DR MURIEL F GAHAN - An Appreciation 1897- 1995 Dr Muriel Gahan, who died peacefully on the 12th July 1995, in Dublin, will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. It would be no exaggeration to say that Muriel was one of the most outstanding Irish women of this century. Winifred Muriel Francoise Gahan was born at Magherabeg, Co. Donegal in 1 897. When she was three years old the family moved to Castlebar, Co. Mayo. She was strongly influenced by her happy, carefree childhood - and her father F.G. Townsend Gahan. He was one on the first senior inspectors appointed by the Congested Districts Board, and she often accompanied him in the course of his business. In this way she was first introduced to traditional country crafts and craftspeople. Muriel possessed the confidence of class and upbringing without any of its baggage. She was a fearless optimist, immensely energetic with a warm personality and a lovely sense of fun. She was also an excellent manager with a natural business sense. Throughout her long and fruitful life three things were central to Muriel's endeavours: societal co-operation, the bettering of women's lives - and crafts. The Crafts Council of Ireland can be thankful that Muriel toiled so long and so hard in rescuing certain crafts from extinction and in setting up organisations to promote higher standards and ensure the survival of many crafts. Muriel's life's work began in earnest in 1929, when she joined the United Irishwomen. She went in search of a weaver in Co Mayo for their crafts demonstrations at the RDS Spring Show. She realised that traditional country crafts were dying out primarily because of poor communications and a lack of market opportunities. Her response was to start a company with a group of friends, 'Country Workers Limited', and in 1930 to open wellknown "Country Shop" as their headquarters in St Stephen's Green. Ireland's first craft shop, "Country Workers Limited" was a non-profit making, private company.
The ICA (formerly the United Irishwomen) was tremendously important to Muriel. She was on its executive committee for many years and was honoured by being made a Buan Chara (good friend) in 1965. On at least three occasions she was offered the Presidency of the ICA, but she declined, as she felt the position should always go to a countrywoman. Muriel did not care for high office since she was not interested in power or personal gain. She was a visionary, ahead of her time, with the gift of reading the future. She was an organiser who loved to work with others, passionately believing in bettering the lives of women and their families in Ireland, tirelessly advancing the disciplines and projects she considered important whether it be campaigning for rural water schemes or the credit unions (she was a founding member of the latter). She touched the lives of many people, always in positive ways with works of encouragement and praises. Muriel's conversations were littered with the names of those whom she felt deserved credit and recognitions, something she never sought for herself. In 1 935 Muriel set up "An Cumann Sniomhachain" - (The Irish Homespun Society) which ran a long series of craft demonstration exhibitions at the Royal Dublin Society's Spring Show, over a period of ten years. In this way thousands of people were exposed to the best of Irish Crafts which helped to change the perceived image of crafts as being almost worthless. Muriel was instrumental in setting up "Country Markets Limited", which was formed jointly by the ICA and "An Cumann Sniomhachain" in 1946 to help small farming families find an outlet for their produce and make badly needed income. Today, "Country Markets" flourishes all over Ireland. Muriel was on the first committee of the "Arts Council" when it was formed in 1 951 and went on to serve the Council for many years.
She was an ardent supporter of the work of the Royal Dublin Society and always drew attention to the Society's support of crafts down through its 264 years. Muriel also served on its council and in 1976 was the first woman since its establishment in 1731 to become its Vice President. In 1968 she instigated the "RDS National Craft Competition", held each year at the Horse Show. Muriel was one of a group of concerned individuals who founded the Crafts Council of Ireland in 1971. She saw the council as being immensely important and central to the development and eventual official recognition, of crafts in Ireland - "an organisation of organisations". She vigorously campaigned for the nomination of James Warwick, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the Ulster Polytechnic as its first chairman because she felt the Crafts Council should represent the whole of Ireland North and South. Using her considerable influence as a member of the Council of the RDS she persuaded the Society to give the Crafts Council a home and secretariat from 1971 to 1976. This vital sponsorship was worth many thousands of pounds since the Council, at that time, was a voluntary organisation surviving on the small contributions of about 15 representatives. After years of lobbying, state funds were finally made available through the Department of Industry and Commerce in 1976, when the Crafts Council of Ireland was incorporated. Justin Keating was the Minister - certainly a question of the right minister being in the right place at the right time! Muriel was Chairperson of the Crafts Council of Ireland from 1976 to 1978. Her achievements were recognised in later years by the many awards bestowed upon her. She received an honorary Doctorate in Law from Dublin University, Trinity College in 1978. In 1 987 she was elected Ireland's "Person of the Year", the nominations coming from the ICA. In 1989 the Crafts Council of Ireland honoured Muriel when, the then Chairman, William Findlay, presented her with a collage designed and made by the artist Romy Gray. This special tribute recognised and celebrated the diverse range of her life's activities. David Shaw-Smith.