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Monaghan Men’s Shed has been operating since 2013. It started off as a hub and evolved into a men’s shed. The shed is a “safe place for men to come together”, explains shed secretary, Cormac Connolly.
The vast majority of members are retired but there are some younger members who bring “vibrancy, new thought processes and challenges” to the shed. The shed has close to 60 members, with 40 regular members. “It’s not always the same 40 attending. It keeps changing and new people join,” says Cormac.
For Christmas, members made Christmas logs and trinkets and sold them at the local farmers market.
“We go on weekly walks on Mondays to get out in the fresh air and improve wellbeing,” shares Cormac. The walks are relatively short at 2km to 3km for under an hour.
Shed members won the regional Go for Life Games held in Dundalk where they took part in a variety of adapted games like ten-pin bowling, frisbee, horseshoe pitching and cornhole.
A recent trip they made with Solas was to the Dublin Christian Mission. “It was a real eye-opener.” They gave donations of clothes and non-perishables. “We wanted to lend our support.”
Members converted their current location into a workshop and a computer room, where some basic computer courses are given. An upcoming course being provided by a shed member is a beekeeping course, in the hope that members might take up the hobby. Previous courses include tips on a good night’s sleep and how it affects your health and wellbeing.
They have even taken part in an upcycle challenge where they converted a piano into a bed. The local music centre donated the piano and they decided they wanted to do something creative and novel. Shed members work hard, but take their tea breaks too: “Of course there is nothing like a cuppa tea and some banter in the shed.”
The shed operates out of Old Rooskey, Co Monaghan and is open Monday to Friday. Contact Cormac Connolly at 085-174 1779 for more information.
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