Armagh Men’s Shed

Members of Armagh Men’s Shed are pleased to announce that they helped to raise over £6,000 this year for the Southern Area Hospice. The money was raised through their annual street collection as well as other sponsored events. Over the past number of months, their members have been busy manufacturing various craft items for sale in their latest venture – a pop-up shop on Georgian Day in the city centre to raise funds to support the activities of the Men’s Shed. If your husband, father or grandfather is simply at a loose end, get him down to Armagh Men’s Shed where he can be assured of a warm welcome, a cup of tea and a bit of craic. Phone 077-6381 8393 for further information.

Rostrevor Men’s Shed

Rostrevor Men’s Shed celebrated their first anniversary by hosting a successful coffee morning. Members and their families had been extremely busy leading up to the fundraiser, baking cakes, buns and breads. Mark thanked the members who worked incredibly hard, both organising and baking for the event, and also their families and friends.

“It’s a tribute to them how successful today has been,” he said.

If you’re interested in seeing what the Rostrevor Men’s Shed is all about or know of anyone who wishes to join, why not pop along to see them at 16 The Square, Rostrevor, at 7pm on Wednesdays.

Tipperary Town Men’s Shed

Tipperary town Men’s Shed, based in Knockanrawley Resource Centre, is in the middle of a very interesting cookery course. The men use the gatherings as social and community connection time rather than tasks or craft building. However, when it comes to food, they want to learn as much and eat as much as possible! Martin Coughlan, the cookery tutor, has made the course a must for the men, as they learn how to make cottage pies, soups and chicken casserole. The course will culminate in a Christmas meal for them all. Feeding the shed is a satisfying and fun way to meet weekly.

Newcastle West Men’s Shed

We are now one year in our premises and we’re well settled in. Since taking position, we have set up a wood workshop with a range of tools; a social room, which includes a snooker table, darts board, library, TV and card games; and a tea room. We have plans for more equipment purchases in 2017. For further information, please contact Eddie Guiry by emailing eddie@eddieguiry.com

Blessington Men’s Shed

Some of Blessington Men’s Shed attended the West Wicklow Male Cancer Awareness Event in the Coimín Centre last week. Speakers included Wicklow County’s GAA star Mr John Mcgrath and Consultant Urologist Dr Arun Thomas. There was a wonderful turnout and debate with very good interest from the floor.

The Men’s Shed is on the go in Tuam for about three years. The impetus for it came from the Tuam Voluntary Force and the Tuam and District Mental Health Association, who wanted to create a place where men could meet. They looked around at other sheds and reckoned the model would suit Tuam as well. And they were right.

The Tuam shed has 25-30 active members, with an age range of 30 to 85, although most shedders are retired. The shed has been lucky in that it has rent-free accommodation in the old, unused Christian Brothers secondary school.

“We are made up with our premises,” says Pat O’Hora, “many of our members went to school here, so in a way it’s back to where we started from.”

The Tuam Shed is big into recycling waste timber. With Tommy Gavin and Pat Martin at the helm, they make bird and bat boxes as well as insect hotels and buddy benches for school playgrounds. Waste is sold as fire wood.

Wood turning is also popular and under the guidance of Owen Durcan, a retired garda, four or five members who never held a lathe are now proficient at the craft.

“We are getting a reputation for our expertise and for being a very useful addition to the community, and that’s good,” says Pat.

The shed also has a poly tunnel where Frank Hession and other members work with local primary school children to grow vegetables. The shed also cooperates with transition-year students by supplying them with items for sale on behalf of their charities.

Pat O’Hora says the shed got a great boost when it received €10,000 from Irish Public Bodies Insurance, which allowed them to fully equip the shed.

“It’s a great place and we are all kept in order by our head chef and bottle washer Jarlath Fahy. We’d love to see new shedders join up, so do call in.”

The Tuam Men’s Shed is open Monday to Friday from 10.30am to 4pm. You can contact Pat at 087-9685669 for more information.