Kathleen’s energy inspires Inch guild to great heights
A mum of 10, including two sets of twins and a set of triplets, at one stage the Co Wexford-based woman had five children under the age of four. Married to the postmaster, she also looked after the post office, petrol pumps and shop. But she did find time and, at 88, she’s Inch guild’s longest-standing member, having joined up in 1954.
“ICA was Kathleen’s one outlet. The Church of Ireland hall, where meetings were held, was literally across the road from her house. She could take off her apron, run out her door, be with the guild for a couple of hours and be back home in no time,” says Eithne Lee, president of the guild.
Kathleen still attends monthly meetings and was at Wexford Federation’s recent recruitment event in Gorey.
“She was dishing out leaflets and talking to people. She’d know a lot of people in the Gorey area. She was a great asset to us in that she engaged people in chat,” says Eithne.
Inch Guild was formed in January 1951 by Danish woman Mrs Signe Lloyd, wife of the local Church of Ireland rector. Inch is located halfway between Gorey and Arklow. Some 35 ladies enrolled at that first meeting, held in the Church of Ireland hall. Later, meetings moved to St Mogue’s Hall, built in 1957.
Kathleen recalls ICA meetings being more formal than they are today. Members did classes in rug-making, rush-work and cane work.
“They used to run dances in the Courtown Hotel and the farmers would come and people from the co-op. The dances were great fun. The ICA would do home-cooked suppers.”
Kathleen was guild secretary and treasurer at various times, as well as An Grianán officer. An Irish speaker, she won a scholarship to the adult education centre to do Irish classes. She was a keen knitter and gardener and was involved in creating a beautiful ICA roadside garden in Inch.
“Kathleen has always had a big interest in gardening. She was mad about roses. I remember her telling me how she’d put banana skins under roses as a good mulch and that it did them a power of good. I was delighted with the tip,” says Eithne, who confirms that today guild membership stands at 18 compared to its heyday when it counted 60 members.
Inch Guild meets in St Mogue’s Hall at 8pm on the third Tuesday of the month. New members are welcome.
