Men's Shed

evoke

Hey Everyone

http://www.menssheds.ie/find-a-shed/

Has anyone being to one of these evening in galway? Not sure if they all do the same thing.

biko

I've seen it mentioned here and there. Perhaps you can post more about what it does?
For instance, what can one expect to happen on a Men's shed evening?

evoke

all i heard about them was that it was for unemployed people that wanted to use their skills. Just wondering if anyone has gone to them

_Whimsical_

Token post about sexist nature of such a venture.

inisboffin

A friend is part of one in Galway and really likes it.


Nothings to stop people setting up a 'sister' project -'womens' workshop' or whatever!

thesandeman

inisboffin wrote: »

A friend is part of one in Galway and really likes it.


Nothings to stop people setting up a 'sister' project -'womens' workshop' or whatever!

That's what the ICA is for.

BhoscaCapall

That sounds really straight.

Shakti

Some organisations think they are entitled to exclude on the basis of gender...mens-sheds, ICA etc. and nobody says a word but just put "white" in front of those words and brace for the **** storm, backward world is backward,

biko

Enough of the indignation and gender stuff thanks. Focus on the positive aspect of this group and we'll leave it at that.

Shakti

they like sheds

inisboffin

thesandeman wrote: »

That's what the ICA is for.

You're joking I assume? Don't think they're too similar, but I'm not totally familiar with either!

My friend gets a lot out of the men's shed. Seems to be a good mix of ages and background.

_Whimsical_

I could see it being very positive. I'm sure lots of men would benefit from a drink free social environment and the fact that it'd be a mix of ages could bring a lot to the experience. Every generation really would be the better for understanding other generations a little more. Much to be gained for everyone even just on that score.

I am female incidentally!

Mrs OBumble

inisboffin wrote: »

You're joking I assume? Don't think they're too similar, but I'm not totally familiar with either!

Well, from the Mens Shed's website:

Men’s Shed is any community-based, non-commercial organisation which is open to all men where the primary activity is the provision of a safe, friendly and inclusive environment where the men are able to gather and/or work on meaningful projects at their own pace, in their own time and in the company of other men and where the primary objective is to advance the health and well- being of the participating men. Men’s sheds may look like a shed in you back yard yet they innovatively share some characteristics of both community education and health promotion projects.

And from the ICA:

The ICA is the largest membership organisation of women in Ireland. Fun, Friendship and Support are at the heart of everything we do. Started in 1910 the ICA has been a common factor in the lives of Irish women for the last hundred years in our largest cities and in our smallest villages. We meet in 560 Guilds all over the country and each Guild is autonomous. Our members determine the annual activities of the Guild

Sounds pretty similar to me.

Sure they do different stuff, and one's a bit older ... but the same gig really. At this stage in their organisation's lives, Mens Shed's are probably a bit better at being open and welcoming to anyone who wants to take part ... that's probably the biggest difference, I'd guess.

confuseddotcom

Why was it given the name of shed may I ask?

inisboffin

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Sounds pretty similar to me.

Sure they do different stuff, and one's a bit older ... but the same gig really. At this stage in their organisation's lives, Mens Shed's are probably a bit better at being open and welcoming to anyone who wants to take part ... that's probably the biggest difference, I'd guess.

Interesting comparison from the websites, I take your point, but the blurbs, particularly the latter, are fairly generic "join our club - we are friendly". As I said, no expert on the inner workings of either, just know some involved in both, and a colleague has done workshops with ICA members. Based on that I'd see them as pretty different, despite the PR.
As you mentioned, diversity in age/politics/background mix probably being the biggest difference visible to me.

Mrs OBumble

confuseddotcom wrote: »

Why was it given the name of shed may I ask?

What's wrong with calling it a shed? Sheds are places where men can hang out informally, and where most men would feel comfortable.

If you looked on their website, you'd know that they're influenced by the Australian mens sheds movement, who say:

"The modern Men’s Shed is an updated version of the shed in the backyard that has long been a part of Australian culture. Men’s Sheds are springing up all around Australia. If you looked inside one you might see a number of men restoring furniture, perhaps restoring bicycles for a local school, maybe making Mynah bird traps or fixing lawn mowers or making a kids cubby house for Camp Quality to raffle."

ref: http://www.mensshed.org/what-is-a-men's-shed/.aspx

_Whimsical_

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

If you looked on their website, you'd know that they're influenced by the Australian mens sheds movement, who say:

I was thinking it was an Australian thing. At a risk of putting everyone off here, they have one in Neighbours .

confuseddotcom

I'd associate a "shed" with cattle and turf and troughs and hay and silage and himacs and trailers and balers.

