Immortalised on the big screen by a cast including Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, the WI members stripped off to raise money for a local hospital.
And now the women of Dromore's Autumn Leaves social club have shed their foliage for a similar calendar in aid of Newry Hospice.
Local publican and club founder Mrs. Helen McFadden explained, "It was just an idea I had that we might raise money by doing a calendar.
"It was actually seeing the film Calendar Girls on TV that was in the back of my mind, but more than that, it was the tie-in with 'Autumn Leaves' - that we could use leaves to cover up the relevant parts - that appealed.
"But that would have been very daring, a bit too daring, and we decided to be a bit more discreet about it.
"Really it's all been a good laugh and all the proceeds will support a very good cause in going to Newry Hospice."
In all, 13 women are featured in the Autumn Leaves calendar.
Said Helen, "We actually have 13 calendar girls but it's not that we've created another month of the year; one of the members is featured on the reverse of the front page, where all the information about the calendar is displayed."
Helen launched the Autumn Leaves, whose members meet each Wednesday afternoon at The Ranch in Princes Street, as a social club offering live music, dancing, games, exercise and mental stimulation to people who might otherwise find themselves, as she put it, "staring at the
four walls".
And she was delighted, she said, with the way the members had responded to the calendar project.

"Everyone involved is very pleased with the outcome and it has been a wonderful experience," she said. "We do have good fun at the Autumn Leaves and I must say that doing this calendar has made a lot friendships more solid. We all look at each other in a different light and I think it's simply fantastic.

"There's one lady who would be a bit nervous and I am so proud of her that she had her picture taken for the calendar; it feels good to know you've helped her overcome her inhibitions." The Autumn Leaves calendar will be officially launched at the May Ball in Dromore Bowling Pavilion later this month and will be widely on sale in an effort to raise as much cash as possible for the Hospice.

"They'll be on sale from any of the girls and a few business premises in the town who have told us they will be delighted to sell them," said Helen.

Meanwhile, the Autumn Leaves has its fair share of male members and it looks like they won't be getting off the hook easily.

Said Helen,, "We have told the guys in the Autumn Leaves that it's the boys' turn next year."

l If you wish to congratulate the ladies on their efforts for charity text us your views on 81800. Begin your text with BLCOMMENTS, leave a space then key in your message. See p2 for full details.