In the seaside town of Ballybunion, Co Kerry, the year is clearly divided into halves: summer and winter. It was identified some years ago that when summer ended and the tourist season ceased, there was a definite need in the community for the void left by the tourist trade to be filled. Enter the Men’s Shed. “Ballybunion is a very seasonal place, a small seaside resort,” says Patrick Cummins, shed chair. “After the Listowel Races in September, the town kind of closes down until Easter. So there was a need for something locals could do during the summer and the winter.”