As the darker evenings make their presence felt, men across Ireland are flocking to their sheds. Where better to keep the winter blues at bay, than in these oases of good cheer, conviviality and community spirit?

The onset of winter is always an exciting time for men’s sheds throughout Ireland, heralding a full-scale return to indoor projects and activities. Before the clocks are turned back, here’s a quick round-up of some notable beginnings, activities and events from around the country on the cusp of winter 2019.

County Galway Men's Shed showcase in Oranmore.

Sheds for Life

The latest phase of Sheds for Life, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association’s (IMSA) health and wellbeing initiative, has just gotten underway in Limerick and Louth.

The initiative sees over 120 men’s sheds members receive expert health and wellbeing advice and resources from major national organisations such as the Irish Heart Foundation, Siel Bleu Ireland, the HSE, Mental Health Ireland, Diabetes Ireland and many other Sheds for Life partners.

The scheme operates under four main pillars; health checks, physical activity, healthy eating and mental health. Topics covered include CPR training, diabetes management, digital literacy, suicide prevention and a range of other topics.

Sheds for Life activities take place within the familiar and comfortable environment of the shed itself. IMSA health and wellbeing manager Edel Byrne expressed excitement about this new departure in Limerick and Louth.

“We all know that men have a shorter life expectancy, and Sheds for Life is looking to bridge that gap – but we’re also targeting our approach at quality of life, as much as lifespan,” she says.

“We’ve found in our engagements so far that men have a huge appetite for these programmes.

“They want to lead healthier lives and they’re hungry for knowledge on these topics.”

The 10-week programme kicked off with a round of health checks delivered by the Irish Heart Foundation to over 200 men in the two counties.

Getting Christmas ready in north Belfast.

North Belfast Men’s Shed

How early is too early to start baking your Christmas cake? How about the 10 October? North Belfast Men’s Shed recently got to grips with some seasonal fare, as shed member Jim chose to share his recipe with his shed-mates.

The shed has a firm commitment to passing on practical cooking and baking skills to its members, and even if its latest confection is a little premature, it does highlight just how important it is for men to develop this precious life-skill. Expect to see some especially well-nourished shed members in the North Belfast area this December.

Oranmore Men’s Shed

With environmental issues an ever more pressing factor in our lives, Oranmore Men’s Shed in Co Galway is setting a fine example through its latest innovation.

The shed has used the funding it received from the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Shed Fund for a unique and laudable purpose. The funds have allowed Oranmore Men’s Shed to replace the buzzing nuisance of its old-fashioned fluorescent lighting with something altogether more environmentally friendly – a bank of LED lights.

Oranmore Men’s Shed acted as host shed for the recent Co Galway Men’s Shed Showcase, which took place in their home town. Minister Sean Canney TD was among those in attendance, and the event functioned as something of a think-in ahead of the Global Gathering of men’s sheds in Galway next August.

Uniquely, the shed’s most recent project is – a shed. Members have been building a shed sited in the garden of Oranmore’s renowned medieval cemetery. The project was undertaken alongside the Oranmore Heritage Group, which acts as custodian for this site of profound historical and genealogical importance.