Mens Sheds movement encourages friendship and productivity

Mens Sheds Shed Crawl lands in Moynalty, Co Meath. Pictured in the Moynalty Steam Threshing Museum with a fully restored Fordson tractor from left: John Evoy of the Irish Mens Sheds Association, Ciara OToole of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) and Jimmy Carroll from Delgany, County Wicklow. Photograph: Barry Cronin

The bond between men and their sheds is well-known but they usually work alone when they disappear into sheds. Now a growing movement is encouraging men with time on their hands to join the community of Mens Sheds to work on a range of projects while enjoying the friendship of other men.

Hans Meyer got involved with Mulhuddart Mens Shed in Dublin after he was made redundant from his job at Dublin Airport in 2011.

I found a leaflet about the Mens Shed so I popped in and Ive been here since. It was only me and my wife at home in the house so I got bored and wanted something to do, he says.

More than 7,000 men are members of almost 220 Mens Sheds on the island of Ireland. Every shed is different. Some 16 men, aged 40 to 68 are involved in the Mulhuddart Mens Shed and they spend most of their time on woodwork projects.

90 per cent of what we do here involves woodwork, Mr Meyer says. We make birdhouses, benches, flower boxes, tables, all from scrap material. We also repair bikes. We recently got a donation of 60 bikes from the garda station in Blanchardstown so we are repairing them and selling them.

He says his brain is occupied all the time now. The main thing is to get out of the house. You know, we men are not very open but when were together we talk more. There are no social workers here, or nurses, but we chat and thats very important.

He remembers one of its oldest members telling him that he was on a range of tablets before he started visiting the Mens Shed.

Now he says: I only take Solpadeine from time to time. I dont need the other tablets anymore.

This is echoed by Gerard Grehan who says Mulhuddart Mens Shed has changed his life. He got depressed after a series of injuries and accidents forced him to give up his work as a butcher seven years ago.

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Mens Sheds movement encourages friendship and productivity