"We've slaved long enough on farm and in home With sinks full of dishes and mountains of foam. With pots and with pans, knives, forks and spoons, But from this moment, we're changing our tunes. The ICA is the organisation that women should join It's been

[gallery link='file'] SO SAID the author of a poem written in February 1977 to mark the setting up of the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) guild in Claran, outside Headford. As the ICA reaches the end of its centenary year, its members in North and East Galway believe the organisation is just as relevant as it was in 1977 (when another pivotal General Election loomed), or in 1910 when it was founded in Bree, Co Wexford. Whether lobbying for water and electricity for rural areas, or demanding equality of access to education, the ICA has played a central role in the lives of generations of Irish women and their families. Throughout its now celebrated history, the ICA has had to overcome obstacles at every turn, and this factor has bred a resilience into members that is sure to be an asset in the coming years. With guilds in Clonberne, Abbeyknockmoy, Killererin, Claran, Corofin, Caltra and Ahascragh, who have just over 100 members between them, the ICA in this region is in pretty good shape. Guilds in Monivea and Dunmore have recently disbanded, and a guild in Tuam is fondly remembered for the huge volume of community work carried out in the town and its hinterland. Ahascragh has the oldest guild in the area and can trace its history back to 1951. The region also boasts one of the newest guilds in the country, with the one in Caltra celebrating its second anniversary. With the age of members extending from the late 30s to the mid-80s, there is every sign that the ICA in North and East Galway has a long life ahead of it. However, members are keenly aware of the challenges of attracting new blood and the barriers that negative stereotypes can create. The ladies who spoke to The Tuam Herald are unanimous in their irritation at RTE's recent high-profile broadcast of ICA Bootcamp. Touted as a show that would pit a collection of young 'boom babes' against the matronly doyennes of the ICA, the bootcamp has certainly raised the hackles of dedicated grassroots members. 'It's not like that at all,' says Treasa Nic Donnacha of Corofin ICA. 'They made us out to be a bunch of fogies. I don't think it did much to enhance the reputation of ICA.' But you get the impression that the ladies are well used to taking such minor frustrations in their stride, and accept that stereotypes are fairly widespread. Colette Mullin from the Killererin guild is in her early 40s and admits that perceptions of ICA membership aren't always positive. 'When I tell people I'm an ICA member they automatically think I'm a bit â€Ëœnunny', which I'm not! That doesn't bother me at all though.' Like so many of her fellow members, Colette lets the critics say what they like because the ICA is a lifeline she wouldn't be without. 'It's a great social outlet. You can really educate yourself through ICA, you learn so much. There are always classes and talks on health and other topics. I would really recommend ICA for younger women.' But it's not just the young things in their 40s who enjoy ICA. 85-year-old Bridie O'Connor is thriving on the good company offered by her local Clonberne guild. When she moved home after 42 years in Birmingham, the ICA welcomed her with open arms. 'I was forced to join by Mary Smyth,' she jokes. 'I live alone, so the ICA was my saving grace, I didn't know a living soul. 'I've never looked back because I've met the loveliest of people and made the best of friends. It's a great outlet. Women need the company of other women, that's what I think. I was a woman on my own and it was so comforting to meet people who had something in common with me.' Back over in Corofin, Treasa agrees that the social side is a big part of ICA's appeal. 'The main thing about ICA is that it's therapeutic. We discuss everything and we solve all the world's problems. It's better than the Samaritans!' And the importance of friendship is a theme that echoes strongly in every guild. In community after community, members speak about the companionship that counteracts rural isolation, and even the social taboos that many would once have had to endure in silence. ICA historian, and member of the Clonberne guild, Aileen Heverin believes the organisation affords an important sounding board for women's views. 'Women need a forum to get together. They can be isolated otherwise, whether they're in a rural area or an urban one. 'At meetings, all kinds of issues come up for discussion and there's very much an open forum to raise things that might otherwise have been taboo and never spoken about. That's especially true for older members who might only now be able to talk about things that they experienced in the past. It's an opportunity to break down barriers and for people to give their opinions and be listened to.' Founded in 1910, and originally called the Society of the United Irishwomen, the organisation went on a mission 'to improve the standard of life in rural Ireland through education and co-operative effort'. When the group changed its name to ICA in 1935, it retained its non-denominational and non-party political principles. Having studied the ICA as part of her Master's thesis on Community Development and later written The Irish Countrywoman's Association: a History 1910 to 2000, Aileen is keenly aware of the strides already made by ICA, as well as the challenges that lie ahead. 