Steeped in history, abuzz with culture, Limerick is a county proud of its past and facing the future. Few counties in Ireland have such a finely honed sense of regional and civic pride. It is not entirely surprising therefore that the Limerick leg of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association’s (IMSA) showcase tour was the best-attended to date.
Limerick enjoys one of the highest sheds-per-head of population ratios of any geographical unit in the world. Almost 150 members, representing 22 sheds, attended the meeting in the stunning surrounds of the Fitzgerald Woodlands House Hotel in scenic Adare.
Proceedings were officially opened by Cllr Adam Teskey, whose family have been farming lands around Adare for over 300 years. Elected Deputy Mayor of Limerick City and County Council the previous Friday, this was only Cllr Teskey’s second engagement in his new role.
In an impassioned opening address, the Deputy Mayor paid solemn and sincere tribute to the impact of men’s sheds on communities throughout Limerick. He was followed at the podium by Aisling McGrath of the IMSA, who invited Limerick sheds to participate in the next phase of the pioneering Sheds for Life initiative.
Next up was Anne Riordan of the Irish Heart Foundation, who urged attendees to avail of the foundation’s mobile health unit, which remained onsite offering blood-pressure checks until 2pm and was well-patronised by health-conscious Shannonsiders throughout the day.
Special tribute was paid to the IMSA’s Shed Support Volunteers for Limerick, Sean Dalton and Seamus Scott, the former of whom had them rolling in the aisles with a witty address sprinkled with local colour.
One of the highlights of the event was the display of Limerick artist Jim Furlong’s men’s sheds portraits. Jim was drawn to the men’s shed as a subject after being made redundant. Immensely sensitive to themes of social isolation and alienation, Jim noticed parallels to his life in the lives of men’s sheds members, which inspired him to embark on this project.
The paintings were positioned strategically around the ornate ballroom/theatre space of the Woodlands Hotel and attracted gasps of admiration throughout the day. Some of Jim’s sitters were present to pose with their portraits, and took great delight in doing so.
Jim, who illustrated a recent publication on the short-lived Limerick Soviet of 1919, has a keen appreciation for projects of social solidarity and male companionship. His portraits convey the wealth of life experience and wisdom that lurks behind the deceptively simple concept of the men’s shed.
The next item on the agenda rejoiced in the unlikely name of the Nun’s Room – a pub in Bruff, Co Limerick. Men’s sheds observe a strict no-alcohol policy, but there were no contradictions here; the Nun’s Room is Ireland’s very first alcohol-free pub.
Proprietor John Fitzgerald, who provides a premises for Bruff Men’s Shed, was partly inspired by the men’s shed movement in seeking to provide an alcohol-free community space to revive traditional forms of community interaction.
Currently, the Nun’s Room opens only on Friday nights, but is likely to expand its operation in the near future. John spoke passionately about conversation and companionship, rather than alcohol, as the glue that binds people and communities together.
IMSA chair Eoin Martyn gave a rousing final address which reminded sheds just how valuable and valued they are in their communities. The soulful troubadours of St Mary’s Parish Men’s Shed closed out proceedings with a wonderful musical finale, bodhrans, guitars and impassioned vocals belting out a repertoire of local favourites such as There is an Isle.
An appropriate ending to one of the most inspiring occasions in the men’s sheds calendar to date. CL