There’s an old joke about a hapless motorist, marooned in some remote corner of Ireland, who asks a local for directions to the nearest town. “Well,” responds the local, “I wouldn’t start from here.”

Similarly, a global pandemic is not the most favourable of circumstances for a shed to embark on a new initiative. But that hasn’t stopped Midleton Men’s Shed of Co Cork from achieving a long-cherished goal.

For the past 15 months, the shed has been meeting in near-exile at Carrigtwohill, through the good graces of Fr Winkle and Fr Bermingham, who offered the Midleton men a meeting place in the grounds of their parochial house.

But now, Midleton Men’s Shed has received the news it was yearning for. In recent weeks, the shed has worked closely with MyPlace Midleton, a body which supports local community and voluntary organisations, to secure a site for a new men’s shed premises in Midleton itself.

Shed chair Gerard Cogan expressed members’ joy upon receiving the news: “We are delighted with this news,” said Gerard, “and this is the beginning of a new chapter for our group. However, this is only the start, and now comes the significant task of putting a long-term home on this site which will benefit the men of Midleton for years to come.”

Gerard is keen to point that much hard work still lies ahead, before the men of Midleton can cut the tape on their new premises: “We face challenges in raising funds to erect a shed,” he points out, “or in securing modular building that could be placed on the site, and would appreciate the assistance of any people or local businesses who can help with this.”

The shed committee remains immensely grateful to the board and management of MyPlace Midleton and looks forward to welcoming new members from Midleton and the surrounding areas of Co Cork.

Anyone who wants to help Midleton Men’s Shed in securing their premises can contact the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) on 01-891 6150.

Siel Bleu Ireland

Siel Bleu Ireland, the organisation which promotes physical activity amongst older people and those with chronic illnesses, has been a steadfast partner of the IMSA’s Sheds for Life initiative since 2017.

During lockdown, Siel Bleu came up with an innovative way to keep shedders fit and active. Siel Bleu trainers Cormac and Michael led a series of online-based home exercise classes open to all men’s sheds members and broadcast on YouTube.

Hundreds of members tuned in to each weekly broadcast, following the simple instructions that helped blow off the cobwebs for those confined to barracks. While the series has now come to an end, all online classes remain available to watch back and participate along with at menssheds.ie/exercise-for-shedders-videos/

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