With the temporary closure of men’s sheds across Ireland, some sheds have moved online to find new and innovative ways to interact and connect with one another.

One such shed is the Naas Community Men’s Shed, based in Co Kildare. Norman Farragher, chair of the shed, explains that the men have set up two WhatsApp groups: “We have a WhatsApp group, there’s 52 members out of the 60 involved in one. We also have a ‘musical WhatsApp group, to share music sessions with all members in both groups.”

Norman says that the shed has been temporarily closed since Friday 13 March, but the decision to set up their WhatsApp groups was made so that shedders could send each other musical videos of themselves, like a virtual men’s shed.

“The members are enjoying it,” says Norman, “because they can see each other and they can listen to the songs.

“They’re starting to develop it further – after they play, they’ll have a cup of tea and chat with one another on WhatsApp. Outside that, we have the general banter, sharing videos, jokes, funny stories.”

Another shed moving online is the Waterford Estuary Men’s Shed, based in Passage East in Co Waterford. Secretary Noel Shanaghy says the group recently started a “virtual art group”.

“We set up a WhatsApp group and one of our members, Eddie suggested these YouTube videos where an artist shows you how to paint a certain scene or what have you and they bring you through it.”

Waterford Estuary members share their completed paintings via WhatsApp messenger.

The Waterford Estuary art group had only started last autumn, but the virtual group means that members can continue to engage with one another and share their passion for art.

“It’s been working quite well,” Noel adds, “it means that we can all work off the same project, even though we’re all in our homes doing it. When your painting is done, you send a picture of it into the WhatsApp group so everyone can see.”

Another painting shared on social media by a Waterford Estuary shed member.

Liam O’Gogain, member of An Scioból Men’s Shed in Donegal, has gone a step further than WhatsApp and is currently hosting Facebook Live music sessions.

Liam and a number of others perform under the banner of “Meitheal Ceol”. The group, before the virus hit, was meeting every Wednesday in the men’s shed in Gweedore.

Having done livestreaming before, Liam explains that the group needed to move totally online to help people deal with isolation.

“We know what social isolation is like, because we live in the middle of nowhere and we’d be aware of the social isolation that will emerge from this crisis.”

With two song books of over 500 songs, Liam and the Meitheal livestreams every night from 7pm-8pm and are asking shedders and others to join them. Search for Meitheal Ceol on Facebook.

For some shedders, messaging platforms like WhatsApp or social media in general may be out of reach for them, due to the technology or poor internet connection in their local area.

The Irish Men’s Sheds Association continues to operate normally and provides support and advice to shedders on 01-891 6150 or info@menssheds.ie

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