Wexford Men's Shed's fishing group
For Tom Logan, the call of the sea has a powerful echo. The Liverpool native has been fishing the waters of these islands for over 60 years.
Now, Tom is sharing his passion with fellow members of Wexford’s men’s sheds. A proud member of Corach Men’s Shed in Wellingtonbridge, Tom felt the shed needed to inject a touch of variety in its activities.
Casting his net far and wide, Tom set up the Wexford Men’s Sheds Fishing group for aspirant anglers throughout the county. To date, the group has ventured out on two occasions, with a merry crew of 10-12 members joining the expeditions.
“It’s a way of getting lads out of the shed but keeping all the camaraderie intact,” says Tom. “I felt we had to start offering something a bit different. Why not get outdoors, fish, talk, pass on guidance? It’s as much to do with the company as the fishing itself.”
No experience is necessary; some members have been fishing all their lives, while others had never previously wielded a rod. “It’s no problem – we’ve a good mix of experience levels. We can lend people equipment on the day. Everyone’s had a great time on both the trips to date. The fish are a bonus.”
Tom has long been a believer in sheds offering a diverse range of activities.
“We participated in the Wexford men’s sheds writing group, that culminated in the book Tales from the Shed. You had guys who had never done anything of that nature – never even dreamt of it – rushing back every week because their interest had been sparked. It might just have been writing down a childhood memory, but they were desperate to come back the next week and get writing again.”
You can do it at your own speed, you don’t have to be an expert. And fishing is such a natural thing
For Tom, fishing encapsulates the ethos of the men’s shed.
“You can do it at your own speed, you don’t have to be an expert. And fishing is such a natural thing. For me, it goes back to that thing of young kids fishing in rockpools. It’s the grown-up’s version of that same experience. There’s a peace, a tranquillity, a restfulness. I write while I’m fishing.”
Tom, a published author, sings the praises of Ireland’s eastern coastline as a cornucopia for the keen fisherman. “Where I am, I’m within easy reach of seven beaches. The men’s shed group have mostly been out to beaches and rocks for sea-fishing so far. Sea-fishing is tidal, so you can get two hours in before or after the tide.”
Tom is hoping to take the group inland once the weather improves. “River fishing is very different, it opens it up to catching salmon or trout. At the moment, we’ve mostly caught flounder, smooth-hounds and suchlike. But it’s not really about what you catch. It’s about piling into the cars with the other lads and having a day by the sea sharing an inexpensive hobby, then jumping back in the cars and having a chat on the way home. It’s the whole experience.”
Further down the line, Tom envisages an island-wide network of men’s sheds fishing groups, with sheds pitting their rods against one another in a spirit of friendly competition. For now, Tom is hoping to expand the Wexford group into neighbouring Waterford. Any men’s sheds member, from any part of the country, who wishes to participate is invited to contact Tom Logan of Corach Men’s Shed on tomlogan1234@outlook.ie or 086 124 1470.
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Wexford Men's Shed's fishing group
For Tom Logan, the call of the sea has a powerful echo. The Liverpool native has been fishing the waters of these islands for over 60 years.
Now, Tom is sharing his passion with fellow members of Wexford’s men’s sheds. A proud member of Corach Men’s Shed in Wellingtonbridge, Tom felt the shed needed to inject a touch of variety in its activities.
Casting his net far and wide, Tom set up the Wexford Men’s Sheds Fishing group for aspirant anglers throughout the county. To date, the group has ventured out on two occasions, with a merry crew of 10-12 members joining the expeditions.
“It’s a way of getting lads out of the shed but keeping all the camaraderie intact,” says Tom. “I felt we had to start offering something a bit different. Why not get outdoors, fish, talk, pass on guidance? It’s as much to do with the company as the fishing itself.”
No experience is necessary; some members have been fishing all their lives, while others had never previously wielded a rod. “It’s no problem – we’ve a good mix of experience levels. We can lend people equipment on the day. Everyone’s had a great time on both the trips to date. The fish are a bonus.”
Tom has long been a believer in sheds offering a diverse range of activities.
“We participated in the Wexford men’s sheds writing group, that culminated in the book Tales from the Shed. You had guys who had never done anything of that nature – never even dreamt of it – rushing back every week because their interest had been sparked. It might just have been writing down a childhood memory, but they were desperate to come back the next week and get writing again.”
You can do it at your own speed, you don’t have to be an expert. And fishing is such a natural thing
For Tom, fishing encapsulates the ethos of the men’s shed.
“You can do it at your own speed, you don’t have to be an expert. And fishing is such a natural thing. For me, it goes back to that thing of young kids fishing in rockpools. It’s the grown-up’s version of that same experience. There’s a peace, a tranquillity, a restfulness. I write while I’m fishing.”
Tom, a published author, sings the praises of Ireland’s eastern coastline as a cornucopia for the keen fisherman. “Where I am, I’m within easy reach of seven beaches. The men’s shed group have mostly been out to beaches and rocks for sea-fishing so far. Sea-fishing is tidal, so you can get two hours in before or after the tide.”
Tom is hoping to take the group inland once the weather improves. “River fishing is very different, it opens it up to catching salmon or trout. At the moment, we’ve mostly caught flounder, smooth-hounds and suchlike. But it’s not really about what you catch. It’s about piling into the cars with the other lads and having a day by the sea sharing an inexpensive hobby, then jumping back in the cars and having a chat on the way home. It’s the whole experience.”
Further down the line, Tom envisages an island-wide network of men’s sheds fishing groups, with sheds pitting their rods against one another in a spirit of friendly competition. For now, Tom is hoping to expand the Wexford group into neighbouring Waterford. Any men’s sheds member, from any part of the country, who wishes to participate is invited to contact Tom Logan of Corach Men’s Shed on tomlogan1234@outlook.ie or 086 124 1470.
Read more
Rockin' 'round Rialto
Shed of the week: Killann Shercock Men's Shed
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