Kilcullen to the fore at CU celebrations

Kilcullen was well represented at the recent 40th anniversary celebrations of Chapter 7 of the Irish League of Credit Unions, held in Monasterevin.



Not alone is the current chairman of that regional group of the Credit Union movement, Pat Goulding, a stalwart of Kilcullen's branch of the organisation, but Christy Sheridan, one of Kilcullen's founder members, was among those given special commendation for his work at local, regional and national level.

A strong Kilcullen supporting contingent at the event was led by current local chairman Pat Stafford and his wife Bernadette.

In his address, Pat Goulding recalled that in the year when Chapter 7 was founded, Martin Luther King had been assasinated, the forerunner of VAT, Turnover Tax, was 2.5 percent, and that he was working in Naas for £3.10s a week.

Reading from the Minutes of the first Chapter meeting, he noted that four Credit Unions from the area were represented, Athy, Kildare, Naas and Edenderry.

Over the four decades, the Chapter evolved and played a very important role in the Irish League of Credit Unions, including providing League Board Directors in Christy Sheridan and James Kevin, and the first woman President of the organisation, the late Anne O'Byrne.

He quoted from John Hume, who is on record as saying the Credit Union movement has done more for the people of Ireland than any other organisation.

On this occasion of celebration for Chapter 7, Pat reiterated his own belief in the importance of Chapter to the Credit Union movement, as a place where groups involved can share ideas for the betterment of each other.



"Now in 2008 we have 17 Credit Unions in Chapter 7," he noted, "with over 100,000 members, and assets of €500m. That shows how far we've come."

He concluded by thanking all those who 'sowed the seed' of Credit Union in Ireland 50 years ago.

Brian Byrne.