Cork ladies take top endeavour award

“Were we that good?” was the reaction of Bishopstown ICA members when the Cork Federation Endeavour Award was presented to them.

The fact that the 40-member guild got into the final Cork Federation round of charades and managed to recruit five new members this year certainly helped to ratchet up points for the award.

It’s the first time the guild has won the Endeavour trophy. “It’s a lovely sculpture of the Children of Lir,” said June Mills. And it’s no small achievement for the 55-year-old guild – competition was stiff with Cork Federation totalling 66 guilds.

June has been a member of Bishopstown ICA for the past seven years – she joined after retiring from nursing. “I’d thought about joining for a long time. My mum, Rebecca Mills, was one of the early members. I remember, as a teenager, going tomeetings with her if there was a craft demonstration or an interesting talk. They were all Mrs This and Mrs That then. My circle of friends has certainly expanded since I joined.”