ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF HER VISIT
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF HER VISIT TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE IRISH COUNTRYWOMAN’S ASSOCIATION
I want to thank you for the very warm welcome here today – as expressed so eloquently by your President - Eva Coyle. I am of course delighted to have this opportunity to join you for one of your executive meetings and I’d particularly like to thank Maureen Holden, your General Secretary, for making it possible for me to be with you.
My main reason in coming here is to pay tribute to an organisation which has had such a profound impact on the lives and livelihoods of so many Irish women – and their families - in the 88 years since it was established. Originally the United Irishwomen – the Irish Countrywomen’s Association was an organisation which focused on rural women – and was part of that remarkable self-help ethos which took root in the nineteenth century and has flourished since - giving us many of the organisations which are now an established feature of Irish life. From the beginning - these organisations recognised the importance of education, training and information - for both the personal development of their members - and for the advancement of agriculture. In the case of the ICA – its initial focus was on improving conditions for rural housewives who did not enjoy some of the basic facilities of their urban counterparts. For instance, Mrs. Harold Lett – the then president of the United Irishwomen – was campaigning for piped water in 1911 – claiming that an ‘ordinary family’ would require something like nine gallons a day – and an additional nine on washday! The crux of the problem was that fetching water was considered to be mainly women’s work – indeed, as it is to this day in a lot of the developing countries.
Many of our present day rural organisations were propelled by the dedication and persistence of leaders with vision – people who were prepared to give their personal commitment and even their own financial resources. In 1932 Ireland mourned the death of Sir Horace Plunkett, the great pioneer of Irish Agriculture who spawned the co-operative movement – out of which the United Irishwomen was formed. But back in 1910, the plight of Irish women was very different than it is today – with by far the greater majority of women working as housekeepers and homemakers in their own homes and farms – or in domestic service. It was the year before the formation of the Irish Women’s Suffrage Federation and eight full years before the passing of the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act - which entitled women to sit and vote in the House of Commons.
Since then, thankfully, women have played an increasing role in Irish society – with many barriers being eroded – some very slowly – and some even yet to disappear. But throughout the years since the formation of the State, the Irish Countrywomen’s Association has played a significant role in many aspects of life that have had an impact on the plight and position of women. The initial mission – to improve the conditions of rural life in Ireland – has been broadened to embrace urban women. This broadening of its focus reflects, I think, the profound changes that have taken place in Ireland during the course of the century.
There are many women and families that have benefited from ICA activities – from learning new skills about health matters – about personal development – child care – or in the study groups that examine social issues. And the strong social dimension to the ICA’s activities - has often meant a release from loneliness for many women – women who would otherwise have to endure the isolation that can sometimes come from location - or family circumstances. To its great credit, the ICA has been the saviour of many - and the liberator of many a talented mind. Your work has been rewarded in the generations of women who have worked selflessly as homemakers and teachers of children. You only have to look around you to see what has been achieved – to see how you have contributed to the improvement of the status of Irish women – and how they in turn have contributed through their families – to making Ireland the prosperous country that it is today.
As we approach the next millennium – with changes in family structures – with new developments in agriculture constantly impacting on rural life – with greater concentrations of people in our cities and towns - it is important that organisations such as the ICA can adapt to changing circumstances – and rise to meet new challenges. Commendably, the ICA have met the challenge of change in the past and no doubt will continue to do so in the future. I wish you very well in the important years ahead – as you continue to provide a forum for the development of Irish women.