Lislea Men’s Shed AGM. Wednesday 14[th] June 2023
Chairpersons report.
One year ago, this month, saw the beginning of the construc5on of our new shed on what was referred to as “The polytunnel site”. On the ho=est days of the year Abtech staff began erec5on of the steel framework, then to proceed with the cladding thereaAer. Before all of that, our very generous benefactor, Joe Doherty had moved the lock up container, built a new retaining wall, levelled the remaining ground before crea5ng a concrete plaForm as the base for the new shed. Without the input and generosity of Joe Doherty and family it is very difficult to envisage where we might be today. For this report, I place on record our sincere thanks to Joe and family for their 5me and generosity.
In the twelve months since, the men’s shed team have therefore, slowly but surely, worked to bring the shed and the area surrounding to the point of almost finished. That indeed has been the area of our greatest focus, from winter days where the stove was an essen5al item to allow our mee5ngs to be conducted in comfort, to in the last few days, all doors open to allow as much fresh air as possible.
The work has been carried out with goodwill from every member of our shed group, to look at some of the highlights.
James Mooney for his persistence with the Electrician’s, thereaAer for his great work pain5ng the inside of both sec5ons of the shed.
excellent standard.
for granted.
John Mc Elroy, vice chair, for his experience and exper5se, gardening, joinery etc in large part for keeping the group going.
grounded, also his involvement with pain5ng and work in the Polytunnel.
Graham Smith working 5relessly with his excellent work in leading submissions for fundraising and project work.
During the year we a=racted four new members, Gerard Quinn, Joe Brady, Joe Finnegan, and Gerard Markey. All four are most welcome, each adding valuable contribu5ons across many ac5vi5es within the group.
be to enhance the wellbeing of all our members. We have already had discussions about topics such as men’s health, finance, development of workshop area for woodwork and metalwork training, development of our gardening ac5vi5es, con5nua5on of our walking group. Within the shed we now have excellent AV facili5es soon to be added to with internet access. All of this will allow us to properly host relevant presenta5ons to expand the interests of our members.
In the past year we have been involved in several ac5vi5es / projects, to highlight a few.
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Gardening support for local ladies’ group.
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Gardening instruc5on and support from SRC.
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Visit to Bloom for members interested in gardening.
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Visit to Castle Espie in rela5on to Camlough Wetland and Wildfowl project.
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Con5nued development of Camlough Lake wildfowl preserve.
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Visits to several other Men’s sheds, Kilkeel, Derrymore etc
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Visit of Lissummon Men’s Shed.
Our aim as a group is to provide a forum to foster the mental and physical wellbeing of men. A key factor in this is providing the facili5es and focus already men5oned. Needless to state this all costs. As a small group in a rural part of the country our op5ons for fundraising are somewhat limited. Our main fundraiser is organised around a coffee morning and plant sale each Summer. Earlier this year it was very disappoin5ng to receive a backdated invoice from Land and property services for the use of the plot of land that we occupy. Whilst we have made representa5ons to have this removed or at least reduced, should it run its course it will leave our men’s shed group very stretched financially. The current posi5on is that our appeal is under review.
It is important to acknowledge that Lislea Men’s shed is part of the wider Lislea Community. As such the input of the wider community, our families, and friends, is vital for the support and development of our Men’s shed group. In the past 12 months this has been evidenced by the very welcome and wide range of support we have received from many sources in suppor5ng the development of our new shed.
Mar5n Darling.