As an early spring brings a touch of colour to the mountains and meadows, it’s time to take a step back and celebrate the day-to-day activities that keep Ireland’s sheds ticking. While the grand, attention-grabbing projects are our usual focus on this page, the ordinary and the mundane makes up the stuff of life. That’s as true of Men’s Sheds as it is of every other aspect of our existence.

In that spirit, we present you with the following slate of activities that have been undertaken in sheds across the land over recent weeks. We invite you to look closer at each of them; to consider the life-changing potential each holds, and to be as thankful as we are that shed members are giving up their time to enrich their communities.

Portlaoise Men’s Shed, Co Laois

Following in the footsteps of Rostrevor Men’s Shed and their pioneering clean-up of the Fairy’s Glen, Portlaoise Men’s Shed have been wading into the battle against river pollution – literally.

Members of the sheds have strapped on their wellies, pulled on their rubber gloves and forayed knee-deep into the river Triogue to tackle illegal dumping.

The shed was assisted in their endeavours by Basil Mannion, community waters officer. Dominic Kessie of Portlaoise Men’s Shed condemned the actions of “careless and thoughtless people too lazy to dispose of it properly”. John Ging, litter warden with Louth County Council, led the disposal effort.

Rathangan Men’s Shed, Co Kildare

Members of Rathangan Men’s Shed recently passed a heartsaver course under the guidance of Rathangan Public AED. The Irish Heart Foundation’s Heartsaver AED and CFR Community Course trains lay people in vital skills such as stroke assessment, heart attack response, patient handover, infection control and team resuscitation.

Kenmare Men’s Shed, Co Kerry

The Men’s Shed Fund disbursed by the Department of Community & Rural Development in 2018 continues to chalk up triumphs across the country. Kenmare Men’s Shed has put its share of the money to a particularly innovative use. The Co Kerry shed has taken delivery of computer equipment which will allow members, many belonging to so-called offline demographics, to avail of computer courses and computer familiarisation classes in the years ahead.

Dundalk Men’s Shed, Co Louth

Dundalk Men’s Shed is known for its ambitious craft projects, including the beautiful hand-made rocking-horses members have carved and raffled for local charities in recent years.

The shed’s latest project has proven a hit on social media. In the shed’s own words, it involves upsetting the applecart; specifically, a derelict cart (‘crumbled’ – in the punning words of the shed).

The applecart after its transformation.

The cart was brought to the shed on the off-chance that it could be repaired, but the finished product has stunned Facebook users. The cart arrived at the shed as a sorry heap of rotting red wood. It now stands proud on its own two wheels, resplendent in fetching blue and orange livery – a stunning testament to the shed’s rejuvenating touch.

Shannon Men’s Shed, Co Clare

Co Clare has a long and rich history of storytelling, poetry and song, and Shannon Men’s Shed has taken up that historical mantle. The shed recently launched a sing-song and poetry recital evening on a pilot basis. The event was a huge success, taken up with gusto by members of all ages and backgrounds. Members’ response to and embrace of the project was such that the shed has agreed to make it a monthly event. From now on, every second Tuesday of the month will be poetry and sing-song night from 8pm onwards.