Crowds flock to catwalk as Clare ICA put on the style
Of 280 tickets sold, about 80% comprised ICA members and nearly all guilds had members on the catwalk.
“There were 25 ICA models and their friends and fans were impressed by their professionalism,” says Clare Federation PRO Mary Neylon of Kilmurry McMahon Guild, which had two members on the catwalk – Jenny O’Shea and Rosemary Main.
“Rosemary wore a form-fitting blue dress with sequins – you could wear it to the theatre, whereas Jenny modelled a multicoloured casual summer dress.”
Clothes featured encompassed spring/summer wear, debs’ dresses, millinery creations from Ailish McIlroy of Feakle ICA, outfits for weddings, days-at-the-races and smart-casual.
Tess Purcell of Coast Model Management coached all the ladies around how to present outfits to the best advantage.
“The hamper for the best-dressed attendee was won by Noelle O’Mahony from Sixmilebridge, who looked elegant in a floral print, belted jumpsuit.”
Mary says the biggest applause on the night (by coincidence the night of the General Election) were received by surprise models, Clare TDs Timmy Dooley, Pat Breen and Michael McNamara, “who strutted their stuff’ on the catwalk like the seasoned campaigners they are. If the fashion show had been the previous week, they might have been accused of canvassing”!
The election hopefuls modelled a selection of menswear from Patrick Bourke Menswear.
Each guild presented a creative interpretation of what ICA means for them and there was huge variety in the displays, reports Mary. “Clare Federation was delighted to welcome Sharon Kelly, president of Galway Federation, with a number of Gort ICA guild members.”
Clare Federation president Joanne O’Toole opened the event. Also in attendance were guests of honour – national ICA secretary Shirley Power, national treasurer Mary McNamara and national president Marie O’Toole.
Marie congratulated Clare Federation on the show’s success and hoped it would lead to increased membership – maybe, even, to setting up new guilds in Clare. She complimented the federation on making this event a fundraiser for Bushy Park Addiction Services – she said this highlights ICA’s community focus.
Raffle prizes on the evening included a two-night stay at Cork’s Rochestown Park Hotel – won by Anna McGillicuddy of Scariff. Prior to the show, an Irish rugby jersey, donated by IRFU and signed by the team, was auctioned on behalf of Bushy Park.
