Cayman Island Men’s Shed
There are few direct links between Ballinteer and the Cayman Islands (the Luas stops a little bit short), but the two locations are now connected through the international brotherhood of Men’s Sheds.
The Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory basking in the cool waters of the Caribbean, comprises three small islands lying to the south of Cuba. Its very first shed – the first in the Caribbean – is currently in its infancy, under the stewardship of Kevin Ashworth.
The shed is currently sharing space with the Cayman Islands Catboat Club (catboats being a distinctive type of sailboat which dot the waters fringing the Caymans).
The Catboat Club premises contains a workshop which the shed has been utilising, with the gracious approval of the club. Members are currently in the latter stages of a thorough clean-up ahead of its full, formal launch.
Kevin informs us that support is growing by the day, with many inquisitive passers-by and senior island officials expressing enthusiasm for the concept. We hope to speak to Kevin again in the near future, as the global spread of the men’s sheds movement (partly led by Ireland) continues.
Ballinteer Men’s Shed, Co. Dublin
Ballinteer Men’s Shed has only been in existence since April 2016, but has already racked up an impressive list of achievements. Steered by founder Seán McLoughlin – an Irish Men’s Shed Association shed support volunteer for Dublin – the shed has pioneered walking, football, health and wellbeing programmes and even the occasional jam session.
The inaugural meeting of the Ballinteer Monday Club.
Now, Ballinteer Men’s Shed has teamed up with Cahill’s Centra, a local convenience store, to roll out a “Monday Club” in the newly opened Frank and Honest café section of the Marlay Park store. Sean informs us that he was approached by Breda Cahill, owner of Cahill’s Centra, with the concept – a clear indication that sheds are increasingly seen as standard-bearers of community within their neighbourhoods.
“Breda kindly offered us exclusive use of the new café after hours and also offered complimentary coffee. But then, at the first meeting of the Monday Club, Breda and her staff went above and beyond in welcoming us. There were also complimentary platters of sandwiches, wraps, cakes and pizza.”
Shed members left full of the milk of human kindness and much else besides. But Sean says that Monday Club concept is about much more than members indulging their appetites.
“Early evenings and bad weather can certainly make days shorter for retired men,” he notes, “particularly those living alone. The Monday Club provides a space for the men in the community to get out of the house, into a warm and comfortable environment surrounded by other men, where they can play dominoes, cards, chess or simply have a chat.”
Initiatives such as this provide another example of sheds venturing beyond their own premises to hoist their banner of the movement in broader community settings.
Sean notes that Ballinteer lacks a community centre, making offers of space such as this doubly welcome and necessary. Sean and his fellow shed members are looking forward to celebrating the shed’s second anniversary this April.
Armagh Men’s Shed, Co Armagh
Armagh Men’s Shed has presented dementia boards to five nursing homes in the Armagh area. Like Men’s Sheds themselves, these boards originated in Australia. The aim of the boards is to help stimulate cognitive activity and provide diversion for dementia patients who present with medical problems.
Members of Armagh Men's Shed presenting a dementia board to one of five local nursing homes.
Encouragement for the project came from the Australian Men’s Sheds Association, while the equipment and materials were provided by Northern Building Supplies of Ballycrummy Road, Armagh city.
Read more
Shed of the week: Mulranny Men's Sheds
Shed of the week: Inchicore Men's Shed
Cayman Island Men’s Shed
There are few direct links between Ballinteer and the Cayman Islands (the Luas stops a little bit short), but the two locations are now connected through the international brotherhood of Men’s Sheds.
The Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory basking in the cool waters of the Caribbean, comprises three small islands lying to the south of Cuba. Its very first shed – the first in the Caribbean – is currently in its infancy, under the stewardship of Kevin Ashworth.
The shed is currently sharing space with the Cayman Islands Catboat Club (catboats being a distinctive type of sailboat which dot the waters fringing the Caymans).
The Catboat Club premises contains a workshop which the shed has been utilising, with the gracious approval of the club. Members are currently in the latter stages of a thorough clean-up ahead of its full, formal launch.
Kevin informs us that support is growing by the day, with many inquisitive passers-by and senior island officials expressing enthusiasm for the concept. We hope to speak to Kevin again in the near future, as the global spread of the men’s sheds movement (partly led by Ireland) continues.
Ballinteer Men’s Shed, Co. Dublin
Ballinteer Men’s Shed has only been in existence since April 2016, but has already racked up an impressive list of achievements. Steered by founder Seán McLoughlin – an Irish Men’s Shed Association shed support volunteer for Dublin – the shed has pioneered walking, football, health and wellbeing programmes and even the occasional jam session.
The inaugural meeting of the Ballinteer Monday Club.
Now, Ballinteer Men’s Shed has teamed up with Cahill’s Centra, a local convenience store, to roll out a “Monday Club” in the newly opened Frank and Honest café section of the Marlay Park store. Sean informs us that he was approached by Breda Cahill, owner of Cahill’s Centra, with the concept – a clear indication that sheds are increasingly seen as standard-bearers of community within their neighbourhoods.
“Breda kindly offered us exclusive use of the new café after hours and also offered complimentary coffee. But then, at the first meeting of the Monday Club, Breda and her staff went above and beyond in welcoming us. There were also complimentary platters of sandwiches, wraps, cakes and pizza.”
Shed members left full of the milk of human kindness and much else besides. But Sean says that Monday Club concept is about much more than members indulging their appetites.
“Early evenings and bad weather can certainly make days shorter for retired men,” he notes, “particularly those living alone. The Monday Club provides a space for the men in the community to get out of the house, into a warm and comfortable environment surrounded by other men, where they can play dominoes, cards, chess or simply have a chat.”
Initiatives such as this provide another example of sheds venturing beyond their own premises to hoist their banner of the movement in broader community settings.
Sean notes that Ballinteer lacks a community centre, making offers of space such as this doubly welcome and necessary. Sean and his fellow shed members are looking forward to celebrating the shed’s second anniversary this April.
Armagh Men’s Shed, Co Armagh
Armagh Men’s Shed has presented dementia boards to five nursing homes in the Armagh area. Like Men’s Sheds themselves, these boards originated in Australia. The aim of the boards is to help stimulate cognitive activity and provide diversion for dementia patients who present with medical problems.
Members of Armagh Men's Shed presenting a dementia board to one of five local nursing homes.
Encouragement for the project came from the Australian Men’s Sheds Association, while the equipment and materials were provided by Northern Building Supplies of Ballycrummy Road, Armagh city.
Read more
Shed of the week: Mulranny Men's Sheds
Shed of the week: Inchicore Men's Shed
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