By our parochial Irish standards, Donegal is often considered a remote and inaccessible location. 260 miles from Cork and 140 from Dublin, its wild landscape of glens, lakes and mountains sets it apart from the rest of the country.

Only in the farthest-fetched tales of a Killybeggs fisherman, however, could Donegal be compared to Mongolia. The vast east Asian nation, famed for its huge steppes and its Gobi desert, is an unlikely twin for Ireland’s northernmost county.

Mongolia has, as far as we know, yet to discover the joys of the Men’s Shed. But one shed in Donegal is bringing a touch of Mongolia to the northwest.

Jimmy Boyle of An Scioból, Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore Men’s Shed), has spent much of the spring and summer constructing a traditional Mongolian dwelling. The round, latticework structure is typically known as a yurt, although Mongolians themselves prefer the term ger (“home”).

Speaking to fellow shedder Liam Ó Gógáin, Jimmy described the concept behind his unlikely project, as it took shape in the shed workshop.

“They used to move them round with the cattle,” explained Jimmy. “You had to be able to put it up fast and take it down fast. It’s like a massive tent, but you must realise that it held the whole family – and it might have to hold the family for three months. They also had to contend with high wind. Because of the way it’s made, it sits very well in the wind.”

Jimmy has always been fascinated with the concept of the yurt.

“As a carpenter, my big interest has always been to build one, and to make plenty of mistakes,” he tells us.

Although Jimmy came across various designs on the internet, his urge for authenticity led him to choose a type of yurt held together with rope rather than bolts. Jimmy explains that horse-hair or sheep’s wool would have originally been used in place of rope.

Jimmy hopes to make more yurts in the future, and his shedmate Liam Ó Gógáin feels the project has wider significance.

“Throughout the world, there’s lots of fabulous skills that guys in Men’s Sheds have, and in some way, if there was a way of capturing these type of experiences and creating an environment where people could share their learning, everybody benefits from it.”

Dunboyne Men’s Shed, Co Meath

A central belief of the Men’s Sheds movement is that every man has a right to learn, participate in and enjoy any social activity, regardless of his age, background or ability.

Walking football, a recent arrival on Irish shoes, exemplifies that principle to the core. Walking football is a form of the beautiful game in which running is prohibited, lowering the physical requirements needed to take part, and enabling players of differing ages to compete on equal terms.

Dunboyne Men’s Shed is currently participating in a pilot project overseen by the Football Associaton of Ireland’s Gerry O’Riordan, in partnership with Go for Life and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown.

Taking place at the National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown, the project sees the men’s fitness levels scientifically measured both before and after its completion, in order to gauge the potential benefits of walking football. But aside from its clinical value, the shedders are – in the words of Dunboyne’s Willie John Creedon – “having a ball”.

“We look upon it as an opportunity to play against men of a similarly fine vintage and sporting interest from the area. The post-match cup of tea is a great social event.”