Published Date: January 6th, 2023
Is Women’s Christmas – Nollaig na mBan – still a tradition in your family? Historically, on January 6th, the women of Ireland are celebrated and encouraged to put their feet up after working so hard over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Irish women would gather in pubs or in one another’s homes for gaiety and conversation, while their husbands watched over the children.
Today’s social roles have certainly changed, but at the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce, we’re all for highlighting Nollaig na mBan as an opportunity to celebrate our members and their achievements. What better time, then, to shine a light on a tireless member of the ICCC board, Immediate Past Vice-President Carol McCormick? Always ready to roll up her sleeves, Carol is a valued volunteer and the secret ingredient that makes ICCC’s in-person and virtual events memorable. Her work on our 30th anniversary celebrations was outstanding. Those of us who enjoyed ourselves on that wonderful June evening have Carol to thank.
A real estate broker and financial advisor with a background in advertising, Carol is currently Vice-President of RAM Canada Inc. This family business provides state of the art technology and custom solutions to emergency response professionals, including fire, police, first responders and homeland security. Always on the lookout for new opportunities, Carol and founder husband Brian Payne are currently focussed on expanding into new markets across North America.
One would think that running a company like RAM Canada would take up all of Carol’s time, yet she still finds the energy to volunteer not only for ICCC Montreal, but also for the United Irish Societies of Montreal, where she was Corresponding Secretary, for the Montreal Irish Monument Park Foundation, as a communications committee member, and for the St. Patrick’s Society of Montreal, where she sits as Vice-President. Carol is Chair of the SPS Ball, a much-anticipated highlight of the St Patrick’s Society’s social calendar. The ball will be held on March 3rd this year, for the first since the outbreak of the pandemic. What’s more, Carol is President of the Montreal City Council Catholic Women’s league and Executive Director of The Pillars Trust Fund. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted!
Carol is a recipient of the St. Patrick Basilica’s Russell Breen Award for involvement in community work and the United Irish Societies’ Liam Daly Heritage Award for her contribution to the continual presence of Irish culture in Montreal.
Impressive.
Enjoy a well deserved rest on Nollaig na mBan, Carol! Thank you, Merci and Go raibh míle maith agat. We are grateful for all the time, energy and commitment you put into the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce’s activities, for your long standing contribution to the ICCC board, and for your dedication to Montreal’s Irish community and its organizations. Mo sheacht mbeannacht ort!
Would you like to shine the light on a fellow member of the Ireland Canada Chamber of Commerce? Reach out to ICCC Vice-President Michelle Sullivan at office@icccmtl.com.