Forget the chat at the pub, now it’s down to the shed

It used to be the pub, a snooker room, a betting office, or even the street corner but a growing number of Irish men with time on their hands are finding a new place to meet for a chat.

A new Men’s Shed was officially opened in Killarney, Co Kerry, yesterday bringing to almost 80 the number of such facilities around the country.

Since the start of the year, dozens of men have been using the tourist town’s former Ross Products factory where the facilities include work benches, opportunities for games and a tea-room.

The shed concept is believed to have begun informally in Australia, in the mid-1970s, and has since spread internationally, with 1,500 affiliated sheds.

The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) was founded, in 2007, and there are currently 800 sheds ‘Down Under’.

AMSA executive officer David Helmers, who cut the tape at the Killarney shed, said the initiative helps prevent social isolation by usefully engaging men, especially those out of work.

“The idea works extremely well. We get lots of retired people and being part of a shed is also very beneficial to a man’s health,” he said.

Men’s Sheds are workshops in which skilled and unskilled men can share time with each other, swap yarns and work together on community projects.

A leading member of the Killarney shed, Mike O’Connor, who is retired, said it was helping him reconnect with former workmates in the town’s Liebherr crane factory.

“As well as meeting new people, we have great banter and a sharing of stories. People also have the chance to learn new skills in a relaxed, informal way,” he said.

Around 70 men have, so far, registered in the Killarney shed and one of their projects involves restoring old toys which they hope to raffle for good causes at Christmas.

“We’re also appealing to people with old tools or equipment lying around to donate them to the shed,” Mr O’Connor said.

Among the sponsors of the Killarney Men’s Shed are the South Kerry Development Partnership and the Kerry Mental Health Association.