The Irish men’s sheds movement has received many humbling accolades in recent years. Few, however, have carried the significance of that awarded on Wednesday 18 September, when the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA)was named a Sustainable Development Goals Champion for the years 2019/2020.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are an ambitious set of targets, outlining the social, economic and environmental requirements for a sustainable global future.
The Goals cover policy areas such as poverty eradication, economic development, protection of the environment, access to health and education services, gender equality, peaceful societies and human rights.
The Irish Government has committed to fully implementing each of the goals by 2030.
The announcement was made by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton TD at the Ploughing Championships in Fenagh, Co Carlow.
IMSA chair Eoin Martyn pictured with some of the boxes produced by East Wall and Clondalkin Mens Sheds.
The IMSA is one of 12 Sustainable Development Goals Champions for 2019/2020 and the list reads like a roll call of Ireland’s most prestigious and beloved organisations. As well as the IMSA, it includes the GAA, An Post, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Carlow County Council, ECO Unesco, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Musgrave, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Smart Farming (Irish Farmers Association), the Union of Students of Ireland, and Vodafone.
Speaking after the announcement, IMSA CEO Barry Sheridan said: “When you look at the list of organisations named as Champions alongside ourselves, you see the likes of the GAA, An Post, the ICTU – organisations with roots going back over a century in some cases.
"For us to be on that list, representing a movement less than a decade old, is a massive, massive tribute to ourselves, but more importantly, to all our sheds and members, and the communities that support them throughout the country.”
IMSA chair Eoin Martyn, fundraising manager Frank Dillon, and health and wellbeing manager Edel Byrne were present at the event to accept the accolade from Minister Bruton, and to meet the other Champions.
There was also additional representation from the men’s sheds movement; each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals was represented by large, colourful wooden boxes featuring the text of the relevant Goal.
We need to take actions in a broad range of policy areas to put us on a more sustainable pathway
These boxes were sustainably produced to order by members of the East Wall Men’s Shed and the Clondalkin Men’s Shed, underscoring the day’s themes.
Minister Bruton outlined the ambitious nature of the Goals, and the necessity to achieve them in the agreed timeframe.
“We need to take actions in a broad range of policy areas to put us on a more sustainable pathway. The Sustainable Development Goals draw those together in an integrated way. Achieving them will be a challenge.
"We need everyone to get involved and play their part in whatever way they can. The Champions chosen here today will be beacons of best practice for the coming year. They will lead the way with practical examples for how we can all contribute.”
Each of the Champions has been apportioned a number of Goals which they are especially well placed to promote. The Goals assigned to the IMSA are:
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.Minister Bruton closed with words of particular relevance to rural communities.
“Agriculture is Ireland’s largest single source of greenhouse gas but is also Ireland’s single greatest carbon sink. I look forward to discussing how new farming methods and new opportunities in the bio-economy can strengthen the resilience and sustainability of our land use.”
Read more
Men's Shed of the Week: Half Moon Lake
Men's sheds: NI sheds leading the way again
The Irish men’s sheds movement has received many humbling accolades in recent years. Few, however, have carried the significance of that awarded on Wednesday 18 September, when the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA)was named a Sustainable Development Goals Champion for the years 2019/2020.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals are an ambitious set of targets, outlining the social, economic and environmental requirements for a sustainable global future.
The Goals cover policy areas such as poverty eradication, economic development, protection of the environment, access to health and education services, gender equality, peaceful societies and human rights.
The Irish Government has committed to fully implementing each of the goals by 2030.
The announcement was made by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton TD at the Ploughing Championships in Fenagh, Co Carlow.
IMSA chair Eoin Martyn pictured with some of the boxes produced by East Wall and Clondalkin Mens Sheds.
The IMSA is one of 12 Sustainable Development Goals Champions for 2019/2020 and the list reads like a roll call of Ireland’s most prestigious and beloved organisations. As well as the IMSA, it includes the GAA, An Post, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Carlow County Council, ECO Unesco, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Musgrave, the National Women’s Council of Ireland, Smart Farming (Irish Farmers Association), the Union of Students of Ireland, and Vodafone.
Speaking after the announcement, IMSA CEO Barry Sheridan said: “When you look at the list of organisations named as Champions alongside ourselves, you see the likes of the GAA, An Post, the ICTU – organisations with roots going back over a century in some cases.
"For us to be on that list, representing a movement less than a decade old, is a massive, massive tribute to ourselves, but more importantly, to all our sheds and members, and the communities that support them throughout the country.”
IMSA chair Eoin Martyn, fundraising manager Frank Dillon, and health and wellbeing manager Edel Byrne were present at the event to accept the accolade from Minister Bruton, and to meet the other Champions.
There was also additional representation from the men’s sheds movement; each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals was represented by large, colourful wooden boxes featuring the text of the relevant Goal.
We need to take actions in a broad range of policy areas to put us on a more sustainable pathway
These boxes were sustainably produced to order by members of the East Wall Men’s Shed and the Clondalkin Men’s Shed, underscoring the day’s themes.
Minister Bruton outlined the ambitious nature of the Goals, and the necessity to achieve them in the agreed timeframe.
“We need to take actions in a broad range of policy areas to put us on a more sustainable pathway. The Sustainable Development Goals draw those together in an integrated way. Achieving them will be a challenge.
"We need everyone to get involved and play their part in whatever way they can. The Champions chosen here today will be beacons of best practice for the coming year. They will lead the way with practical examples for how we can all contribute.”
Each of the Champions has been apportioned a number of Goals which they are especially well placed to promote. The Goals assigned to the IMSA are:
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.Minister Bruton closed with words of particular relevance to rural communities.
“Agriculture is Ireland’s largest single source of greenhouse gas but is also Ireland’s single greatest carbon sink. I look forward to discussing how new farming methods and new opportunities in the bio-economy can strengthen the resilience and sustainability of our land use.”
Read more
Men's Shed of the Week: Half Moon Lake
Men's sheds: NI sheds leading the way again
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