April 2015
Federation Mailing
Hello to all my ICA friends,
The end of my term of office as your Federation President is fast approaching and I can
honestly say that I enjoyed every minute of it. It was certainly an amazing challenge and I
am happy to say I learned a huge amount about the Association. Deirdre Connery from
Duncannon Guild will take over from me at the end of the Federation AGM on Mon. 27th
April and I wish her every success. Anyway, the ICA calendar is very busy at the moment
with the 'ICA Has Got Talent' competition in full swing, the Craft Day will take place on Sat.
18th April, voting for our National officers is taking place and the ICA Gardening Course is
on in Springmount on May 9th. So, with just a taster of ICA events in your diary, remember
what St. Francis of Assisi said 'Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and
suddenly you are doing the impossible'. Slan Libh,
Breda Banville
Federation President.
Federation Meetings: The Federation AGM will be held on April 27th 2015 at 8pm in the
Oulart Community Centre, Oulart at 8pm. The competition is for a Flower arrangement no
larger than 6 inches or 15cm in a container or vase – oasis allowed. The National AGM takes
place on Saturday 23rd May 2015 at 10.30am in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise. Register
directly with Central Office if attending and remember to bring your membership card.
Federation Meeting Dates for 2014/15 – The dates for the Federation Meetings for the
coming year are as follows: June 29th 2015 in Duncannon Community Centre. The
competition will be for a hand-made souvenir. Any guild who hosts a Federation Meeting
will receive €50 to help defray costs etc. and should contact either the Secretary or President
if interested. .
Nominations - details of all nominations for Federation Positions are attached. Guilds are
asked to note that as there are two nominations for Sports Officer, an election will be held at
the A.G.M. Please decide at Guild level who you wish to vote for and instruct one member
of the guild accordingly. All guilds are asked to attend the AGM.
Trophies - please return all trophies to Mary Somers at the AGM.
Membership Fees – Guild Treasurers are reminded that membership fees are due from May
1st. The fee is €50 per member for the year. The Guild Registration Form is included in the
mailing. Guilds are reminded to include the €15 Federation Fee plus a contribution to the
upkeep of Bree Garden. It is recommended that the contribution to Bree Garden should be a
minimum of €20 per guild. Bree Guild in conjunction with Federation are considering a
major project to create disabled access for the garden – more details later.
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One Day Craft School - Wexford Federation ICA are holding their one day Craft School in
Coláiste Bríde in Enniscorthy on Saturday April 18th 2015 at 2pm sharp. The day costs €15
which includes tea/coffee and homemade scones – bring your own cup/mug. There will be
raffle at tea time. The classes are as follow: Scrapbooking, Stained Glass, Upcycling an
Article of clothing, Chicken Scratching Embroidery, Dried Flower Pictures, Jewellery,
Willow Weaving, Felting, Creative Writing and Flower Arranging. There are some places
left on courses. There are additional charges and extra requirements for some classes
which are payable to your tutor on the day. Booking to be made with Mary D’Arcy on
087 4183180. Members attending are also reminded to ensure their cars are locked while at
the Craft School.
ICA’s Got Talent- The final of the ICA’s Got Talent Competition will be held on Friday
17th April 2015 at 8pm in the Horse and Hound, Ballinaboola. Not all results in time of
going to print but the following guilds are through from Heat 1 – Bree – Solo Singing and
Group Singing, Balloughter recitation and Novelty Act, Gorey Individual Dance and Oulart
Solo Singing. Come along and support the guilds and have a great night for €5!!
Gardening Course – A Gardening Course featuring raised beds and the growing of salad and
other vegetables will be held in Springmount Garden Centre, Ballycanew Road just outside
Gorey on 9th May 2015 from 10-12.30pm. Cost €10. Book with Emily Murphy, Produce
Officer at the Federation Meeting.
Federation Trips- details of trip to the musical Top Hat and a 3 day escorted tour to see
Daniel O’Donnell are on the attached flyers. Please consider putting the flyers in your local
shop when you are finished with them.
Wexford Week in An Grianan – the next An Grianan trip will take place on 5th to 9th
October 2015. Cost of the break is €330. Details of classes are as follows: Bobbin Lace,
Cookery – One Pot Winter Warmers, Mixed Crafts, Calico Embroidery – working with
neutral tones to produce beautiful pieces, and Get Fit Stay Fit (Tai Chi etc.). Book with
Anne O’Connor on 087 9109649.
Special Occasion Competition – this competition will take place on Thursday 11th June
2015 – details of competition on flyer attached. Contact Mary Somers if you are interested in
hosting this competition.
