"It's not all tea and talk in the ICA"

"It's not all tea and talk in the ICA," local councillor Dervill Dolan, quoting ICA member Brigie Doyle, said launching new book "Clara ICA 50 Years On" in Clara library last Thursday night. The book, co-authored by Clara ICA secretary Patricia O'Meara and assistant secretary Mary McRedmond, both chronicles and celebrates the first 50 years of Clara ICA guild since its formation in 1958. "Many women who came to Clara found their first friends in the ICA and many remain friends to this day," the councillor said at the event. During his speech Cllr Dolan outlined a book that traces the group's involvement through the years with senior citizen parties, St Patrick's Day parades, horticulture and craft shows, classes and a long list of charitable events. "Another significant contribution of the Clara ICA which is not widely known is that the ICA members were instrumental in setting up the Tidy Towns Cimmittee in Clara in 1968," he said, adding too details of the group's involvement with both the National and Offaly Federation. "The past and present members of Clara ICA can be very proud of their achievements," he said. "Clara is a much better town because of the many contributions of the ICA members."