Ina Broughall was first woman from Carlow to be national ICA president

INA Broughall who died recently in her 94th year, served as national president of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) from 1985 to 1988.

Ina, née Quigley, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in the care of St Oliver Plunkett Nursing Home, Dundalk – the Broughalls resided in Beech Park, Blackrock, Co Louth.

Born in Carlow on 21 May 1932 – baptised as Anna Christina but always known as Ina ‒ she was one of a family of 11 children of the late Edward and Annie (née McKenna) Quigley.

She is survived by two siblings, brother Kevin (Limerick) and sister Thérèse Jackman (Tullow).

Educated by the Presentation Sisters on Tullow Street and the Mercy Sisters in Carlow, Ina was married to Gerard (Ger) Broughall from Carlow town, who predeceased her in February 2024. The couple married on 26 June 1956 in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow.

Ina worked as a post office telephonist. After her marriage, she and Gerard went to live in the Wandsworth area of London and it was there that their first child Niall was born.

In England, Ina studied hairdressing and, on the family’s return to Carlow, she opened her own hairdressing salon ‘The Powder Bowl’ on Dublin Street.

Ina was a homemaker, raising four children while Ger worked in a clerical capacity with the Irish Sugar Company in Carlow.

A talented, creative woman who cooked, sewed and painted, she could turn her hand to anything. She had a talent for writing and composed speeches, poems and short stories.

She also loved to become involved in organisations that had a purpose and a hard-working committee and it was that type of background which led her to becoming a member of Graiguecullen guild of the ICA.

Ina was the 16th national president of the ICA, making her mark through her leadership qualities and her commitment to the country’s largest female association.

She was part of a team of ten Carlow ladies who, during the early 1980s, won back-to-back jubilee cups, sponsored by Laois federation ICA, for their presentation of mime and creative dancing of The Spinning Wheel, a representation of an older way of Irish life.

In time, she rose to become president of the Carlow federation ICA before being appointed national president, which involved much international travel over her three years in the position.

Following Ina’s passing, her daughter Aisling Farren discovered a quilt that had nostalgic resonance. The quilt was presented to Ina by the Carlow federation ICA when she became national president. It bore the embroidered names of all 132 living members of Graiguecullen guild of the ICA from 1950 to 1983 – each name embroidered by the individual guild members.

Ina’s name is embroidered as the centrepiece of the quilt, also proclaiming proudly her national presidency years 1985-1988.

Aisling gave the quilt to Thérèse Jackman, the youngest of the Quigley family, as a keepsake. Following discussion between them, it was decided to present the quilt to Carmel Dawson on behalf of Carlow federation ICA.

The ICA, with Ina at the helm, developed close cross-border co-operation with the Women’s Institute (WI), its Northern Ireland equivalent. That was an era when ‘The Troubles’ continued unabated in the North and more than a decade before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement brought about peace.

Ina gave generously of her time and talents to the ICA at all levels and strengthened the association during her presidency through her steady guidance.

Noted for her wonderful sense of humour, the Carlow native brought warmth to all aspects of a busy life.

During her presidency, Ina was invited to be guest presenter on the popular RTÉ 1 Saturday night television programme Saturday Live. She seamlessly interviewed Frank Kelly, actor, singer and writer who played the foul-mouthed Fr Jack Hackett in the hit television comedy Father Ted. Ina engaged her audience with her natural wit and warmth.

On another occasion during her presidency, Ina was a guest on The Late Late Show, being interviewed by the legendary Gay Byrne.

Ina Broughall has left a lasting legacy, her loss being felt at national, federation and local level throughout the ICA. She was the first Carlow woman to hold the position of national president.

Ina was followed in the role by Carmel Dawson from Tullow, a member of Ballyconnell guild. Carmel served as national president from 2006 to 2009, having held the position of Carlow federation president for three years. She was inaugurated as the 24th leader of the organisation.

