The inaugural meeting of Monasterevin’s Irish Country Woman’s Association was held in the CYMS Hall on 20 June 1955. Sixty prospective members attended to hear Miss Sheila Connolly from the head office of the ICA explain the role of the association as fostering a love of the country by improving living conditions in the countryside and raising the standard of living by arranging a happy and useful social like in rural area. 

50 years have passed since and the current president Kathleen Dunne is delighted to say that the Monasterevin guild is alive and well. There is a monthly meeting where members are still discovering new areas of interest and discuss matters of mutual concern.

Meetings are a forum for discussing matters that affect the home and community. Members have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in a wide range of areas from gardening, flower arranging, home decorating, cookery, arts and crafts, and woodwork to first aid and computer training. The women study historical, literary and cultural subjects. Outings are an important aspect of the educational programme and some of the guild’s members have travelled far and wide.

Other committee members include; vice president Nellie Brady, honorary treasurer Mary Fitzpatrick and other committee members Helen Whelan, Josephine Murtagh, Christine Worrell, Rose Prendergast, Dolly Connolly, Peggy McFadden, Jean Kingston, Mona Fitzpatrick and Sadie Duffy.

The Monasterevin Guild says that it continues to satisfy the ideal for which the ICA was founded “for educational and recreational purposes to promote the health, education and welfare of the people of Ireland”.