are also deeply involved in Pride of Place, and organises a talk for Heritage Week every year.

'60 Years of Friendship & Community' is available in local shops in Kilmessan and from Tierney's in Navan, or from Mary Harrahill on (087) 290 8494.