Craftsmanship strong in sheds

With 22 sheds to its name, Donegal is among the most shed-heavy counties in Ireland. In late October, all 22 of those sheds came together to celebrate their craftsmanship, creativity and community spirit at a men’s sheds showcase in Castlefin.

The event was co-organised by Donegal County Council as part of national Reuse Month, which aims to encourage citizens to take simple, practical measures such as having shoes resoled, borrowing books from the library and prioritising repair, secondhand purchases, upcycling, borrowing, swapping and refilling.

At the core of the event was the renowned and refined creativity of men’s sheds members, who took the opportunity to show off their wares to an audience of men’s sheds members and impressed onlookers.

From the beautiful hand-crafted miniature harps carved by Carndonagh Men’s Shed, to the colourful Mongolian yurt created by Scioból Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore Men’s Shed), to the small-scale sailboats created by Moville Men’s Shed, the entire exhibition space was a feast for the eyes. The musical prowess of the men’s sheds movement was not neglected either. Finn Valley Men’s Shed choir opened proceedings with a rousing rendition of Bill Withers’s anthem of friendship and solidarity, Lean on Me.

South Inishowen Councillor Nicholas Crossan, cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, gave the keynote address, praising sheds’ contribution to communities throughout Donegal.

By the time the curtain fell on an inspirational, enlightening event, friendships and connections had been made that spanned the hills and valleys of this most beautiful, rugged county.

It is by no means an exaggeration to say that sheds have been a lifesaver for many men. In Co Westmeath, however, that sentiment was given very literal expression last week. Some time ago, a defibrillator was installed on the exterior of Moate Men’s Shed courtesy of the Tony Parker Foundation. Tony Parker was a 16-year-old boy who died after collapsing before a PE class in 2007. Tony’s mother Geraldine subsequently set up a foundation in his name, which continues to provide free defibrillators and crucial training to communities throughout the midlands.

Moate Men’s Shed was one beneficiary of the foundation’s public-spirited generosity. In mid-October, the defibrillator, along with the vigilance and expertise of the ambulance service, helped save the life of a local who collapsed outside the shed’s premises. It is understood that the individual concerned is making a full recovery.

Many other sheds throughout Ireland have defibrillators on their premises, some of which were installed as a result of the Department of Community & Rural Development’s Shed Fund.

Sheds have also participated in a scheme which sees obsolete phoneboxes fitted with defibrillators in central locations of towns and cities throughout Ireland.

Sheds are known the length and breadth of Ireland for the quality and diversity of their craftsmanship.

However, a recent project by members of Naas Community Men’s Shed of Co Kildare threatens to leave the competition in the shed.

Shed members recently journeyed to the Irish Woodturners’ Guild’s National Woodturning Seminar in Limerick, bringing with them a remarkable piece of work; an astonishingly well-rendered working recreation of a vintage crane.

Shed members Paddy O’Connor and Joe Rafferty are part of the Midland Chapter of the Woodturners’ Guild, with Paddy serving as president, and both helped craft this astonishing example of shed ingenuity.

Naas Community Men’s Shed also recently hosted the launch of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association’s partnership with Blackberry Hearing, which will see shed members receive multiple benefits and expertise from one of Ireland’s premier hearing aid providers.