ICA to meet in Cork after two decades
The Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) will host its first conference in Cork in over 20 years this weekend.
More than 200 delegates from around the country are expected to descend on Leeside tomorrow, Friday, for the organisation’s Winter Conference 2022 at the Address Hotel in St Luke’s.
The 2 day event will include a visit to UCC where a special calendar will be launched, a gala dinner, and entertainment provided by the Douglas ICA Guild.
The Winter Conference is 1 of 4 held by the ICA every year, with each event taking place in a different part of the country.
Established 110 years ago, the ICA is the largest women’s association in Ireland, with close to 6,000 members and over 440 guilds across the country where women come together to cook, travel, craft and socialise.
Upper Glanmire ICA Guild member of 55 years Rita Clohessy was the Cork ICA President 20 years ago when the last conference was held in Cork in the Silversprings Hotel.
Speaking to the Cork Independent in the lead up to this year’s event, Ms Clohessy recalled her time with the charity which she said has completely changed her life.
“It was the beginning of things for me because at that time, you didn't go many places. I felt I must do something for me, and I did, and I went back to college too,” said Ms Clohessy.
“When I joined, you had to be 5 miles outside of the city, but there was one guild in town called the Town Associates who were known as the ‘Fur Coat and Hat Brigade’.”
Ms Clohessy said this year’s conference is especially important as the ICA continues to recover from the pandemic.
“We were doing Zoom meetings and things. Some guilds were able for that but some weren't, maybe some of the more rural guilds,” she explained.
“It was very, very hard I can tell you, and we're only finding our way back now. In the Upper Glanmire Guild before Covid-19 we had 48 members and we are down now to 20 members because older people are afraid to come out.”
The ICA Winter Conference 2022 takes place this Friday and Saturday at the Address Hotel in St Luke’s.