Finding aid databases

Copy letter from Sean F Lemass to P Smith, Minister for Agriculture, 5 April 1961, relating to the Annual General Meeting of the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA]. He outlines the contents of the speech which he proposes to make at the meeting. 'I intend to deal with the problems of small farm areas and our intention to carry out a systematic examination of possibilities of increasing output'. He refers in particular to the Western Creamery Development Project and asks the Minister for further information on the scheme.

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letter

Copy letter from Sean F Lemass to Dr J Ryan, Minister for Finance, 5 April 1961, concerning his address to the forthcoming General Meeting of the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA]. He asks the Minister for confirmation of the grants payable to the Association.

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letter

Letter from the Dr Ryan, Minister for Finance, to the Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, 6 April 1961, concerning grants to the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA]. The Minister states that he is not favourably disposed towards an increase to the Association's grant. 'I might also mention that in examining the accounts of the ICA I find that in the last balance sheet revenue exceeded expenditure by £700. The case made for an increased grant was to enable them to give an increase of salary to their organisers but a 10% increase to these organisers would only absorb half their surplus'.

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letter

Copy letter from Patrick Smith, Minister for Agriculture to the Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, 7 April 1961, concerning the content of the Taoiseach's address to the General Meeting of the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA]. Smith refers in particular to the extension of the creamery system in the West of Ireland. 'I should prefer not to name particular counties at the moment nor to refer directly to increased milk production'.

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letter

Letter from the Minister for Finance, Dr Ryan, to the Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, 10 April 1961, relating to the grant to the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA]. 'I have agreed now to increase the grant of £2500 to £4000 for the year 1962. I think this should adequately cover their increased costs'.

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letter

Hand-written note from the Department of the Taoiseach, 10 April 1961, relating to the Department of Agriculture's submission to the Department of Finance on the subject of financial assistance to the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA]. It states that the Minister for Finance has decided to increase the grant from £2600 to £4000. However, he turned down the request of a grant of one thousand pounds for the maintenance of An Grianan.

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note

Newsclipping from the 'Leinster Leader', 8 April 1961, containing an article entitled 'Rural Water Supplies Campaign: Taoiseach to open ICA Annual Meeting'. The article refers in particular to the opening of a conference and exhibition organised by the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA]. The exhibition is to focus upon the rural water supplies scheme. 'A major attraction will be the county crafts section with demonstrators drawn from the ICA ... the Taoiseach, Mr Sean Lemass, will address the annual general meeting of the ICA and open the exhibition'. The following women were amongst those who organised the event: Mrs Aine Barrington, Chairman; Miss Muriel Gahan, Organiser and Mrs Joan Coady, Public Relations Officer.

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newsclipping

rural life; agriculture; education

Text of a speech given by the Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, to the Annual General Meeting of the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA], 11 April 1961. The Taoiseach's speech concentrates on the problems faced by those in small farming areas. He refers at length to rural electrification and the provision of piped water. 'The Electricity Supply Board endeavours to bring home to rural dwellers the manifold advantages of electricity in the home and on the farm. They sponsor scholarship courses for girls at your association's college at Termonfeckin, County Louth, and also have two mobile farm kitchens on the road which are proving very popular'. He praises the role played by the Association in promoting the Department of Agriculture's improvement schemes.

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Speech

Annual Report of the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA] for 1960. The front page of the report lists the committee members. 'President, Miss Dorothy Smith; Vice-Presidents, Mrs JW Hughes, Mrs CC MacLarnon, Mrs M Boyle, Mrs Ahern, Mrs H Delap, Mrs N Butler, Mrs E McKeever, Mrs T Pilkington'. The trustees include Mrs Somerville-Large and Miss Alice Ryan. Pages 1 to 4 list the guilds throughout the country. The aims and objectives of the ICA and their activities during 1960 are outlined in detail. A detailed report of activities in each federation is given from pages 11 to 40. The role played by the Association in the campaign for rural water supplies is also addressed. 'The success of this campaign depends mainly on the intensity with which the countrywomen of Ireland demand piped water'. The report also contains an obituary for Ena McKeever.

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Annual report

Newsclipping from the 'Irish Press', 13 April 1961, containing an article entitled 'Drive for creameries welcomed'. The article refers to the contents of a speech made by the Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, at the annual meeting of the Irish Countrywomen's Association [ICA]. 'The Minister for Agriculture is aiming for the extension of the creamery system to certain counties in the West'.

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newsclipping

rural life; agriculture; education