Dalymount Park has been a cathedral of football for over a century. Home to Bohemian FC since 1901, the Phibsborough venue has played host to countless Republic of Ireland international games, FAI Cup finals, and the floodlit fantasia of heady nights in European competition.

Players of the calibre of John Giles, Liam Brady, Zinedine Zidane and Pele have muddied their boots at the stadium – historically known as the home of Irish football. The ground is due for a major revamp in the near future, under the stewardship of Dublin City Council and the Football Association of Ireland.

Amidst the upheaval, however, Bohemian FC has not been content to let the grass grow under its feet. Instead, the club has reached out to its local community in exemplary fashion, becoming perhaps the most socially conscious football club on the island.

Men’s sheds have been invited to participate in the club’s latest foray into the community – a walking football event at historic Dalymount Park on Monday 24 September.

Walking football is a fun variant of the beautiful game played at a walking pace and suitable for people of all ages.

The event is open to all men and women, but men’s sheds members in particular are invited to attend (northside, southside or non-Dublin based). The walking football taster session is being run by the Football Association of Ireland in conjunction with Bohemian FC, as part of Dublin Sportsfest, UEFA Grassroots Week and Social Inclusion Week.

Participants are invited to pre-register their interest by emailing christopher.hopkins@fai.ie, or texting Walking Football Info’ to 083-3659696. All aspiring men’s shed Messi should bring comfortable clothing and football boots or trainers. Games will take place from 10am until 12pm, with post-game refreshments from 12pm until 1.30pm.

Rostrevor Men’s Shed commemorating the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day by cutting out five officers and 15 Tommies to represent the fallen soldiers.

Rostrevor Men’s Shed, Co Down

Rostrevor Men’s Shed is frequently featured on this page, but its latest project is too intriguing not to share. It comes to us courtesy of shed secretary Conor Sweeney, who has filled us in with the following details: “A few months ago, the local Church of Ireland historian contacted us to see it we could jointly do something to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.

“There were 139 men from the Rostrevor and surrounding area, of all denominations, who served in the Great War. Twenty-one of them did not return, and they are listed on a roll of honour in the church. In the UK, the British Legion is working on a project called There But Not There, whereby clear silhouettes are placed in church pews to represent those who never returned.

“The historian asked us if this was something we could consider and we agreed. We had a raffle and a pub quiz to raise enough money to make the project go ahead.

“We bought perspex sheeting and the lads set about cutting out five officers and 15 ‘Tommies’ to represent the fallen, plus a nurse silhouette to represent seven local women who served in the medical corps. We had a cherry tree that fell in our garden, and we milled it down to make wooden plinths for the Tommies to stand in.

“One of the lads suggested lighting up the sheets, so we sourced some LED lights and routed out the plinths to accept them plus a battery pack. We think they look great and they will feature as the showcase for a week of Armistice Day Centennial celebrations planned for the village in the run up to 11 November.”