The Catholic Young Men’s Society of Ireland, as it has been known for many years, was founded in Limerick just after the Great Famine in 1849 by Richard Baptist Dean O’Brien. The original title of the Society was ‘The Young Men’s Association of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’, CYMS came later.

Whatever its title, the Society has been in existence for 157 years. For any organisation to last that length of time and be still going, it must have something good about it. The reason for its longevity is very simple; it was founded for the love of God and to help people. The grace of God has kept it going until now.

For a number of reasons, after a long and exhaustive process of soul-searching and debate at all levels of the Society, the momentous decision to change its title to ‘The Catholic Men and Women’s Society of Ireland’ was made at a special national general meeting on 17 February 2005. So what was the CYMS is now the CMWS.

One of the reasons the change was made was that in 1984 we amended our constitution to allow women to join the Society and to make sense of that, but more importantly it was to give our women members recognition of their full and proper status in the organisation.

There had always been women involved in the CYMS as associates or semi-associates and, of course, they were very much in evidence in events of a social nature like dances, plays, concerts, etc. Most important of all, we feel that women can make a huge and unique contribution towards the attainment of the aims and objectives of our Society as set out in our constitution.

Let me emphasise as strongly as I can at this point, that we are not turning into a feminist group. We want a society of men and women working together primarily for the good of our people, boys and girls, but also, and very much so, to pursue their own particular interests for their own enjoyment and for their personal enrichment.

Most branches of the CYMS have for many years organised junior sections for boys aged 12 to 17 years. In the new arrangement we would hope that a number of mature, caring women would organise similar sections for girls in the same age range.

We would hope that our men members would help the boys in our care in ways and means appropriate to boys. To teach them the true values of normal, decent living that apply to everyone irrespective of gender.

One of the great features of our set-up as we envisage it and hope it would be, is that it would provide a safe, Christian environment for men and women, boys and girls to enjoy themselves and grow as persons. The possibilities are endless.

One small, simple suggestion to help people to get used to the change; all down the years very few people would say “I’m going down to the CYMS” they would more than likely use the abbreviated term ‘CY’. To make the fact of the name change take root and come into common usage, could I suggest that you get in the habit of saying “I’ll see you in the CM.” ‘CY’ is gone and we don’t want it referred to as the ‘CY’ any more.

We are appealing to all men and women of 18 years and over, who are practising Catholics, to join our ranks and help us to achieve our aims and objectives. Together we could make a lot of good things happen and very importantly help young people of both sexes to reach maturity unscathed by the many dangers that surround them.

We earnestly hope that many of you will respond to our appeal and join us. Contacts are as follows: Brendan Moran 6689905, Joe Keegan 6604982, Pat Carroll 4960393, Sarah O’Reilly 6602470, Tom Sheridan 6684659, Miriam Murphy, 6680197, Geraldine Thorp 087 6901907, Benny Bridgeman 6685525 and Betty Barry 6602650.

Members of Ringsend Active Retirement, pictured above, are just one of the groups who avail of the sociey’s facilities.