Women are part of the community and the ICA has always known this

At the heart of the Ploughing Championships, the largest rural festival in Europe, is the stand of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association. And if the Ploughing has forced a rethink of the national relationship with rural life, maybe it’s time ICA forced a rethink of feminism.

My mother used to roll her eyes every time my granny mentioned ‘the countrywomen’s’. I took my lead from her and was prepared to smirk every time I heard about the ICA.

Looking back, I realise the ICA was suffering from what was, to my ignorant mind, a lethal combination: it was for women and it was rural.