Men’s Sheds are proving very popular today

LAST week was a red letter day for Dundalk Mens Shed with the visit of Minister for State, Helen McEntee who has responsibility for older people and also mental health issues.

Mens Sheds are a relatively recent phenonmena and they have spread throughout the country.

The Sheds are a location were older men can meet together, socialise and learn one or two new skills along the way.

Last year the Mens Shed in Cooley published their own cookbook, after they had enjoyed a number of cookery lessons and demonstrations.

The fare on offer in the book was relatively simple, but it proved the social success of the Sheds concept.

None of those men could ever have imagined that they would be contributing to a cookbook if you had asked them only a few years earlier.

Stereotypically men are not good talkers, they don’t discuss their emotions and bottle things up.

Whether the men in the sheds throughout the land are getting in touch with their inner selfs over a mug of tea is hard to know but clearly those attending get something from the whole experience.

Social isolation was always a factor in life but we are more aware of it nowadays and know that such isolation can lead to deeper problems.

Mens Sheds is doing its part in tackling this issue in life.

In today’s society there are many who for a variety reasons find themselves outside of the workforce and this can lead to people finding themselves under-valued.

Mens Sheds are not to solution to the challenges facing an older male and they are not for everyone but the fact that they are popping up in greater numbers throughout the country shows that there is a demand for them and they are answering a need in society.

The Dundalk Mens Sheds has a membership of 120, with 50 using it every day for activities such as line dancing, creative writing, computer classes, choir singing, art classes wood turning and tai chi.

The obvious shortcoming is that Mens Sheds only appeal to one half of society.

Women too can feel lonely, isolated and under-appreciated in today’s rat race.

Maybe women don’t need an outlet such as the Sheds as they are better at looking after one another and communicating with each other but the success of the Sheds for men surely is food for thought and maybe a similar outlet could be developed for women.