Carmel described Ina Broughall as “my mentor,” adding: “Ina had been very proud to have helped me through the ranks of ICA.” Ina died on Monday 26 January and reposed at the home of her daughter Aisling in Dundalk on Wednesday while her funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday in St Joseph’s Redemptorist church, Dundalk.

Aisling, in a powerful eulogy to her mother during her funeral Mass, told the congregation that Ina found her niche in the ICA. She stated: “In those days, this was a formidable national organisation which lobbied government, quite often successfully, on behalf of Mná na hÉireann. My mother revelled in the part that she played in the ICA, not so much the cooking and crafting aspects but the chances she got to voice publicly women’s issues and concerns.” Aisling said President Mary Robinson was her mam’s idol – they shared the same birthday.

Her parents moved in 1991 to Blackrock, Co Louth from their long-time home on Green Lane, Carlow, a big move at that stage of their lives.

“Undaunted, they started this new phase with their usual energy and enthusiasm, joining local organisations such as the Blackrock ICA, tidy towns association and credit union.

“National organisations beckoned again for mam as she served on the Council of State for the Status of Women and the Older Women’s Network Association. Mam, dad and the gang of Thérèse and Luke (Jackman), Seamus and Elizabeth (Quigley) would head off to the various resorts in Spain, Portugal, Egypt, The Caribbean, Turkey and further afield. They had the best of times, made wonderful memories and we (children) got the exotic-seeming presents all the way from the continent.” Aisling’s tribute continued: “All of that early travel made it easy for mam to travel the world representing the ICA on a global stage. There was hardly anywhere in the world she hadn’t visited. And she savoured it all.

“She walked The Great Wall of China, was fêted in the Great Hall in Beijing by the Chinese president. She even had a private audience with Pope John Paul II in The Vatican.” At family level, Aisling said her mam encouraged herself and her brothers to do everything – fail and try again was her mantra. “She loved us dearly and we loved her. Herself and dad gave us so much. We had the best childhood and were lucky to have had mam and dad play a huge part in our adult lives.’’ Ina, she said, hadn’t enjoyed the best of health over the past few years but “she had 90 good years, wonderful years.” Since becoming ill, she had been so lovingly cared by the “angels” in St Oliver’s Nursing Home, Dundalk.

Reflecting on when her (Aisling’s) children were youngsters, they loved to visit Ina and Ger. “Mam and dad entertained them no end with their quick wit and banter. This back and forth between my parents became known as the ‘Ina and Ger show.’ Well, today, the ‘Ina and Ger show’ has come to an end. The final curtain has come down and we say farewell mam, you will always be loved and spoken of. We will remember you forever.” Aisling concluded: “Gan dabht, ní bheidh a leithéid ann aris. Go ndéana Dia trócaire are a hanam dilís.” Burial took place that afternoon in St Mary’s cemetery, Carlow, with Fr Yanbo Chen, CC, Carlow reciting the final prayers at the graveside.

In Dundalk and Carlow, ICA members formed guards of honour, with national president Mary D’arcy (Wexford) and national treasurer Maireád Phelan (Carlow) being part of the Carlow honour guard.

Ina is mourned by her children Niall (Athlone), Conor (UK), Aisling (Dundalk) and Daragh (Carlow), her grandchildren Ciara, Róisín, Cillian, Craig, Garvan, Neil, Aaron, Shauna and Rebecca, great-grandchildren, brother Kevin (Limerick), sister Thérèse Jackman (Park Gate, Shillelagh Road, Tullow), nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and circle of friends in Blackrock and Carlow.

She was predeceased by her brothers Edmund (Newbridge), Liam (Carlow), Seamus (Bray, Co Wicklow), Peter (Duleek, Co Meath) and Oliver, who died in infancy, sisters Stella Meade (Larkfield, Carlow), Patty Dalton (Main Street, Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny) and Philomena (Delma) Byrne (Rathnapish, Carlow).