Aughadown Irish Countrywomen's Association 

The Irish Country Women’s Association (ICA) is a large women’s organisation in Ireland focused on community, education, crafts and social support. The Constitution of the ICA states that its objectives and aims are to bring women together in fellowship, to improve co-operative effort and to develop the standard of rural and urban life in Ireland. The ICA supports mental and physical health through craft and physical activities.

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The Aughadown Guild, which was registered on the 11th of January 1979, has indeed lived up to those objectives and aims over the years. At the first meeting held in Lisheen parochial hall, there were approximately forty women present. Mary Burke of Skibbereen and Nellie O’Donovan, Vice President of Cork Federation at the time presided over the election of officers. Some of the officers elected then were Bridge O’Neill as President, Eileen Whooley as Treasurer and Mary Whooley as Secretary.

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The women partake in many inter-guild competitions including Table Quizzes, Charades, and Craft Competitions within West Cork. The winning Guild entries qualify to the County Final. There is an opportunity for members to display and enter their craft work, horticulture, or culinary ability at the annual County Federation Day usually held in Cork City. Information Days on the ICA were held in Skibbereen County Library. Many of our members have exhibited their crafts and demonstrated spinning and weaving of Irish sheep-wool and Alpaca fleece at Agricultural Shows in West Cork and at the Cork County Agriculture Show.

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A Book Club was commenced in 2004, supported by Skibbereen Library. The Librarian provides the Guild with the required number of books each month and this club is still as active as the day it started.

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A ‘Learn to Knit’ project for children in both Lisheen and Kilcoe National Schools commenced in 2010. It was a great success as it was intergenerational, with both girls and boys learning to knit. Many of the ICA women had a grandchild in the school, and it was wonderful to see them passing on their skills to the next generation. In addition, each school had an excellent display of work at the end of their session. This project continued until the schools were closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Aughadown ICA published a book of reminiscences on the local Parish called ‘From Ilen to Roaring Water Bay’ in 1997, and it is still used for reference today. One of the Guild’s more significant recent projects, focusing on Heritage preservation, was a pop-up museum, in Skibbereen Town Hall, during National Heritage Week 2025. See page __ for more details of this exhibition.

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The group have an annual outing to places of interest such as Bandon Museum, local formal gardens and in 2026 they attended a Crochet Demonstration in Kenmare, Co Kerry.

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An Grianán is a residential Adult Educational Centre based in Co. Louth where ICA members can attend for short breaks. Many of our members have attended this wonderful Georgian building over the past years, to learn new skills or to avail of a short holiday.

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Even though the group today is smaller, ICA continues to be as active and vibrant not only with Guild interests but in the community as well. Monthly meetings are held now in the Community Rooms in Church Cross where craft classes such as crochet, knitting and seasonal gift making workshops take place. The Guild provides space for women to connect and support one another. Aughadown ICA looks forward to many more years of active participation in the local community, and all women are welcome to join this wonderful organisation.