Lucy Franks

Lucy Franks (27 February 1878 – 12 July 1964) was a president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association. She is credited with aiding in saving the United Irishwomen in the 1920s and giving it a pragmatic direction.

Early life Gertrude Lucy Franks was born in Westfield, County Laois, on 27 February 1878. She was the daughter of landowner Matthew Henry Franks and Gertrude Franks (née Despard). Her aunt by marriage was Charlotte Despard. Franks attended Alexandra College, Dublin, and having left school she returned home to care for her invalid father. In 1912 she joined the United Irishwomen, and five years later she helped found a local UI branch in Castletown. In 1923, the family home at Westfield was burnt down during the Irish Civil War, and the family moved to Blackhill House, Abbeyleix. Her father died in 1924, and Franks left Ireland for a period to travel in England and South Africa, returning to Ireland in 1926.

Franks was a founding member of the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) in 1927. In 1936 at the triennial ACWW conference in Washington, Franks spoke about the functions and goals of the newly renamed UI, which has become the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA) in 1935. She was the national president of the ICA from 1942 to 1952. Under her guidance the ICA craft workers founded a guild, monitored by judges and tests. She also initiated a garden scheme, which turned crossroad plots into roadside gardens, and oversaw fund-raising country fairs. During her presidency plans were set out for a permanent residential college in which the summer schools could be held. In 1953 the college, An Grianán in Termonfeckin, County Louth was opening with funding from the Kellogg Foundation.