The purpose of Dungarvan Men’s Shed is very much in-keeping with the wider movement, which began in Australia.

“Our shed enables members to become self-reliant, creative and self-motivating,” says Michael Cass, one of the founding members.

Michael, along with Nicky Sheehan and the late Brendan Hally, established the shed in September 2011 because they felt there was a lack of places for men to meet and talk to each other.

There are now 35 members, all from different backgrounds. The shed is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm. It is located on a premises provided by the Waterford Wexford Education Training Board on their adult education grounds. The members have developed a social room, wood workshops, a crafts room and a games room.

“The gardening area has been designed and planted and a glass house was built too,” Michael adds.

Dungarvan’s Men’s Shed has been very successful, having won the social contribution to the community award in 2016. The shed had also been shortlisted for the Munster section of the STAR (showcasing teamwork, awarding recognition) awards in 2015.

Community is at the heart of its ethos, with the men taking part in all sorts of activities such as making rafts for the Marine Festival, painting walls for the tidy towns community project and visiting the local hospital once a month.

“We make wooden items for the local chamber of commerce, collect goods for the Philippines, have travelled to visit other sheds and go on social outings and visit places of interest,” Michael says.

The shed is an advocate against ageism. Michael says the shed members see how much elderly people struggle in places like banks and post offices because of new technologies.

“The members of the shed are concerned with how society treats vulnerable people who are being marginalised because of their age,” Michael explains

The shed welcomes new members and you can contact Oliver Whelan, chair of the club, at 087-245-0225.