Heritage and History
Co Meath is rich in Rural Heritage and with the increased modernisation of recent years it is of crucial importance that these elements of our history and environment are preserved. It is a challenge for local communities to recognise their local heritage and work to safeguard it for generations to come. Meath Partnership is dedicated to working with these community groups in the conserving and upgrading our rural heritage here in County Meath.
We support community heritage projects to create an interest in local heritage, whether they are natural, built or cultural. We can aid in the interpretation of the local heritage and environment of the county, develop and promote the arts and crafts sector and document a wealth of historical information. Projects supported by Meath Partnership have instilled pride and a sense of place in local people.
Athboy ICA - Case Study
Athboy ICA celebrated their 50th anniversary late last year. To mark this momentous occasion the members compiled a book documenting Athboy ICA through the years. Mary Jo Needham, the President of the Athboy Guild speaks about how they got the project together.
‘For the 40 year celebrations we ran an exhibition of photographs and other memorabilia. It was a great success and we were really surprised by the amount of material we unearthed. I just thought that someday, somewhere, a writer had to put this into book form, there was just too much valuable information in this to lose! We decided to put a book together for the 50th anniversary and were delighted to finally launch it on the 7th of November 2010.
‘There was dreadful weather on the day of the launch and I was really worried that people wouldn’t show up, but thankfully they came out in force. People travelled from near and far, we even had members from the early guilds there with their children and grandchildren. The launch was supposed to last from 3 until 6 but it went on until nearly 8 o’ clock. People were so busy catching up and rekindling old friendships. The book has since gone to the 4 corners of the world. We even got an email from someone in an island off the coast of Australia saying how much she enjoyed reading it. I think it is particularly special for people that are abroad as it brought back the memories of times past. I believe books like these are very important as they show how Ireland has changed so rapidly in the last number of years.
‘The ICA was a very important outlet for women in days gone by’ says Mary Jo ‘They couldn’t got to the pub as they had children to mind and housework to do, but one night a week it was acceptable to go to the ICA. At our launch event last year, Cathaoirleach Shane Cassells spoke of how they prayed the rosary in his house every night of the week except on the night of the ICA when his mother would be getting a lift and it was ok to skip the rosary for that night. This will give you an idea of how important the ICA was to women back then.’
LEADER funding was crucial to the production of the book. We were doing everything on a shoestring at the start but LEADER funding meant that we could produce the book to a very high spec. It was a wonderful experience for the ICA putting together this book. It really gave us a sense of pride in our organisation and a great understanding of the women who went before us. I think books like this are just invaluable for generations down the line. They are a chronicle of what went on from a previous era – it may only be 50 years ago but life has changed so much even from the 80’s in Ireland and it’s so important that we don’t forget where we’ve come from.
Do you know of any local historical features or natural areas which may benefit from enhancement and upgrading for the enjoyment and appreciation of the local community?
If you have an idea about conserving, upgrading, celebrating or showcasing our rich heritage, please contact Meath Partnership. We can help turn your ideas into actions!