Members of Mullingar Men's Shed with some of the fruits of their labours, from left: Pat Begley, Fergus Mulcahy, John Mangan, Charlie Donoghue, Peter Burrows and James Green.

'The finest guys I've ever been involved with'

When John Mangan decided to retire, or “semi-retire”, last year, he quickly discovered that he had too much time on his hands for his liking.

As someone who had worked hard all his life, the Dublin native realised that the needed something productive to do outside of his family life. So, when his friend Ray McDonnell from Mullingar Charity Variety Club suggested he form a Men’s Shed, the timing couldn’t have been better.

After a number preliminary meetings early in the year, Mullingar’s Men’s Shed opened its doors in March, as one of more than 300 Men’s Sheds currently in operation across the country.

When the Westmeath Examiner recently paid a visit to the group’s base in Forest Park we encountered a group of seven hard at it in their workshop.

Some of the men – the group’s 10 members range in age from 55 to 75 – were working on the Buddy Benches (see panel), a couple were putting the finishing touches to a wooden plant holder in the shape of swan, the banter was flying around and the atmosphere was relaxed yet busy. Although still in the early days, chairman John says that the group has already been of huge benefit to him and his new friends.

The idea behind the Men’s Shed movement, which started in Australia in 1990s, is that in the words of one of the patron’s of the Australian Men’s Sheds Association, Professor Barry Golding: “Men don’t talk face to face; they talk shoulder to shoulder”.

“They are mostly men that are either widowed or retired, although we will take anybody 18 or over. What we do is pair up the members. One guy knows what he’s doing and the other doesn’t. The idea with the Men’s Sheds is you take a buddy, you teach him what you do and then you move on to something you don’t know. The whole thing is about challenging each other and teaching each other,” he said.

In the coming weeks, a mechanic is coming in to teach the Mullingar men how to repair lawnmowers. They plan to use their newly acquired skills to repair mowers for the local branch of Care and Repair, whose members carry out minor repairs for older people free of charge. They also make theatre sets for their neighbour and landlord in Forest Park, the Mullingar Charity Variety Group.

As a not for profit community group that has benefited from donations of tools and materials from individuals and business, including their fellow Forest Park resident Bennett Construction, John says that they feel its important that they give back whenever they can. They have also forged links with Men’s Sheds in Kilbeggan, Streete and Rochfortbridge.

“Our intention is that we are having a bit of fun, we are helping people out. We are not a profit organisation. We make ends me and if we get a few quid we might get a new tools. Considering the time we are in operation we are doing tremendous. That’s down to the boys.”

One of the “boys” is retired Eircom engineer Charlie Donoghue. He’s says that the Men’s Shed has opened up a new circle for him and the rest of the group.

“It’s as much a social thing, you have all types of different people coming in here. Some people just want to come in for the social aspect. There is a good crowd in here. There is good bit of banter but we sometimes discuss serious things as well,” he said.

James Green has always “messed around” with wood and is enjoying the projects in the group’s spacious workshop. Joking that tea-drinking is also a vital part of being in the group, he says it provides a valuable outlet for men who may have more time on their hands than they are used to. “We have a great location, we are sharing skills and it’s a case of so far, so good.”

“Mad” for new members, chairman John says that the group have plenty of plans for the future, including forming a “cluster group” with other local Men’s Sheds. Although the group’s designated meeting times are Wednesday and Thursday mornings, many of the members also come in on other days.

“It killed me [retirement]. I love this. The lads enthuse one another. You wouldn’t want to be thin-skinned but there is never any animosity.

“The success is down to the members and what they have got out of this and put back into it... There’s such a wide variety of trades and interests. They are the finest bunch of guys I’ve ever been involved with. These are a great group. They really are good people.”

• For more information on Mullingar’s Men’s Shed contact John on 085 822 0991.