Tag Archives: men’s shed

After an enforced closure due to Covid-19 restrictions, Shannon’s Men’s Shed members are meeting up once again IT has been a long and trying hiatus, but the Shannon Men’s Shed is up and running again. With older men at a particular risk of social isolation, the Men’s Shed offers an important outlet, but Covid meant that it was closed and its members were denied the opportunity to interact with one another. For the last few weeks they have been going to the club’s premises and spokesman Christy Collins said they are very pleased to be getting back to normality. “We had been closed for 15 to 18 months really, so the men were absolutely delighted to be back. There are a lot of men living on their own and everything was closed down. As you know a lot of men wouldn’t be going shopping, so they could end up inside watching the television.” One of the projects they are working …

FLAN Hehir, of Ennis Mens’ Shed has been named Clare Shedder of the Year. To celebrate the work carried out within Men’s Sheds in County Clare, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) programme within Clare Local Development Company developed the ‘Clare Shedder of the Year’ award. This was as a recognition to the work carried out in local Sheds within the county. Men’s Sheds were asked to nominate someone they believed fit the criteria of Clare Shedder of the Year. Monica McKenna, Community Development Officer with Clare Local Development Company says, “A large number of nominations were received and after some deliberation Flan Hehir from Ennis Men’s Shed was found to be a worthy recipient. Flan joined Ennis Men’s Shed early 2014 and immediately understood the concept of Men’s Sheds and the benefits to community. He was chosen not only for the help and support he gives to his own shed but also the support he gives throughout …

WHILE there may be no national Tidy Towns competition this year, that doesn’t mean that local groups around the county are sitting on their laurels. Quite the contrary. Since lockdown ended, most groups have never been busier and many have seen a bump in membership, because people have been spending more time closer to home. In Kilkishen, the Tidy Towns group is close to ticking another project off its ‘To Do’ list. That is the renovation of the old forge building, which dates back some centuries. “The forge building goes back to the 1700s, but we don’t officially know the date it was built,” Elizabeth Brady of Kilkishen Tidy Towns outlined. “It was built without plaster. It’s across the road from the old blacksmith’s house, which is in private ownership. That’s very quaint and Éamon de Valera visited it in the 1960s. It was a spontaneous thing. He saw it and asked his driver to stop. The locals who had …

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has accused insurance companies of holding Men’s Sheds to ransom. The Ireland South MEP made the claim, following a visit to Shannon Men’s Shed where members told her that some insurance premiums had quadrupled in the past year, putting several sheds at risk. “I’m absolutely appalled at the cynical and greedy way insurance companies are holding Men’s Sheds to ransom with outrageous premiums,” the MEP said. “These facilities do incredible work when it comes to tackling issues men face, including isolation, particularly among older people, as well as issues of men’s physical and mental health. “They are a wonderful initiative and they deserve support, not attempts to wring every penny out of them. “I am calling on the Government to step in and examine the possibility of any unscrupulous business practices happening among insurance companies with regards to men’s Sheds.I will also be raising a PQ in Europe with the competitive authority and asking …

KILRUSH Men’s Shed recently completed the construction of a traditional West Clare two-man working currach. The canoe, as they are known locally, was built by 10 men for two hours one evening a week, over the winter months. Dimensions for the canoe were provided by local man Alan Madigan, whose grandfather was a traditional currach builder. The build was undertaken at the Limerick and Clare ETB Adult Education Centre, under the supervision of woodwork teacher Diarmuid Whelan. The canoe has a wide beam, high bow and large capacity for cargo and would be typical of the design of the Scattery Island two-man canoe. The canoe competed in Cork’s Ocean to City race over a 22km course last weekend. It was rowed by class participant Patrick Clancy and Diarmuid Whelan