Westmeath Mens Shed finalists in Topline series
The world’s biggest men’s sheds crafts exhibition took place at Belvedere House and Gardens today, Wednesday June 13.
The Topline Shed Series saw men’s sheds from throughout Ireland including two Westmeath Men’s Sheds compete for a top prize of €2,000, awarded to the winning entry by a panel of judges headed by Ireland rugby legend Donncha O’Callaghan.
James Green, Hack Doyle, Peter Dempsey and Willie Manning represented Rochfortbridge Men’s Shed; while Tom Scott, TP O’Gorman, Mike Rush, Liam O’Keeffe, Joe Corcoran, Sean Gilfoyle, John Beesley and Thomas Bang represented Kilbeggan Men’s Shed as finalists.
A total of 44 entrants, representing 23 counties, were shortlisted from an initial field of almost 100. Entrants were invited to reflect upon their shed’s place in its community, and this theme inspired entries that ranged from the thoughtful and elaborate to the quirky and frivolous.
Donnacha O’Callaghan was assisted in his judging endeavours by Mairéad Lavery of the Irish Farmers Journal, Éadaoin Keane of Topline, and Barry Sheridan, CEO of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association. Rostrevor Men’s Shed, County Down scooped first place.
Above: Tom Scott, TP O’Gorman, Mike Rush, Liam O’Keeffe, Joe Corcoran, Sean Gilfoyle, John Beesley and Thomas Bang from the Kilbeggan Men’s Shed.
Their entry was called ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’, which included a handmade construction of the island of Ireland with each individual county handmade. 11 airplanes which dotted around their creation symbolises the countries where all the team members are from.
The €1,000 prize for second place went to Cooley Peninsula Men’s Shed, meanwhile, the People’s Choice award, chosen via a public poll on Topline’s Facebook page, went to Killoe Men’s Shed of County Longford. Their entry attracted a remarkable 1,400 “likes”.
In total, almost 10,000 votes were cast, with sheds throughout the country mobilising support from their communities. All prizes were supplied by Topline DIY as part of a broad-ranging partnership with Irish men’s sheds.
The partnership, launched this spring, has seen Topline supply sheds with an extensive range of DIY equipment to assist in their community projects. The Shed Series final took place during Men’s Health Week, and, appropriate to the occasion, free health screening and walks of the beautiful Belvedere House and Gardens were available on the day, provided by the Irish Heart Foundation and Get Ireland Walking respectively.
The event caps a memorable fortnight for men’s sheds in Ireland; on Thursday June 7, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association was honoured with the European Citizens’ Prize, a prestigious award handed out by the European Parliament.