FEBRUARY 2008

Fifty years of Moville ICA

The Moville Inishowen Countrywomen's Association are to celebrate their Golden Anniversary this Friday with a gala evening at the Carlton Redcastle Hotel. The Moville guild, the first to be established in Inishown, was set up on 4th February 1958. Four of the founder members, Maud Thompson, Rose McGeehan, Winsome McCorriston and Sheila Meehan will be in attendance.

The current president of the Moville ICA, Marion Boon, said it was a great honour for her to be President on the 50th Birthday of the Moville ICA. "We are the longest running guild in Inishowen. The Moville ICA was set up to provide an outlet for the women of the area. There are currently 30 members, from women in their twenties right up to those in their 90s. The perception of ICA women is that they sit around drinking tea and eating home bake, but there is a lot more to us than that. Every year we fund-raise by doing a sponsored walk for breast cancer, have a coffee morning for the Foyle Hospice and have donated money to other local charities," said Mrs Boon who added that the ICA was constantly evolving in an attempt to remain relevant to the women of the day.

Mrs. Boon added that over the years the ICA had helped countless women to go on to better themselves in the wider world. "Members are encouraged to take an active role in the group. Woman who never dreamt of joining a committee or speaking in public learnt how to participate in public life."

The Guild has held their meetings at Treacy's (then Keaveney's and McNamara's) Hotel, St. Eugene's Hall and the Moville Day Centre, where they are currently based.

I wish all our members a very happy and healthy 50th year in the ICA and that I hope the year ahead will be a memorable one during which we hope to organise a few special events to mark the occasion," remarked Mrs. Boon.

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