Regular readers may have become accustomed to the many profound and life-affirming achievements of men’s sheds throughout the country. However, despite the wonders conjured up in shed workshops, the chief product of a men’s shed remains good, (mostly) clean fun.

The featured picture landed in our inboxes via Arthur Hall of Roundwood Men’s Shed, Co Wicklow, earlier this week. Roundwood had just hosted a successful regional meeting of men’s sheds, and Arthur’s image naturally caught our eye.

Does it, perhaps, depict the gentleman of Roundwood receiving well-earned certification from some local luminary, after an arduous period of study? When contacted for comment, Arthur’s guffaw swiftly gives the game away.“It’s a pure bit of mischief”, he laughs. “The member on the left, Máirtín, is a retired professor of forestry at UCD. He happened to mention that he had his old academic robes in the back of his car, and we decided to have some fun with them. Robbie, our chairman, grabbed a roll of kitchen towel as a scroll, and Máirtín agreed to confer some, let’s say, honorary doctorates on the members.”

So Roundwood may not, in fact, be joining the ranks of Europe’s great seats of learning, but Arthur remains justifiably proud of the shed’s achievements. “We recently celebrated our first birthday as a shed,” he says. “We’re a very diverse bunch. As sheds go, we’d probably have an older age profile than most. The way I see it, we’re sharing the marathon of life together – it’s a marathon measured in years rather than miles. Mind you, with the amount of medication some of us are on, we’d fail the drugs test!”

The shed is always looking for members – of any age – and anyone interested in joining can contact the Irish Men’s Sheds Association on (01) 891 6150. CL

Shed notes

Cooley Peninsula Men’s Shed, Co Louth

On 17 February, one of the most talented men’s shed members we have ever encountered passed away peacefully at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald. Originally from Belfast, Pat McIlroy had been a fixture at Cooley Peninsula Men’s Shed for over three years.

Described by Stanley Wilson of Cooley Peninsula Men’s Shed as “a fascinating man with a great sense of humour,” Pat was a self-taught artist whose enchanted brush could summon up magic at will. Speaking to Irish Country Living last year, Pat attributed his fondness for Dutch winter scenes to his admiration for Adrianus Eversen, a 19th-century virtuoso from the city of Delft.

St Laurence’s Church in Omeath was filled to capacity for Pat’s funeral, with Stanley Wilson describing the service as a “glorious send-off” for a man beloved within and beyond his shed. His passing is a grievous loss to his family, his shed and the wider movement; but his quiet, understated brilliance will survive in his paintings and in the memories of all those who were fortunate enough to know him. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association offers its deepest condolences to his family, friends and shed-mates.

Shannon Men’s Shed, Co Clare

Not many shed members can claim to have vanquished a witch, but Thomas O’Connell of Shannon Men’s Shed has done just that. Shannon Musical Society’s recent staging of The Wiz – the Society’s 40th production – benefited from Thomas’s craftsmanship, with the shed providing the house which drops in unexpectedly on the wicked witch.

Christy Collins of Shannon Men’s Shed says: “The shed in Shannon is known throughout the community, and we were delighted when the Society got in touch. Lots of local groups would see us as a resource. We’re only ever a phone-call away.”