ICA news: Janet Osborne masterminds novel win
“I don’t have to start at the beginning. I just open any chapter. I read it as a teenager and I loved it even then. I’ve seen the film but it would never beat the book.”
So it’s no surprise Janet picked Pride and Prejudice as her topic for Cork Federation’s inaugural mastermind competition, which was hosted by Ballincollig Guild in May. The mum of two, whose husband’s two aunts persuaded her to join Berrings Guild, won the competition.
As well as being quizzed for two and a half minutes on her chosen topic, she also had to pit her skills against the other five contestants in a qualifying two-minute round of general knowledge questions.
About her favourite book, Janet was asked to complete the famous opening sentence and to name the house in which Charles Bingley stayed. As preparation, Janet had read the book again. “My sister, Sheila Kelleher, has read the book too – she just fired questions at me.”
The other entrants – ladies from five guilds including Whitechurch, Dunmanway and Ballinora – chose topics such as Queen Victoria, South America, Motown (record company) and the works of Agatha Christie.
“I was in awe of them all – their topics were so broad and they had such great knowledge and recollection of them,” says Janet, whose two boys are aged 12 and eight. “I’m a taxi to the stars – I just drop the boys here and there.”
She worked full-time for almost 17 years doing admin in a funeral home. “I looked after families, helping them when they came in. I loved it. It’s a job that has to be done. You have to be professional.”
A former member of Whitechurch Macra – she was variously its PRO and president – her aunts-in-law, Teresa Osborne and Marie Byrne, both Berrings ICA members, encouraged her to join up. “It was because we all used to go to table quizzes together.”
Aged 41, Janet is “a bit younger” than some of the other guild members.
“They’ve just been so accommodating. I’ve recommended to all of my friends to join but they’re still at that age where they’re having babies. In former times, women shared it with friends in ICA if there was something up with their child.” And has she had parenting advice from her guild colleagues?
“They say just to have patience – that everything works out in the end, that it’ll all be grand.”
Berrings Guild celebrates its 50th birthday this year. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month and will resume in September.
