'They play a huge role in the community': Minister’s funding vow for Women’s Sheds

Women’s Sheds of Ireland will officially launch on International Women’s Day, March 8. Stock image

Junior minister Jennifer Murnane O'Connor has vowed to help set up a formalised funding structure for the Women’s Shed movement.

Minister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for public health and well being Jennifer Murnane O'Connor said she is working with Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary on the issue.

She was speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland ahead of this Sunday’s official launch of Women’s Sheds of Ireland on International Women’s Day, March 8.

"It’s a really important issue,” she said. “We have to make sure that we look after our women's sheds, they do an excellent job.

“I have been working with Minister Dara Calleary because in my own remit, I have put aside funding now to put a structure together, because we actually don't have a proper structure together for the women's sheds, but there is one for the Men's Sheds.

“So I am now working with Dara Calleary to get that structure together so that the women's sheds can now apply for grants, for funding, and we will work with them to explain what happens from now on.

"They play a huge role in the community, it's everybody mixing together, it's that sense of community and we need to make sure we get this structure in place for them.” 

A dedicated Women's Sheds Of Ireland (WSOI) committee was established in 2024 by a group of women from across the country.

Funding affected by lack of a representative body 

Women's sheds do not currently operate under a single national representative body, which makes it harder for them to access financial and other supports.

Men’s sheds, on the other hand, have their own representative body - the Irish Men’s Sheds Association - and can apply for government funding as a result.

Minister Calleary has said he is committed to helping develop a national governing body for women's sheds.

Officials from his department and from the Department of Health have met representatives of women’s sheds to discuss funding opportunities.

"The men's sheds are supported by the Government all the time and we hardly get anything," Tullamore Women's Shed member Catherine Loughman told RTÉ.

"The county council gives us some money and we get some from the credit union but it's small.

"With an umbrella organisation, we will be more visible and it will be great for our self-image.

"Eventually, hopefully with the funding we get, we will someday have money for premises for all these groups.

"People will see these are valuable community groups for women all over Ireland.

"There's no point having these groups in libraries or centres where you've to pack up every week.

"Having a governing body will put women's sheds on the map."