0(1¶6 6+('6 ,1 &2817< 6/,*2

A Men’s Shed is a community-based project, where people can come together to learn, share skills, and make long-lasting friendships together. Most sheds engage in activities such as woodwork, gardening, carpentry, and community work. However, there are more special interests sheds that focus on things like music, fishing, and restoration work. Sligo LEADER can provide supports to Men’s (or Women’s) Sheds in the county. We offer assistance to newly established groups, providing advice on:

• Governance and set-up procedures

• Signpost to Funding Opportunities

• Networking

A Men’s Shed is a dedicated, friendly and welcoming meeting place where men can come together. It’s a place where men can share their skills and knowledge with others, learn new skills or redevelop old skills. Becoming a member of a shed provides a safe and busy environment where you can find many of these things. Also, importantly, there’s no pressure. Men can just come and have a chat and a cuppa if that’s all they’re looking for. There are a number of Men’s Sheds in County Sligo, and most can be found on the Men’s Shed Association website www.menssheds.ie

We have highlighted some of them below and looking forward to meeting new sheds such as Ballymote Men’s Shed which is in the start-up phase which we will highlight in depth later this year.

Sligo Men’s Shed – (Temple Street): This shed is based in the heart of Sligo Town off Temple Street. They have a large premises with many rooms for various actives. There is a new special wood-turning room, a music room, a kitchen, a large workshop plus lots of outdoor space where they have polytunnels and vegetable gardens plus an orchard! Sligo Men’s Shed also helps the local community including heritage groups and Sligo Tidy Towns. The shed would like to invite new members and soon will host an open day to celebrate their 10-year anniversary.

Enniscrone Men’s Shed: Enniscrone Men’s Shed is so unique. Within the yard they have a container which is insulated has windows and doors, LED lights, WIFI and security cameras and encompasses many carpentry & welding activities. The shed makes bench tables, flower boxes, bird houses, candle holders and a lot more. Recently it got funding for new bikes of which they take trips down to the beachfront. The shed’s first meeting was in 2018 and the whole journey is so well documented in a welcome story book. The youngest member is 28 and the oldest members is 86 so it really is a shed for all. The shed opens its arms to new members as it plans an exciting season ahead.

Geevagh Men’s Shed/Community of Lough Arrow Social Project: This Men’s Shed was started in 2011 with thanks to the efforts of a number of local men and local contractors who renovated it, the Men’s Shed is based out of the Old Community Centre in Geevagh. It has a great workshop, complete with tools and workbenches. There is also an office/computer room which is also used for meetings and relaxing. There is a fantastic polytunnel and vegetable garden too with some of the juiciest grapes, apples, and tomatoes. The shed host gardening classes regularly and recently took a site visit to the wonderful kitchen garden at Kilronan Castle These classes see up to 12 men attend them. If you are someone who, after retiring, you might want to share your skills with other men or come along and just meet new friends.

Abbeyquarter Men’s Group: Set up in May 2010, this Men’s Groups based at the entrance of Cranmore has 8 regular member and of late some younger members have shown interest.

The group have access to a building with a large open area and a well-maintained vegetable garden and polytunnel; it even has a pizza oven! The group also takes part in Art Classes while some workshops are held in the Model Arts Centre. They successfully applied for a SICAP grant which sees the group heading on a day trip to Strokestown Park and Famine Museum and have been so kind to also include the Women’s Group. New members are very welcome.

Cliffoney Men’s Shed: One of the busiest Men’s Shed we seen with over 30 members which were recruited by their Chairman Michael Kelly knocking door-to-door. The Shed have a garden with a large polytunnel right in the centre of Cliffoney village and in Autumn/ Winter they have access to the Old School House in Mullaghmore for classes. This year they intend to transform the space in the building to a computer suite where members learn in a relaxed environment and learn some basic computer skills. The Shed also have a walking group, boules group and play cards and darts too.

Dromore West Men’s Shed: The Dromore West Men’s shed meet at least once a week and are highly active in the community with local groups, schools and Tidy Towns making some planter boxes etc. The men meet for social gatherings and play cards and engage in computer activity. The shed linked in with Enniscrone men’s shed during covid 19 and completed some rowing classes online delivered by Sligo Sports recreation Partnership to help keep fit and active during lockdown. The shed is like a second home for the men to get a way and talk to each other. The shed covers Skreen, Dromard, Templeboy, Dromore West, and Easkey.

Ballisodare Men’s Shed: Ballisodare Men’s Shed was founded in 2014. It has grown and developed from 6/7 members initially to 32. Activities include workshop, indoor short mat bowls and a walking group. Following an Open Day in September 2021 to promote The Shed it was decided to allow women to join - because of their overwhelming interest in participating in the indoor bowls The walking group meet every Tuesday morning for walks in the local woods. We also organise trips to heritage sites, theatre, and cinema. The twice weekly meet-up to play the bowls and a cuppa and chat contributes positively to their physical and mental health.

Tubbercurry Men’s Shed at Banada Abbey: With numbers steadily increasing to over members, this men’s shed celebrates 10 years in formation this year. They meet 2/3 times a week and enjoy Gardening, Beekeeping, Woodwork, Basket weaving and above all Art Classes. They successfully applied for a SICAP grant for Art Classes with some amazing talent shown. They work with community groups and also made some display plant boxes for Tubbercurry Tidy towns; they also create a lot of made-to-order items such as flower boxes, benches and bird boxes to name but a few. The building contains a large activity room, carpentry room and a kitchen and are lucky enough that one of the members is a chef and offers cooking classes from time to time.

$%75$1 are ,reland¶s leading indigenous provider of customer and business process management %3M and outsourcing %3O services. &elebrating 25 years this year, they provide clients with a blend of outsourced, insourced and fully managed services from locations across ,reland.

Operating from Finisklin, Sligo, they have grown to over 300 staff, with a blend of on site and working from home. Managing customer engagement and administration on behalf of leading organisations in transport, public services and financial services.

,n 2020, $btran pivoted to virtual working due to the pandemic, but this didn¶t stop their growth, indeed they have e[panded services in Sligo to support critical public services reTuired as a direct result of &ovid 1 and have mobilised a large scale new transport operation.

Sligo based Site 'irector is 5achel McKeon. 5achel is one of $btran¶s senior leaders with over 20 years of e[perience in the industry. 5achel has overseen the onboarding of new client services and relocation of operations to the Sligo office, since it opened in 2018.

One of the obMectives in setting up a new customer engagement hub she commented “to harness and adapt the strong people focused culture of the organisation. Our team have developed an e[ceptionally supportive working environment, and this is crucial to the ability to provide fantastic customer service´,

“(nsuring the physical and mental wellbeing of our team is paramount´ McKeon said. “We offer tailored career paths, wellness programmes and opportunities to get involved in community initiatives. 7his cultivates a working environment where teamwork is celebrated and personal and professional growth is central to the employee e[perience ´ she continued.

We have forged strong relationships with ,.7 Sligo and received great support from their students who Moined us to support the scaling of the new transport operation. $btran team members in Sligo have actively participated in Sligo 7idy 7owns, sponsoring Sligo 5ugby St 3atrick¶s 3arade and supporting 7he /ate /ate 7oy Show $ppeal and the S8$S 5eading program.

$btran are looking forward to continued growth in Sligo in 2022 and beyond. ,f you want more information about opportunities that are coming up, check out www.abtran.com or email sligocareers#abtran. com.