MEN want to have power and the limelight, but if you really want a job done well, then ask a woman!

That is the philosophy of Mary Mulligan, widowed mother of 12, who is typical of the pioneering women from the Omeath Guild, Irish Countrywomen�s Association, who have played a prominent role in the life of the local community, over the past half-century.

Mrs Mulligan, who has a souvenir shop in Omeath, as well as a fancy goods stall at Newry Market, recalled that there were few opportunities to meet other people. This inspired some enterprising women to get together in 1960, and launch a local branch of the Irish Countrywomen�s Association. It was affiliated to the world-wide Women�s Institute.

Not only did they attract over 40 members to the first meeting, but women from Carlingford and Greenore also joined. Among the foundation members were Angela Gallagher, Mary 0�Shea, Christine Doyle, Doreen Rooney, Maura Brown, Eileen Howe and Maura McQuaid.

Not just a social focus, the ICA also provided girls over 16 with courses in crafts, domestic science, cooking and even set-dancing, all by professional instructors. The senior members had debates, quizzes, fashion shows, cookery demonstrations, talks on gardening, crochet, public speaking, etc. They also staged plays, variety shows, exhibitions of Irish dancing and so on.

Each summer, bus-loads would travel to tourist resorts like the Giant�s Causeway, the Ulster-American Folk Park, Connemara or the Lakes of Killarney. Also on the schedule would be shopping trips to Dublin, or a Christmas Pantomime.

And every year, members of Omeath Guild, ICA, would hold a get-together with the Warrenpoint Women�s Institute, alternating the venue between north and south. Also on the menu would be a demonstration of Cordon Bleu cooking, a fashion show, or maybe a talk on the legends of the Carlingford Lough region, etc.

The most memorable year coincided with the 30th annual celebrations at Omeath, with triumph in the All-Ireland Creative Dance Championships at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, sponsored by Canderel.

The eight-strong victorious team consisted of Mary Holland, Bene Mee, Eilish Dobbin, Marie Burns, Mena and Ann Maguire, Joan McCourt and Ann Brown. Competing against 21 other finalists, they were the first squad from Co Louth to gain such an achievement.

The following year, an Omeath team collected the All-Ireland Top of the Town trophy. And when, to mark Federation Year, over 600 people attended a convention at Dundalk, members of the Omeath Guild entertained those present with a variety show.

Ten years ago, the Guild produced a pageant, based on the legend of the �Long Woman�s Grave.� Research in Spanish archives unearthed new evidence, which indicated that Catalina, whose father was a grandee at the Royal Court of Spain, did travel to Omeath, and died suddenly there.

Based on this tragic tale, ladies arrived at Omeath pier in a Spanish vessel, attired in period costumes, designed by Mary Connolly. They paraded to the green beside the sea-front, the pageant being followed by open-air dancing to Spanish music. A mural close-by, illustrating the legend, had been removed due to road-widening.

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