Once upon a time, when men’s sheds were in their infancy, the opening of a new shed was a decidedly low-key affair.
Word spread slowly throughout the community as men came through the doors in dribs and drabs, enticed by curiosity as much as anything else.
Compare and contrast with the opening of Slane and District Men’s Shed on 28 September. Two hundred members of the local community were in attendance, alongside a minister and the head of a local authority.
Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee TD, gave the keynote address at the shed’s magnificent new facility in Slane Industrial Estate.
“I am proud to be associated with this facility which will be of enormous benefit to the citizens of Slane and the surrounding area,” the McEntee declared.
No one could accuse Slane Men’s Shed of rushing to the altar. The project has been planned for three years and under construction for a further two, after an intensive period of painstaking research.
While Slane Men’s Shed, like every shed in Ireland, is open to men of all ages, the aim is to provide an outlet for older men in particular.
The shed team’s research revealed that, not only was a shed required and desired, but that 10% of men in the Slane and district area are aged over 60 – a potential pool of 1,000 shed members in this age-group alone.
The new premises includes an amply stocked workshop, sizeable recreation area, kitchen, computer room and fitness room. Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Wayne Harding, pledged the council’s continuing support to the shed and its community ethos, praising “the enormous amount of work by a small group which has resulted in this magnificent facility”.
Michele [sic] Power, chair of Slane Community Forum joined in the chorus of approval, praising “the efforts of a small team has resulted in an organisation which is a very welcome addition to the 30+ active voluntary groups” in the area.
Slane Community Forum was the driving force behind the men’s shed project, which secured a premises at Slane Industrial Estate thanks to the good offices of MCM Engineering’s Noel Monaghan.
It’s been a long, hard slog from the foothills of the project in December 2017 to the summit which was finally reached this autumn.
“A small group of us engaged in a fairly arduous two-year programme to renovate this premises as a workshop area and add another building for recreation and other activities,” Noel said.
Slane and District Men’s Shed will be a very welcome and high-quality addition to the 457 sheds we have in Ireland
The shed has already harnessed the backing of its local community in the form of donations and a wide variety of supports for its activities.
CEO of Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) Barry Sheridan – himself a native of Co Meath – welcomed the addition of the Slane and District Shed to the Royal County’s already impressive roster.
“Slane and District Men’s Shed will be a very welcome and high-quality addition to the 457 sheds we have in Ireland already, 16 of which are in Co Meath.
"It’s so heartening to see the entire community turn out to welcome the shed to the fold. We’re particularly delighted to see Minister McEntee here today.
"The minister has always been a staunch supporter of men’s sheds and the fact that she’s made the time to speak here today shows that Meath’s sheds are having a massive impact.”
Shed chair John Deacon stressed that “while a small group of us have been involved in building the place, the activities will be in accordance with members’ wishes for their benefit and the benefit of the wider community – this is just the beginning”.
Slane and District Mens Shed is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.