The delegation from South Tipperary ICA Federation was led by President Ann O’Connell who said it was a proud moment for her to be part of the formal procession into St. Patrick’s Hall, along with Past National Presidents, Federation Presidents from all over Ireland and the National President Mrs. Anne Maria Dennison who was accompanied by Guest of Honour, President of Ireland, Mrs. Mary McAleese. Also present were members of the Lett Family from Bree, Co. Wexford whose grandmother was the first President of the Association. Mrs. Ethel Patterson, President of the Women’s Institute of Northern Ireland led the delegation from Northern Ireland.

In her address to the huge gathering, President McAleese said:- “It is quite an achievement in itself for a voluntary organisation to, not only survive a tumultuous century but to thrive and grow strong with each passing decade. The visionary women who founded the ICA in Bree, Co. Wexford one hundred years ago this year could hardly have dared to hope that a century later there would be such a vibrant, thriving, confident multi-faceted ICA, but here it is.

“That it is, is thanks to each generation of women who took on the baton of sustaining and developing this organisation. No one dropped it, not even through uprisings, civil wars, world wars, depressions, recessions and mass migration. The ICA has accompanied women through the caprice, cruelty and unpredictability of life in those early days when women did not have the right to vote, when educational and job opportunities were very few and when they had just been permitted rather ungraciously to become students in Trinity College. The founders would be astounded at the changed lives of their 21st century counterparts with their right to full equality of citizenship and opportunity,”

President McAleese praised the work of over seven hundred ICA Guilds across the country that offered women social networks, opportunities for involvement in the local community, a conduit to participation in broad national debate, a way to participate in culture, particularly the Irish Culture and language, sports and hobbies and above all, great enduring friendships.

“This powerful network is testimony to your capacity to evolve, adapt and remain ever relevant to the lived lives of women throughout Ireland,” she said.

In response ICA President Anne Maria Dennison said - “I think our founder Anita Lett would be very proud of what the ICA has achieved over the last 100 years. Little did she think when she founded the Society of the United Irishwomen in 1910 (which later became known as ICA) that we would be celebrating the centenary and have a female Uachtaran na hEireann.

Mna na hEireann have come a long way,” she said.