National Brown Bread Making Competition 2015 sponsored by Aldi will be held at the
June Federation Meeting. Bring your brown bread to the Federation Meeting in Duncannon
on 29th June 2015 and encourage your friends who may not be ICA members to compete also
– all welcome. More details in the next mailing.
Table Quiz: The Federation Table Quiz was held on 12th February 2015 at 8pm in Coolcotts
Community Centre, Wexford Town hosted by Wexford Town Guild and the winners were
Camross.
Walks 2014 – Thanks to all guilds who hosted walks this year for the nominated charities of
the Alzheimer’s Society and Wexford Hospice Homecare. Cheques will be presented at the
Federation Meeting. Nominations are requested for the 2015 Walks which will take place on
Sunday October 4th 2015. Guilds are also asked to host a walk. Nominations for two
charities to the Secretary at wexfordica@gmail.com as soon as possible. The two charities
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will be announced at the Federation Meeting and cards will be available at the June meeting.
Contact Mary Nolan on 087 7632399 if you are interested in hosting a walk.
Bowling 2015 – the next Federation Bowling Competition will take place on 27th October
2015 in Drinagh. Details later.
Fund Raiser for An Grianan – As you know one of the priorities of our National President,
Liz Wall, is to upgrade the accommodation in An Grianan. Good progress has been made in
this regard so far. The cost of converting the existing single rooms to ensuite etc. is €6,000.
Guilds are invited to hold a fundraiser to help with this endeavour. Suggestions include –
coffee morning/evening, handbag and scarf sale etc. Please send proceeds marked “An
Grianan” to Eileen Creevey, Coral House, Grange, Kilmore, Co Wexford. A special thanks
to guilds who have forwarded money already to the Treasurer.
Mae Hegarty – The family of the late Mae Hegarty of Ballyfad Guild have donated many of
Mae’s craft books and patterns to the Federation. The books/patterns will be available for
members to choose what they would like on a donation basis. All donations will go to Bree
Garden.
Exhibition – ICA have been invited to have a stand in an upcoming Exhibition being held in
the Brandon Hotel, New Ross, on the 26th of May from 12pm - 5pm. The Exhibition is
being organized by Raheen Family Resource Centre. There is no charge for exhibiting, but,
they are offering a free raffle for all who attends, so are asking all exhibitors if they would
like to contribute something to make up the prizes. The exhibition room will be opened from
9am on the day and the exhibition will take place from 12-5pm. Contact the Secretary,
Mary FitzGerald on 087 6887769 if interested in participating.
Mindfulness Courses – there are two free Mindfulness Courses for members in April.
Thursday 23rd April at 10am in Central Office and 25th April in An Grianan (lunch can be
booked with An Grianan for €20). Please book directly with Central Office on 01 6680002 if
interested.
ICA Books –Copies of the new ICA Craft Book will be on sale at the Federation Meeting€18 each or three for €50.
Cookery Demonstration – there will be a Cookery Demonstration with Edward Hayden
sponsored by Aldi on October 22nd in the Ferrycarrig Hotel Wexford – details later.
Website and Facebook – Wexford has its own page on the site www.ica.ie – Joe Keane of
Wexford Town Guild and Federation PRO is the Website person. So please email Joe on
keanejoe10@gmail.com or ring her on 087 9586965 with any upcoming events in your
guilds, photographs of events, and other news so that members and potential members can
enjoy reading about our exploits. Face book page is Wexford Federation ICA – so if you
are on Facebook – like and share the page – photos etc. can be emailed to
wexfordica@gmail.com or to keanejoe10@gmail.com for inclusion on the Facebook page.
Remember the website and Facebook pages will only be as up-to-date as we make it.
Regular articles are now appearing in Mature Times, The Chronicle, the Echo and several
other publications so watch out for them.
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Bereavements – Guild Secretaries are asked to inform the Federation Secretary of any
bereavement so that the person can be included in the minutes silence at Federation meetings
(if desired).
102 Years of Wexford ICA – the book written by you and compiled by Mary Somers is on
sale at €10 and is full of photos etc. Books will be on sale at the Federation Meeting or
directly from any Committee member and is on sale in bookshops in Wexford.
Women’s Refuge – many thanks for all your continuing generosity to the Refuge and
especially to all the members who took the time to visit during the recent Open Day. The
Refuge is particularly grateful for the toiletries which we donate. Remember they cannot
accept used toys, shoes or men’s clothing.
Suggestion Box – there is a suggestion box with paper and pens at each Federation Meeting
for suggestions on future activities etc. from members. Thanks to Guilds who have already
made suggestions.
Information Officers: Breda Dunne 087 3109426 or bredapark@eircom.net and Dee
Devereux 053 9122818 or deloresdevereux@eircom.net are available to visit Guilds to
provide information and friendly support as required. Please contact them directly to arrange
a visit.
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