_Whimsical_

confuseddotcom wrote: »

I'd associate a "shed" with cattle and turf and troughs and hay and silage and himacs and trailers and balers.

Exactly... manly pursuits!

inisboffin

confuseddotcom wrote: »

I'd associate a "shed" with cattle and turf and troughs and hay and silage and himacs and trailers and balers.

Another association...remember all those English sitcoms where the 'garden shed' is where the hubby escapes to for a bit of down time, a sneaky smoke, or to play with his hornby railway set!

confuseddotcom

Well yeah ya see that would be a garden-storage-shed alright not a farm-shed. Yeah a Workshop would be a nice name for it alright rather than a shed. I.M.O.

Mrs OBumble

Some Irish people just don't get the informal thing ...

I guess if the organisation find that some of it's potential members don't want to join just 'cos of the name, they might change it for the Irish context, when they're ready.

In the meantime, I hear they're doing good stuff for blokes with not a cow in sight ....

biko

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=men%27s+shed

BhoscaCapall

On a semi related note, I came across this on wikipedia the other day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_cave

Can't believe it's actually a real life thing.

inisboffin

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

On a semi related note, I came across this on wikipedia the other day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_cave

Can't believe it's actually a real life thing.

Of course it's real. Just like man-flu!

confuseddotcom

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Some Irish people just don't get the informal thing ...

I guess if the organisation find that some of it's potential members don't want to join just 'cos of the name, they might change it for the Irish context, when they're ready.

In the meantime, I hear they're doing good stuff for blokes with not a cow in sight ....

Chill Mrs. O Bumble. Chillax! I'm just having the craic with ya. It doesn't really bother me what they call it. Afterall they're perfectly entitled to name it whatever the heck they so wish! There's no doubt in my mind they'll do well with equal measures of work and effort inputted.

As for the cattle I think the men could have been up at 6am bringing them up to the milking-parlour at the back of the shed there.

beardybrewer

That's a whole lot of talk from people who haven't bothered to check it out in person.

I've read about it, don't know if it's for me but I'd be all for hearing about it from people who actually know what they're talking about.

biko

I'm going to bump this as I'm interested in a shed group where there is motor fixing and general car detailing done locally.
Cumann na bhFear seems to be focusing on more Irish heritage skills like carpentry and bee-keeping etc.
Or if someone with a largish garage is interested in meeting and exchanging car skills?

Irish_Elect_Eng

I popped over the the opening of the Tuam Men's Shed the other night as my father was involved in it's set-up.

Physically it's two area's, a fairly large work-shop, fitted out mainly with donated wood-working equipment and other tools, quite a few nice looking project in progress and a second area, a cross between a library with comfy couches and a canteen with a very well used kettle.

The bunch of guy's there were very friendly and interested in each other, shooting the breeze and discussing just about anything that came up. They don't seem to take things (or themselves) too seriously, a good environment, stress free and very open.

Stevolende

I heard they were trying to set one up in Doughiska but I don't think it's got that far. They were talking about including things like woodworking etc. But not heard an update in a while.

mackjark

I've heard about it and I think it's great idea. Men generally don't have same outlets as women unless it's the pub/Golf or some obscure hobby. Also men don't have the same kind of friendships women have. I think a lot of men can be quite isolated unless they have some outlet. Better than drinking down at the pub.

It wouldn't be my cup of tea though.

ScumLord

mackjark wrote: »

It wouldn't be my cup of tea though.

What would be your cup of tea? The potential is huge for what could be accomplished between a group of men with a variety of skills and interests. I've found some people aren't seeing the full potential and are asking if it'll be teaching basic skills e.g carpentry, how to hang a door was suggested. I think a lot of men going into these clubs could have worked on major building sites, have backgrounds in electronics, may want to learn some more advanced skills like robotics, or advanced engineering skills, how to use milling machines.

As you can see the skys the limit with those kinds of skills intermingling.

_Whimsical_

I'm not male so I am not asking for myself,though I'm curious to know, who turns up to this? Is there a variety of ages or backgrounds or is there a typical attendee?

ScumLord

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

I'm not male so I am not asking for myself,though I'm curious to know, who turns up to this? Is there a variety of ages or backgrounds or is there a typical attendee?

The more diverse the group is the better.

mackjark

Scumlord, none of the things you mention are my cup of tea! I'm fortunate to have a outlet that is my cup of tea. It is, oddly enough often in a kind of shed. So I'm lucky that way. Something I tend to forget sometimes.

