Shed does so much for all
CAROLINE KAVANAGH VISITS THE DROGHEDA MEN’S SHED AND FINDS IT A PLACE OF GREAT WARMTH, COMPANY AND FRIENDSHIP FOR OLDER MALES
WITH over 70 members, Drogheda Men’s Sheds is one of Ireland’s most successful ‘Sheds’. Originally an Australian idea to combat loneliness and isolation amongst males, the concept began in Dundalk and Cooley, then Drogheda, as part of Louth becoming the first Age-Friendly county in Ireland.
‘We are open 6 years now and have 75 members, with 30 here on any given day. Some men come up here just for a cup of tea and a chat with somebody, or to exercise in the gym, possibly following a hip or knee operation,’ explained chairman Pat Connor, one of the founder members. ‘ The age range is from 45 years upwards – one of our active members, former publican Jim Cahill, is 91!’
‘Men from all walks of life join up, there is a tremendous mix from retired carpenters to chefs or fitters, printers, teachers, pilots, drivers, etc, and there’s great enthusiasm,’ added secretary Liam Reynolds. ‘We meet every three months to plan classes in response to requests and interests. Our cookery classes are always popular, particularly ‘Cooking on a Budget’ or ‘Cooking for One’.’
Assisting chairman Pat Connor and secretary Liam Reynolds is treasurer Aiden Cooney and a small, but effective, committee of 6. Quarterly meetings are held to hear members’ ideas and suggestions. ‘ There are no limits to the number of members and new member are always welcome – just drop in – no appointment necessary! The hardest thing with men is getting to the door. We see huge changes in some men, especially those living alone,’ said Pat Connor. ‘It’s like the First Day at School! But we are a friendly bunch.’
A monthly sub of €20 per member ensures tea, coffee, art or crafts materials, wood, classes, pool room, gym and equipment, or trips to places of interest. Volunteers or members with a speciality expertise are happy to share their knowledge and experience with other members in a one-off or series basis.
In the carpentry workshop, seasonal items such as picnic tables, dolls houses, wooden toys, Christmas cribs and bird feeders, which will be sold locally, were on display. ‘We recently made the benches for the new Augustinian church garden,’ explained Liam.
‘If you can do something – or nothing at all – you are still welcome here,’ said Martin Rice. ‘Each person is an asset.’
Visitors regularly come to see the state-ofthefacility on the Donore Road, including Uachtarán of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Labhras Ó Murchú who popped in during the recent Fleadh, and presidential candidate Sean Gallagher.
A sprightly looking Jim Cahill is originally from Cavan but moved to Drogheda 71 years ago as a barman. And believe it or not – he is 91 years of age! He first worked in Tom Daly’s on the Bullring then went to Molly Reid’s pub on James’ Street, just round the corner, where he spent 7 years. ‘ This was one of the best pubs in town at the time with a bar and grocery,’ he said. Jim then bought Sweeney’s off-licence next door, which he ran for 15 years before it was CPO’d by the Corporation to widen James’ Street back in 1971.
‘I did up my pub myself and took woodwork classes in the old Tech in Palace Street,’ explained Jim. After I retired from the pub I started building house extensions or renovations.’
‘I married a Dublin woman who I met at a dance in Red Island in Skerries, and we have 3 children. Our daughter is a teacher, one son is an economist and the other is an engineer in America. We now have a great-great-grandchild in America!’
With Jim’s huge experience in DIY and woodwork, he is often called upon to mentor new members or show them the ropes. ‘I’m in the Men’s Sheds 2 years now and enjoy the woodwork. I love making benches or revamping them, especially if the iron ends have come from Drogheda Iron Works which used to be in Sheil’s Lane off James’ Street.’
Joe Fay also loves woodwork and is a member for 2 years. ‘It’s a great place to meet people here,’ said the Ardee man. ‘I now live in Drogheda as I married a local lady who is now deceased We had 4 girls and a boy.’
Joe learned the building trade in England – electrics, plumbing, concreting, etc – before returning home. Working at the Men’s Sheds keeps him in touch with his trade. He met his wife, Brenda Thornton at a hop in Bothar Brugha. ‘She loved to dance and taught me. We would go to the Abbey which had a fabulous floor or to the Whitworth Hall or St Peter’s.’
