Irish Countrywomens Association - The Irish Countrywomens Association Book of Crafts: 40 Projects to Make at Home

As National President of the Irish Countrywomens Association I was very pleased to be asked to write the introduction for The ICA Book of Crafts . The ICA has published two books during my presidency: The ICA Cookbook and The ICA Book of Home and Family , s o it seemed only natural to follow on with another book showcasing one tremendously important aspect of our history our traditional Irish crafts. These days many of us do not have time in our lives to spend making everything we wear or use, but a revival has begun and there is a growing interest in learning some of what we in the ICA call our heritage crafts, as well as some more modern crafts, including upcycling and decoupage. But first, let me start with a short introduction to the ICA itself.

The ICA has made a difference, a profound, measurable and marvellous difference, to the way generations of Irish women live their lives. The ICA was central to the setting up of the co-operative movement, the credit union movement, breast health initiatives and Montessori pre-school education and has been an advocate on a huge variety of issues. The members of this organisation have made an exceptional contribution to enriching the lives of the communities in which they live and advancing the role of Irish women in society as a whole. Since the founding of our association, originally called the Society of United Irishwomen, Irish society has changed dramatically and for the better for Irish women.

The ICAs purpose has always been the betterment of women and it has worked to empower women through education and through addressing specific grievances during its existence. Although cloaked in tradition, women have used our association to improve their own lives and the lives of their families and communities.

The ICA has been a strong vehicle for change over the past hundred years. We have been a meeting ground for women from the big house to the cottage, from the Catholic and Protestant religions, from wealthy landowners to poorer immigrants. We are firm believers in self-help and community co-operation. We are non-religious, non-sectarian and non-party political, and this has contributed in a large part to our success, as we give a voice to all women.

The idea behind the organisation arose from the AGM of the Irish Agricultural Association in December 1909, which George Russell addressed, saying: Every Irish community should make its own ideals and should work for them. We cannot build up a rural civilisation in Ireland without the aid of Irish women. This passionate plea made a profound impression on the women attending that AGM and they came out of that meeting determined to embark on organising a new association. On 8 May 1910 a meeting was called in Anita Letts home to organise a womens rural organisation. In her opening paper, entitled The Scheme Explained, she argued that Irishwomen, regardless of class and creed, could unite for the common good of the country. The scheme covered many areas of life including the deficiency of good-quality nursing and health care, adequate nutrition for children, education, horticulture and dress. The scheme also outlined how the new organisation was to be governed. Branches were to be set up in every parish. These branches would be affiliated to a county organisation and an all-Ireland branch would be set up in Dublin. Local women would enjoy a good degree of autonomy in their local branch and the end of the scheme shows Anita Lett urging them to unite and achieve their goals. The fact that we still meet in autonomous Guilds, have Federation or County committees and unite to achieve our goals shows how solid the foundations laid down all those years ago were.

The main objective of the ICA when it was first founded as the United Irishwomen in 1910 was to bring women together in fellowship and friendship and to develop and improve their wellbeing, knowledge and skills, as well as improving the general quality of life in Ireland through the co-operative effort of women. Even the fact that it began meeting without men, to discuss womens needs and to improve their education and skills, was a very radical action for that era.

Another of the organisations early agendas was to work together to achieve better living conditions for all, as can be seen in this quote from a 1910 paper:

It is essential to Ireland that her rural population should be strong, healthy and active. It must remain on the land, happily occupied, well employed, socially and intellectually developed. Here is permanent work for women to do and UI is the organisation best qualified to help them. We had no special training for doing what we intended to do and we, none of us, aspired to reform society or preach any gospel but that of domestic economy, good comradeship and truth.

The first detailed minute book of the association, covering the years from its foundation up to 1921, gives a fascinating insight into the formative decade of the United Irishwomen. Between December 1910 and December 1911, seventeen branches were set up. There were also individual subscriptions from sixty-four married women, nine titled women, eighty-one unmarried women and two French women. Twenty-four gardens were started, and sewing classes, cookery classes and Irish classes were all set up. Up to this time craft work would have been taught at home, with many families specialising in one particular craft, safeguarding traditional methods and family secrets for generations now they had a chance to pass these on to others.