But I do see how something like that would beneficial to many men and it is to be encouraged. I know a few guys who it would suit. In fact one in particular who might benefit from it. I will be pointing him towards it.

ScumLord

mackjark wrote: »

Scumlord, none of the things you mention are my cup of tea! I'm fortunate to have a outlet that is my cup of tea. It is, oddly enough often in a kind of shed. So I'm lucky that way. Something I tend to forget sometimes.

I'm just pointing out it can be whatever the men taking part want it to be. If they're mostly carpenters it's probably going to go down that road. If they're all out of work electricians they'd probably want to get into more advanced electrical work. If the group is very diverse though with guys with lots of different skills they could do all kinds of things, combining the skills they have would allow them to do almost anything. Of course they'll all be learning new skill from each other or by having men from other sheds coming in to show them how it's done.

yop

Its more a social outlet and release for the head. Skilled or not too many men sit at home and "think" too much, which is an aid to depression itself, get people out of men, something to do, someone to speak to.
You would be surprised what this would do. The drink driving laws where lads in my rural area would have gone for a whiskey and a pint (and a few take too many, wrongly of course), to where they can't do it at all, need a new outlet, this mens shed sound fantastic.
If you help others to learn a skill or you learn yourself, then its a win win.

snubbleste

TG4 Fri 17 at 1930
Feicfidh Eibhlín Ní Choisdealbha an tionchar atá ag gluaiseacht nua, Men's Sheds, ar shaol na bhfear sa Cheathrú Rua.

civis_liberalis

snubbleste wrote: »

TG4 Fri 17 at 1930
Feicfidh Eibhlín Ní Choisdealbha an tionchar atá ag gluaiseacht nua, Men's Sheds, ar shaol na bhfear sa Cheathrú Rua.

Need new glasses. Read that as "Feckin Eibhlín Ní Choisdealbha". :rolleyes:

Translation:

Eibhlín Ní Choisdealbha sees the effect of the new Men's Sheds movement on the lives of men in Carraroe.

Worth a watch if you have an interest in men's sheds I'd say, even if you don't speak the language. It will be subtitled.

From the galleries on their site I recognise a good few of the people that are members. There are people there with a huge range of skills from all walks of life.

snubbleste

They have their own website!
*impressed*
They do • Obair ar shean charranna especially for Biko

biko

Aye, might head over with my cupla focal to work on the car

_Whimsical_

The Castlebar Mens Shed was featured on TV last week too and they had undertaken some interesting projects. One was turning cheap ikea furniture into other things. They turned a table into a spinning wheel for weaving and lampshades into lobster pots amongst other things. The stuff they'd made went on a touring national exhibition called Folk Fiction.
I thought they were surprisingly creative ideas.

bagels

Irish_Elect_Eng wrote: »

I popped over the the opening of the Tuam Men's Shed the other night as my father was involved in it's set-up.

Physically it's two area's, a fairly large work-shop, fitted out mainly with donated wood-working equipment and other tools, quite a few nice looking project in progress and a second area, a cross between a library with comfy couches and a canteen with a very well used kettle.

The bunch of guy's there were very friendly and interested in each other, shooting the breeze and discussing just about anything that came up. They don't seem to take things (or themselves) too seriously, a good environment, stress free and very open.

Thanks for the great plug.
You'll be surprised to learn that you've only seen half of it. We've a small computer facility (two pc's) on site ready for use, just waiting now for our broadband to be sorted. We've a fully operational computer suite (four pc's) located in rooms kindly provided for us by St Jarlaths (Tuam) Credit Union. We've also gotten some adjacent land from the Archdiocese which will be used for horticulture projects. Art classes are in the pipeline too. We try to provide as wide a variety of interests as possible and we're open to new ideas. More importantly, we're always open to new members so please check us out at https://www.facebook.com/mensshedtuam

Lacha

There are two Men's Sheds in Galway:

Oldenway Business Park, Old Monivea Road, Ballybrit, Co. Galway – Sean Walsh – (his number and contact are on the internet if you search for Men's Sheds Galway) – Opening Times Monday to Saturday 10.00am – 9.00pm

Galway City – Michael Tiernan (same as above)

There's a great documentary that shows what Men's Sheds are all about on b y u t v: Search for "Turning Point Men's Sheds"


Enjoy!
Lacha
(a female who thinks Men's Sheds are a wonderful thing, an important haven for men to meet and create and talk in a comfortable environment. Go sheds!)

Mrs OBumble

Pretty sure there's one out in Ballinfoyle.

And I know I've heard talk of starting one in Doughiska.