ICA to host annual Cavan walk

The Cavan Federation of the Irish Country Women’s Association will host their annual sponsored walk on Sunday, May 25 at 3pm.

The walk takes place in aid of Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care, and the women have raised almost €62,000 for the cause since 2008.

The walk begins at the post office in Cavan town, heads along Main Street and to the Egg Market, around College Street and down Farnham Street.

The route usually finishes at Singer, however over the years the women have noticed that some people take on to do their own route, either more kilometres or less.

“Some of us older ladies just walk around the town, and some of us even take shortcuts,” laughed Rosemary Murphy, who is Vice President for the Cavan Federation and a member of the Bruskey Guild.

“It’s whatever you’re able to do,” she added on a more serious note.

No matter what route is taken, the walk will finish with tea, coffee, biscuits and a chat at the Farnham Arms Hotel.

The Vice President outlined why they hold the walk each year.

“There’s probably no family that hasn’t been touched by cancer, and I think we felt that it was a good cause at the beginning and we were very impressed with Jimmy O’Donnell [Chairperson of Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care].”

Gathered at the table also is Tess Brady who is from the Mountnugent Guild, Margaret Smith from the Crosserlough Guild and Leila Beattie from the Bruskey Guild.

“It hits everybody,” the women agreed, describing how people in their area have availed of the service.

Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care provide “useful” support to people in their time of need, such supports which expand to “a spill of oil”, nurses who come in and provide care acting as a “back up” to families.

“The family feel they have some support.”

Rosemary shared how everybody is welcome to come along to the walk, you don’t need to be an ICA member to participate.

“We would love to see anyone coming along who would like to do the walk, we would be delighted to have them.”

The walk is always good craic, the ICA women report.

Leila is the Sports Officer for the Cavan Federation, and outlines that hail, rain or shine, the walk goes ahead.

“We’ve done it in the rain, no matter what the weather’s like we do it.

“There’s great interest in the walk among the ICA ladies,” she said, adding that each member has been out with their sponsorship card to garner funds.

“I was out the last two evenings,” Tess explained, adding that she’s “doing alright” in terms of getting the card filled up.

“People are very good,” she added.

Meanwhile Kildallan Guild do a walk around their area and “contribute” the funds raised.

The women will present the cheque for the funds raised to Cavan Monaghan Palliative Care at their September meeting.