TP O’Gorman is one of the founding members of Kilbeggan Men’s Shed. It all started when a group called ‘Renew Kilbeggan’ was coming up with various projects to improve the town and make it a better place to live. The group decided that they would like to see an amenity put in place where people could meet and interact. A men’s shed was suggested and the idea took hold. “I approached a number of men who I thought would be interested. We decided to visit another shed,” says TP. The men went to see Clara Men’s Shed in Co Offaly.
TP O’Gorman is one of the founding members of Kilbeggan Men’s Shed. It all started when a group called ‘Renew Kilbeggan’ was coming up with various projects to improve the town and make it a better place to live.
The group decided that they would like to see an amenity put in place where people could meet and interact. A men’s shed was suggested and the idea took hold. “I approached a number of men who I thought would be interested. We decided to visit another shed,” says TP. The men went to see Clara Men’s Shed in Co Offaly.
“The men there were fantastic, and that sort of de-mystified the whole concept for us. We kind of thought, ‘We can do this straight away and get men with different skills and crafts and get together for a bit of company and a chat’.” Six men then set about looking for a premises. Local businessman Seán Donneghy of Midland Cladding stepped up and offered the men his premises for the princely sum of €1. Seán had moved his business to a bigger premises. “He is still so good to us and I don’t believe he ever collected the €1,” laughs TP. “What the shed has done for me is immeasurable. I’ve made new friends, I’ve gotten to know people that I would have only waved at on the street. Now, I could pick up the phone and have a chat with them and vice versa. We have a great band of men from all walks of life, everyone is equal and we have a real respect for that.”
The Kilbeggan shed has been involved in a number of projects including helping to get the town four new public defibrillators installed. “That was one of my highlights of last year,” says TP. For anyone interested in joining Kilbeggan Men’s Shed, contact TP O’Gorman (chair) on 086-165 3090 or email kilbegganmensshed@gmail.com.
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Men's Sheds: a new lease of life in Slane
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