“Founded six months ago, the Thomastown Men’s Shed is very new. A number of people felt it would be a useful thing to have, as it would give us a focus and somewhere to go: a place where we could meet with pals, discuss things and drink a lot of tea,” says Bob Wemyss, member of Thomastown Men’s Shed.

Located in the Community Centre in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, Bob explains that one of the unique things about the shed is that they don’t have an actual shed, but that it is a work in progress.

“We’ve got an extraordinary shed in that we are using the sports hall of the community centre, but it badly needs repairing, in that it doesn’t have any insulation and the roof leaks.

“Eventually this particular building will get a total renewal, but in the meantime we have it. We are going to build a shed inside a shed, so that way we’ll be dry from the drips that come from the roof, and we’ll be a bit warmer in the winter.”

Thomastown Men’s Shed is very involved with the local community, despite being a fairly fresh organisation. They are assisting Saint Columba’s hospital with gardening projects, and they have also volunteered in the choir to sing at the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the local Catholic Church.

The members of the shed also love practical activities such as wood building. “We are repairing chairs and tables and we’re building some bird nesting boxes. ”

The shed has almost 30 members ranging between the ages of 50 and 80, and meets twice a week, with plans for a gathering on Saturday morning to suit those members who work.

Bob hopes that new members will continue to join from the local area and the wider neighbourhood. They can either contact Bob on 087 251 2562 or they can drop in during one of the weekday meetings on a Tuesday or Thursday from 10am to 1pm.