‘ There’s a great mix of men here from pilots to teachers, insurance salesmen, chefs, factory workers and we all get along,’ said Jim. ‘A retired chef cooks a dinner here on a Thursday, which we all enjoy, and he sometimes bakes scones.’
Having retired from an insurance job earlier this year, Pat Kiely from Cork, who moved to Drogheda as his daughter lives here and sons are in Dublin. He joined the Shed just a few months ago and enjoys the camaraderie. ‘It’s a big learning curve and I can now use a sander and do woodwork. It’s great for someone who has lost a partner as there’s company here.’
Pat Corr from Dublin is now living in Duleek and joined Men’s Sheds 6 months ago. ‘Sanity brought me in!’ he quipped.
‘Men’s Sheds is a lifeline away from the house. The crowd here is very helpful and the classes are great – they bring out abilities you may never have discovered. Everything is provided here from art to keep fit or computers – it’s up to the member to try it out. Others just come here for
a cup of tea and a chat.’
Men’s Sheds is open Monday to Friday 8.30am – 2.30pm. ‘I come here 5 days per week – and would come in 7 if it was open!’ said Pat Corr ,a former painter and decorator who is currently hand-painting dozens of tiny figures that will be put in the Christmas cribs being made at the Men’s Sheds. ‘I advise the men about painting or lacquering their woodwork as best I can.’
‘He has helped me a lot!’ added Pat Kiely, who has just finished making his first table, and is restoring some antique furniture.
Making his third wooden rocking horse was Jim Orton, who confessed that he had never done woodwork in his life!
‘I lost my wife 4 years ago and joined Men’s Sheds then. There’s great company here.
‘I don’t know where my life would be without the Shed – it’s fantastic!’
Having run a transport company, Jim moved to Duleek after retirement.
‘I find Drogheda people the most generous in the world as I do lots of charity collections and they never let you down.’
A member since the Sheds began in Greenhills, James Branigan concentrates on woodwork.
He grew up in New York and worked at the building for years before returning to Drogheda in 1939, and returned to the States in 1968. He met his wife and came back to Drogheda where they raised their family of singers, Patrick and Kevin. ‘I have lots of friends here and it gets me out of the house,’ he added.
Dubbed the ‘ heartbeat’ of the workshop is Gerry Kierans who leads the carpentry work.
Gerry makes sets for the panto and does lots of charity work too.
Gerry’s involvement with the local primary schools sees interaction between the men making planters and the pupils planting them up with bulbs and flowers. Making ‘Buddy Benches’ for schools is also very important to Gerry.
Ahead of the Fleadh, the Sheds made 50 fiddles and other musical equipment with local schools decorating them for display.
Aiden Hodgers loves the craic and company in the Sheds over the past 4 years.
‘It’s a marvellous facility and we all learn so much,’ he said.
‘We make cribs for Christmas and up until this year we bought the parts but now we are turning our own.’
Enjoying the trips is Peter Kiernan, a member for 51/2 years, who is looking forward to the upcoming trip to Dublin. Peter organises the Sheds’ Lotto too. ‘I love the Keep Fit and computer classes.’
Drogheda Men’s Shed began in a workspace in Greenhills before moving to its current site, owned by the Order of Malta services.
The Sheds have received notice to quit by December 2020 as the site is to be sold.
‘We are already looking for a new premise as we need a substantial size to house all of our members and our activities,’ explained Pat Connor, who previously worked in Ushers’ Mill, Millex and Bitech, based in Dunleer.
The Sheds receive no regular funding apart from members’ subs, however Partnership gave them a grant for machinery, and the International Fund for Ireland ranted them start-up funding and they received support from Louth County Council through the Netwell organisation that set up the original Sheds.
‘We have members from Drogheda, Dublin, Meath, mid-Louth taking in Ardee, Stamullen, Duleek, Laytown, Bettystown and all over, and all are welcome.
‘We are a flagship Shed. This Shed is second to none – we are the Rolls Royce of Irish Sheds!’ concluded Liam.