Le Cheile Men’s Shed in Mallow was established in 2011 by Tim Heeran.

“We have about 45 regular members with some more coming and going. The majority of our members are between 50 and 75 but we welcome all age groups. We do have some younger members,” says Michael Bourke, treasurer of the Mallow Men’s shed.

“Working for the community is at the heart of what we do. We build bird and bat boxes for local farmers as well as benches for various community organisations. Last Christmas we built a crib in the town.”

Every couple of months they go on trips away. Most recently, they visited Tralee. The shed runs all of the usual classes, including woodwork, welding, pottery and cooking.

“Last year we welded a six-carriage train that’s pulled by a quad. It’s nice to see the children getting some enjoyment out of that at different shows and parades,” says Michael.

Tim Heeran, who sadly passed away in 2014, was one of the founders of the shed. His main ambition for the shed was that it would be very inclusive at the heart of the community. He wanted as many people involved and helping out as possible.

“So whether it’s to learn a new skill or just for pop in for a chat and a cuppa, don’t be afraid to drop in,” says Michael.

“A couple of months ago, a few refugee Syrian families moved to Mallow. They were all here at the start but because of the language barriers some of them dwindled off. Two or three of them still come on a regular basis.”

The shed is currently located just outside the town of Mallow but they are actively searching for a premises in the town.

If you are interested in joining Le Cheile Men’s Shed or have any enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact Michael Bourke on 087-248 6143.

The shed opens every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening and should be open during the day throughout the summer. It is located in the youth reach centre in Balyennis, just outside of Mallow.