ICA news: Cork gears up for 80th anniversary
Federation president Deirdre Hickey reminded members of the milestone anniversary at the recent summer federation meeting, which was held in the community hall in Ballinspittle.
The June 22 meeting included a visit from Sr Stephanie Coughlan of the Sisters of Marie Reparatrice, an order founded in France in the mid-19th century by young Belgian woman Emilie d’Oultremout.
Since 2012, Sr Stephanie has spearheaded a knitting program supplying vests, caps for teens and blankets for the needy in areas like Tanzania, Malawi, Chernobyl, Uganda, Kenya, Madagascar, Congo, Haiti, and Ethiopia, as well as migrants in Calais. Thousands of knitted items have been delivered so far.
South Cork vice-president Margaret O’Reilly and East Cork vice-president Nuala Stack presented over 800 knitted items to Sr Stephanie. If any reader would like to do some knitting, phone 087 986 0536.
Guest speakers Mary Piccio and Lynda Twomey from Cork Federation-nominated 2016/2017 charity Special Olympics Munster spoke about the organisation’s work.
Aoife O’Sullivan displayed her gold and double bronze medals for achievements in gymnastics at last year’s Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Another highlight of the meeting was the announcement of competition winners.
Esther Cahill from Mourneabbey Guild took first prize for “summer fun bun”, with two Ballinspittle members, Nuala White and Bernie Hannon, taking second and third prizes.
The brown bread competition winners were Mary O’Connor of Bishopstown Guild in first place and Watergrasshill ICA’s Kathleen Barry in second place.
Mourneabbey ICA will represent Cork Federation in the national pitch and putt competition. n Meanwhile, Eleanor Calnan of Leap Guild was named federation treasurer.
