Athgarvan ICA open to new members

Athgarvan ICA is inviting all local women to come along to their first meeting of the year on Thursday evening, and avail of a half-yearly fee of just €27.

The guild is very active and in the last 12 months has connected with other women in the community, influenced government policy regarding domestic violence, provided members with opportunities in learning painting, halloween carving and crochet, and actively supported the local Food Bank.

Guild members have also taught school children how to knit, enjoyed nights at the theatre, gone as a group to Electric Picnic, and Yarn Bombed the riverside park in Newbridge.

The Athgarvan group is urging women of all ages to forget any preconceived ideas they may have about the ICA and find out how they can make new friends, learn new skills and be part of the largest women's group in Ireland.

Phone Annie on 086 2254213 for further information.

Yarn bombers will strike today

This popular walking area by the Liffey in Newbridge will look an awful lot different by this afternoon, when the Kildare ICA Yarn Bomb squad have done their work, writes Brian Byrne.

For many months now, the ladies of various ICA clubs across the county, led by those from Athgarvan ICA, have been knitting and crocheting furiously to be ready to colourfully transform the area.

They've been joined by other knitting groups, and by knitters in a number of local schools.

The installation gets under way today at 11am, and by this evening the trees will have new wooly jumpers, there will be a gaily decorated bike, a rainbow elf, and anything else that isn't moving will have gotten the treatment.

The event will be a 'knitted in' part of the Newbridge JuneFest festival, which begins tomorrow.

Two Mile House ICA

While there are two very active ICA guilds in Castledermot and Athgarvan, there's none in Kilcullen.

Well, there's another option, it seems, at Two Mile House, not far away, and it's 60 years in existence. The guild there meets on the first Monday of every month in the Brown Bear pub, at 8pm. Next Monday is a first one.

New members are always welcome, and in the first instance contact Maeve Jacob at 087 2389355.