Ballinamore Men's Shed, Co Leitrim

Ballinamore’s Men Shed has been running for three years and is a success for all those involved.

“Since the Men’s Shed here in Ballinamore has been established, it has been a huge success, particularly for people who are in isolation,” according to Pat Monaghan, the secretary.

The shed was set up three years ago when Tom Gannon, Paddy McGourty and Noel Sweeney decided Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, could benefit. For the past two years, Pat has been involved.

“There are 18 men now involved in the shed here and they are all from different backgrounds. We have two former woodwork teachers and everyone in the group has different skills to bring to the table,” Pat explains.

The shed operates every Wednesday evening from 7pm-10 pm and sometimes throughout the day in the old Vocational School in Ballinamore.

“We have the full use of the old woodwork and metal room, and it really is fantastic – there’s a lot of equipment and tools there for our use. We rent it for a minimal amount from the Education Trade Board, who have been very good to us,” Pat says.

In the workshops, the men make lots of bird and bee boxes, which they sell to people in the community. They also donate window boxes to the local tidy towns and at the minute they are making an old-style gypsy-style wendy house. “We hope to get a pony for it and use it in the parade this St Patrick’s day,” Pat explains.

The shed hosts social activities too, including a table quiz in November, which was hugely successful, and a Christmas dinner. In October, the members travelled to Belfast for the Men’s Shed Conference and the AGM in Dublin. The discussion of mental health is important at Ballinamore Men’s Shed, with a HSE nurse coming to give a talk on the issue each year.

“At the shed we play cards and darts occasionally, and at 8.30pm we all sit down and have a cup of tea and a chat,” Pat says.

For more details, call Pat on 087-939 0485.