ICA celebrates 70 years of Wexford Federation
MEMBERS OF the ICA enjoyed a fantastic afternoon at the Talbot Hotel when they celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Wexford Federation.
While the ICA was founded in Bree by Anita Lett in 1910, Wexford did not have enough members or guilds to form a Federation until 1948 when Margaret Stamp from Kilcotty-more was the first Federation President for the area. Today, Wexford is the third biggest guild in the country, after Cork and Dublin.
About 260 ladies, approximately half of the Wexford membership, attended the lunch where a portrait of Anita Lett, by Bree artist Dave Duffy, was unveiled by Ms Lett’s granddaughter Anita McNamara, the artist, and Regional Presidents Esther Cahill, Dee Devereux and Wexford Federation President Dee Connery.
The ICA even managed to source vintage horse riding clothes and equipment for the artist so that his protrait could be as authentic as possible. Ciara O’Connell from Side Saddle Ireland answered a request on social media and provided all of the required equipment. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend the recent lunch but is expected to attend the formal hanging of the portrait in An Grianan later in the year.
ICA Federation PRO Mary Fitzgerald said there was great excitement at the event as many members had not seen the portrait: ‘We were a little bit nervous about Anita McNamara’s reaction but she was very happy with it.’