'You have to remember the context that ICA came out of. Well into the 1950s and â€Ëœ60s, many women had never had a holiday outside the home and never went on outings. Their position in society was very unequal compared to the situation today. 'The first ICA summer school was held at Sliabh na mBan in Tipperary. That was revolutionary for its time. Ten women and four tutors â€â€ all women â€â€ climbed the mountain and held a summer school for two weeks. From that grew a tradition of exchanging skills and knowledge. That was held every year until 1954 when the Kellogg Foundation provided the money for our further education centre, An Grianan. When that was set up in Co Louth, it provided education and recreation for women from all over Ireland. 'The 1950s was a time for great change for women in Ireland. The ICA appointed development officers who travelled the country raising awareness. I think that really prepared women for the liberation movement of the â€Ëœ60s.' â€Â¢ Continued on page 8 In its modern-day context, the ICA has proven itself to be very progressive and highly organised. It has recently revamped its management structure, and, significantly, its new CEO is a man â€â€ John O'Callaghan. The ICA also represents the issues confronting rural women on the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI), and is affiliated to Coface, the European families' organisation. Aileen Heverin represents ICA on the NWCI board. 'I feel very strongly that rural women don't get the voice that they should. That's because they're spread out and don't have the same focal point. Other women's groups are a lot more vocal. 'I will always fight for rural women. They don't have the same advantages or entitlements in terms of transport, or access to services. That's particularly relevant in the area of education. It's so much more difficult for women in rural areas to access those opportunities. The same could be said about the area of health.' The centenary year has been marked by a series of celebrations. In addition to a series of high profile events, the ICA has been feted with a reception at Aras an Uachtarain â€â€ which Chrissy Egan of the Claran guild attended â€â€ and An Post issued a commemorative stamp. An exhibition at Galway Museum in September generated huge interest, and showed the exquisite pieces hand-crafted by guilds all over the county, including the one in Caltra. 'We were delighted to have a commemorative wall hanging feature in the exhibition,' says Assumpta Laffey, President of the Caltra guild. 'It's in our local church now and it's great tribute to those who made it and to the current ICA guild in Caltra, and the one that went before it.' At national level, the Galway Federation is playing a vital role on ICA's executive board, and will hold that prestigious position until the end of 2011. Over the last year, the organisation has also been taking stock and getting set for the future. In Abbeyknockmoy, a thriving guild, the members are aware that things are beginning to change. 'We're getting set for a big splash next year for our 40th anniversary and we have a great guild who loves to go out and socialise. We really know how to enjoy ourselves,' says president Annette Murray. 'But all down the years, the ICA used to cater for the senior citizens, and now we're nearly senior citizens ourselves!' As someone who has an eye on the historical dimension, Aileen Heverin believes that a certain ebb and flow is natural. 'The strength of the different guilds is cyclical. Leaders are a big factor in building up a guild. The guilds who are prominent today will not be prominent in a few years' time, but I think ICA, overall, will always be strong in North Galway.' And Galway Federation President Mary Conneely agrees that ICA continues to play a vital role in many communities. 'I think younger women definitely find the ICA relevant. We're still alive and well. The ICA is very important now that there are fewer people going out to work. With the recession, many women find themselves back at home, things have changed, and those who were used to going out to work need an outlet. The ICA can provide that.' Eileen Glynn, President of the Ahascragh guild, one of the longest established in Galway, and a former member of the ICA's national board, believes the founding principles of the organisation continue to apply today. 'Those women had far less than we have now. They got up and founded a great organisation. They got women out of the house and it's a great achievement that it has been kept going ever since.' According to Aileen, ICA will continue to lobby for the rights of rural Irish women. 'At national level, we're stilling banging on doors trying to get things change. I do feel that there's still a long way to go, but there will always be a demand for a network for women â€â€ whether that's under the heading of ICA or not. Every aspect of public life should be equality coded. We tend to take things for granted, but we still have a long way to go in that regard. The ICA has achived so much for women, and I think that now it's moving into a whole new, vibrant era.'