CLARE’S oldest ICA Guild, Gort Lomáin, celebrated their 100th year with a dinner in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, last Saturday night.
Founded in 1912 by Jane Vere O’Brien, the Gort Lomáin Guild has held meetings in Barefield School, Ballyalla House and other locations. At that time, the ICA was known as the United Irishwomen but changed in 1935 to the Irish Countrywomen’s Association.
Among the guests on Saturday night was Veronica Rowe, daughter of founder Jane Vere O’Brien, who spoke of the crafts, and particularly Clare embroidery, promoted in the early days, when 12 smocked dresses with this decoration were ordered for one of Queen Victoria’s grandchildren.
Liz Wall, national ICA president, congratulated the guild on this momentous occasion and noted that seven new guilds have been set up across the country in the past few months, with one of them in Liscannor. She said this was the first centenary celebration she had attended in her position as national president but she hoped there would be many more.
Guild president Mary Uí Ruairc welcomed all who attended and thanked the ‘invisible members’- the husbands, sons, and so on who help the members and fill in when required.
The guild launched a short bilingual history, Gortlomáin Guild, which features a photograph of the cottage on the front cover. Gort Lomáin is the only guild in Clare to own its own premises and it is here that they hold meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 8pm.
The Cottage, acquired in 1954, is the focal point for the many activities, including flower-arranging, glass etching, knitting, card making, crochet, set dancing, cake decorating, music, drama, dressmaking and, of course, embroidery. New members are always welcome and, nowadays, can volunteer themselves to join – in times gone by, you had to be vetted by a number of committee members to gain admission to this prestigious guild.
Clare president, Jackie Slattery, before cutting the centenary cake, congratulated Gort Lomáin on their achievements, which include providing a (former) national president, Bridin Twist.