By Larry Cooney
Almost six years since the Irish Men’s Shed Association was set up in January 2011, Kilbeggan now boasts one of the most active groups in the country. And that fact was well and truly proved on Wednesday, 21 December, after they organised a Christmas party fit for a King in the same portacabin where they meet weekly.
It is only two years since leader, TP O’Gorman, first made the initial enquiries and telephone calls to potential members, but in that time, more than twenty members now regularly meet up on the Clara Road industrial estate, adjacent to Dunbia. After the success of their apple-juice making project last November, Topic paid a visit last week to the site of the former Midland Cladding Co. to see some of the impressive work and services being produced by a number of elders in the Kilbeggan and general district.
Essentially a Men’s Shed is a place where all men, regardless of age (but usually OAPS and retirees), background, or ability are:
(1) Respected, valued and belong, and can comfortably use and pass on their practical skills and knowledge.
(2) Learn through doing stuff together – each man is a teacher and a learner, each having different levels of skills, professional and practical, to share collectively.
(3) Can come together and help out in their communities.
(4) Can just come and have a chat and a cuppa if that is all they’re looking for.
(5) Can talk about things that are important to them, and can improve their own well-being by keeping physically, mentally and socially active.
JACKS OF ALL TRADES
After spending more than an hour in the company of about seven of their members, including retired teacher and Tipperary native, TP O’Gorman, Kilbeggan own Men’s Shed certainly ticks all the right boxes. The members range from just over 60 to close on 90, but one thing they all have in common is their admirable sense of purpose and general activity and use of their talents, and in some cases, that stretches as far as musicianship, such as retired teacher and another Tipperary native, Frank Brennan, who is also a prolific fiddle player. By the end of that morning’s session, Frank and a number of his fellow musicians in the Men’s Shed group were contemplating putting together a little ceili band for a fundraising concert! But it is usually woodwork and crafts, and that includes bog-oak sculpturing, that interests the members of the Men’s Shed. Speaking about the group’s development over the past two years, group leader TP O’Gorman said: “In thebeginning, the first problem was finding suitable premises and then building up the membership, but it is all coming along nicely now and we are also beginning to offer our services outside to the community.”
FURTHER EXPANSION
IN 2017
But luck and fortune can also play its part in a fledgling organisation’s development, as was the case of Kilbeggan’s Men’s Shed who landed on their feet when they were offered space in a disused industrial estate, as well as the use of two portacabins by local entrepreneur and businessman, Sean Donaghy, two years ago. Since then, they have acquired another premises of their own and they also have an array of wood and craft machinery equipment in their own workshop. And during that time, the Men’s Shed have been involved in a number of projects, including this year’s 1916 commemorations in the town and involved in various courses as diverse as cookery to construction. “We have a fine premises here and we could do with more members and it’s open to all ages,” says TP O’Gorman.“At the end of the day, it’s all about, chatting, communicating, relationships. It’s good for the psyche; it’s not all about work, it’s about people and relationships. “We’re finding out the interests that different people have, from gardening to woodwork. Anything goes here and we’re looking for more ideas on what activities we can get our members interested in and since we have another new premises, we can expand even further in the New Year.“
A CHRISTMAS PARTY FIT FOR A KING!
Before the New Year, there was the matter of organising the annual Christmas Party and Kilbeggan’s Men’s Shed certainly cut no corners when it came to celebrating, proving that those who work hard can also play just as hard!
Turkey and ham and all the trimmings for the sixteen-man group around the one table was followed by a generous serving of mouth-watering trifle and Christmas cake, washed down with tea/coffee. And how better to follow that than with a music session that saw quite a few of the men doing their own turns and party-pieces on the microphone, from telling yarns/jokes to singing the odd song here and there. And there was even time for a few games of bingo and a free raffle to send everyone home in the best of Christmas spirits. “We all had a great time and apart from our thanks to Lil for the beautiful Christmas cake, the entire function was all of our own making,” said TP O’Gorman, who confirmed that the group will be back on Tuesday and Wednesday, 10/11 January 2017. Anyone wishing to join Kilbeggan’s Men’s Shed can call in on Wednesdays, email kilbeggan@mens-sheds.ie or phone TP on 086 1653090.
