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Now in its third year, Ramsgrange Men’s Shed in Co Wexford is very much a community-orientated club and provides a “great experience for all” according to founding member, Tom Connery.
The shed itself was set up in December 2016 as just a social outlet, where members could call in for tea and a chat.
“We are now leasing a premises from the Waterford/Wexford Educational Training Board (ETB) and with their help and the help of Wexford County Council we have managed to kit out a workshop.”
The members also received grant aid, which allowed them to attend training courses. The first of which was completed in the Bevel Woodwork School, where members got to build their own woodworking benches from scratch. “Last week we completed a marquetry training course. It’s an ancient art form using timber veneering. I never thought I would try something like this, it’s a great experience.”
The Ramsgrange men are very much involved in the community and have no shortage of projects in the pipeline. “We work closely with Ramsgrange Horticultural Society, and we have built plant boxes and flower beds for local villages. Last Christmas, we had a stand at the local Christmas market, where we sold a range of timber products and sculptures which we made ourselves. That was a great success and we managed to raise vital funds to cover our insurance costs. An exciting project that we have in the works is a sculpture for the Ramsgrange Tidy Towns committee.
"We started off with three members and at the moment we have 10. Members come from all different backgrounds, from guards to engineers and businessmen.
"We all have different skills and abilities so it’s a great place to learn and one thing members love is the huge involvement we have in the community. The shed is great; it gives us something to do, somewhere to go and keeps us out of trouble!”
The shed is open every Tuesday and Friday from 10am-1pm. For more information contact Tom on 087 2604524.
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