Sell, sell, sell for ladies of the ICA
THE Wexford ICA Federation autumn meeting saw members from all over the county having to think on their feet as they participated in a ‘Sell That’ event that went down a storm with everyone attending.
The meeting was held in the St Louis Day Centre in Ramsgrange and representatives from 12 Guilds took part in the sales pitch competition.
They each had one minute to ‘sell’ an item from the kitchen drawer but they had no idea what the item was until it was presented to them.
A spokesperson for the federation told this newspaper tha the results were hilarious.
‘It was a great event and the hilarious speeches and sales pitches were enjoyed by everyone,’ she said.
The overall winner was Eilis McCann, from Ballyoughter, and she was followed closely home by Karen Ryan, from Wexford town (second place) and Ann Howlett, the Maudlins (third position).
The other people who took part and contributed enormously to the entertainment on the day included: Helen Furlong, Marian Donnelly, Mary Thompson, Sue Derham, Marie Kehoe, Miriam Duggan, Lillian O’Hanlon, Mary McCarthy and Ellen McCallion.
The meeting was hosted by Duncannon guild and in welcoming everyone to the event Gretta O’Connor, from the host organisation, said it was good to see so many branches represented.
She also welcomed the Federation President, Mary D’Arcy, who presided over the meeting.
The guest speakers on the night included Sally Griffith, from Pieta House, who outlined the work done at the organisation’s base at 14 Francis St, Wexford.
The other guest speaker was Fr Colm Murphy who is Chairperson of Wexford Mental Health Association (WMHA). He acknowledged the various ways the members help promote awareness around mental health issues and thanked them for doing so.
Fr Murphy also outlined the need for increased resources within the overall mental health sector.
The members were thanked for participating in various ‘fun run’ events throughout the county; the proceeds from those events will be divided equally between WMHA and Wexford Women’s Refuge.
The federation’s representative for Wexford Women’s Refuge, Alice Whitty, thanked the various members and their respective guilds for large donations of clothes, buggies, toiletries and non-perishable goods.
A number of issues were discussed at the meeting with regard to forthcoming events but there was a very positive air in evidence as members were congratulated on recent achievements including Una Doyle for her recent brown bread success in Wexford.
Mary Somers invited members to take items from the memory tree and those present were also encouraged to make items from the sample books and their creations will be displayed at the November meeting.
The members were informed that 26 representatives will be accompanied by Joan Furlong to An Grianán between October 19 and 21.
Ms Furlong is the federation’s An Grianán Representative.
Among other events that are planned for the coming months and which were outlined at the meeting was a 10-pin bowling outing which is being organised by Ann O’Connor and is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 16.
A report was given to the members by Mella Winters on the very successful pottery day that was held recently in Ballyelland Pottery.
Another event held recently was a cookery demo organised by Gretta O’Connor at Mary Kelly’s Cookery Kitchen on Thursday, October 4.
‘That was a resounding success,’ said the county spokesperson.
She also commented that Eleanor O’Connor was encouraging members to collect ‘pennies for friendship’ at their respective meetings to help women in the Third World.
The meeting was significant for Breda Banville too as she presented her last National Secretary’s report and following that Deirdre Connery was successful in teaching everyone present the ICA prayer, as Gaeilge.