News Article Archives

Our First Community Project at Our New Shed

We’re still in the process of moving into our new shed in Midleton, however Christmas is coming and having worked with the Midleton Christmas Lights Committee a couple of years ago we were asked to work on a project for them again this year. Well the materials for the project arrived yesterday, so we wasted no time in getting started, and the first step was putting primer on the sheets of plywood we’ll be using for this project, and then in the following days the magic happened!

The main architects
Ready to Roll
Locked & Loaded!

It’s All About The Base!!

We’ve taken another giant step towards our goal of having a permanent home in Midleton.
The concrete base is now laid for the shed and as soon as it’s set we can organise to have the shed installed. We are very proud of what we have achieved to date, and also our excitement is building about achieving our dream of having a permanent presence in the centre of Midleton. Everything is coming together nicely now and it won’t be too long before we can move from our temporary location in Carrigtwohill for which we are very thankful to Father Bill Bermingham and Father Patrick Winkle.

There are many more people who we are thankful for assistance and direction along the route, and we will publish a separate blogpost in due course to address these.
In the meantime, it’s all systems go and full steam ahead.

Midleton Men’s Shed is coming home.

It’s all about the base!

The base is laid, there’s no stopping us now!!

Categories:menMen’s HealthMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on August 27, 2021

Progress to report

We have another little update to report

Momentum is gathering now for Midleton Men’s Shed.
As can be seen from the photograph, Concrete Pouring is not too far away, and very soon we will have our long-awaited permanent home in the centre of Midleton.

Preparations are under way, and we will be ready for the concrete base to be poured very soon.

Categories:Men’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonNew Homeshed – Posted on August 24, 2021

New Beginnings

Another Giant Leap for Midleton Men’s Shed!

Below is a picture showing the beginnings of the physical process of clearing the site for Midleton Men’s Shed’s new permanent home in the Centre of Midleton.

First Steps of Site Clearance for our Permanent Shed In Midleton

This is the culmination of a huge effort by the committee, and amazing co-operation from many people and organisations in Midleton and beyond many of whom prefer to remain nameless. Our pride and delight to now see concrete progress towards our goal is palpable. We have been working diligently throughout the pandemic, abiding by all the COVID-19 protocols to drive our project forward, and now at last we see this huge step forward, and it only makes us more determined than ever to bring the shed to completion in the very near future.

We are so looking forward to moving home, very very soon.

Categories:menMen’s Shed NewsMidletonNew Homeshed – Posted on February 4, 2021

Press Release

Planning approval received for Midleton Men’s Shed adjacent to Community Centre off Bailick Road.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and adversity” – Martin Luther King Jr.

It could be said that there is never a good time to take on the challenge of building a new home, however Midleton Men’s Shed have taken on this very challenge, and in the middle of a pandemic.

Midleton Men’s Shed has been around in various formats since 2013.  The group was rejuvenated in 2018 and having been limited to meeting for a couple of hours once a week in the Edmond Rice Centre in the town, the group had been searching for and working on having a place to call their own.  In early 2019 the group were lucky – and very grateful Fr. Bill and Fr. Patrick – to be given the use of a rundown stables in Carrigtwohill as a temporary home.  The group undertook the refurbishment of the stables into a kitchen/canteen and a workshop where they worked on community and personal projects. They still have the use of the use of the premises, however since the first lockdown in March 2020 they have only been able to make very limited use of it and during Level 5 lockdowns they have reluctantly stayed away.
Throughout all this time, it has been the hope and belief of the group that they would have a permanent home in Midleton, and in the background, the committee worked slowly and steadily towards this goal.
With the onset of Covid19, the committee knew very well that this would make things more challenging, and while the shed was forced to close for the safety of the members, regular zoom calls were initiated to keep the chats and the banter alive.  The committee also used zoom to progress the plans to move permanently to Midleton, and their determination and hard work was rewarded in July 2020 with the news that MyPLace Midleton had agreed to make a site available adjacent to the community centre.  This was a huge step forward for the group and reinforced the determination of the committee to bring the project to fruition.  The committee and the group are hugely thankful to the board and management of MyPlace for their generosity and foresight in making this happen.

The next step on the journey was to secure planning permission.  Once again, the committee worked tirelessly with suppliers and Myplace to pull together the drawings and plans necessary for the application process.
In mid-December then, just as the country was preparing for another bout of Level 5 restrictions, they were thrilled to receive the news that the planning application had been approved.  To have made so much progress in this relatively short period is extraordinary, and Chairman Ger Cogan paid tribute to the committee who working with MyPlace had made it happen.

Of course, while this has been monumental progress the committee are under no allusions that their job is done.  They are now in fundraising mode and are very thankful to East Cork Oil and to Irish Distillers Midleton for their very generous support of this project and for helping them on the road to achieving their permanent home in Midleton.  They are also working with SECAD and Cork County Council to secure funding that will allow them to take the final steps on a journey that started eight years ago.  Gerard Cogan said that they firmly believe that the end line is now in view, and pandemic or otherwise, they won’t stop until they get there. 

Below is a picture giving an indication of the style of shed the group are planning to build:

The type of shed we’re proposing to have in Midleton

Categories:Men’s ShedMidletonshed – Posted on July 29, 2020

We were in the Irish Examiner newspaper…… again

The good news about us securing a site in Midleton for our Men’s Shed is really spreading. After getting a brief column in the Irish Examiner last week, yesterday Seán O’Riordan did a super write-up about our situation in ‘TheCounty’ supplement of the same publication. We are delighted to get this publicity and indebted to this excellent newspaper for sharing our story. Thanks a million!
As previously mentioned we are also indebted to MyPlace in Midleton for giving us the use of the site.

Categories:menMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonMyPlace MidletonNew Homeshed – Posted on July 22, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD AS MYPLACE GIVE THUMBS UP ON SITE FOR MIDLETON MEN’S SHED

For the last 15 months or so, Midleton Men’s Shed has been located in Carrigtwohill and we are very thankful to Fr. Bermingham & Fr. Winkle for the continued use of the Stable at Parochial House there.

In recent weeks, working closely with MyPlace Midleton, the Men’s Shed group has secured the use of the site beside the Community Centre just off Bailick Road for the purpose of erecting a Workshop/Recreation area. 

Chairman Gerard Cogan said “We are delighted with this news and this is the beginning of a new chapter for our group.  However, this is only the start, and now comes the significant task of putting a long-term home on this site which will benefit the men of Midleton for years to come.  We face challenges in raising funds to erect a shed, or in securing modular buildings that could be placed on the site, and would appreciate the assistance of any people or local businesses who can help with this. 
We are very thankful to the Board and management of MyPlace Midleton for starting us on this exciting new journey and look forward to welcoming new members from Midleton and surrounding areas.

Denis Ring and Liam Ruane from MyPlace Midleton joining with our shed members in giving a thumbs up on the site for our new shed

Categories: BanterCarrigtwohillMen’s ShedMidletonMusic – Posted on July 15, 2020

Music at Midleton Men’s Shed

We broke new ground yesterday afternoon (metaphorically speaking) when we had our first (and hopefully not last) socially distanced sing-song in the open air at our Men’s Shed in Carrigtwohill. (I know, Midleton Men’s shed in Carrigtwohill? That’s another story. )
As it was our first attempt at something like this, I was tentative and hopeful that it would be successful, and I’m delighted to say that it was a great success. To allow for the social distancing, we decided to sing outdoors in the lovely courtyard adjoining the shed, and luckily the weather remained favourable throughout. We did get one or two drops of rain at one stage, however nothing that would stop us from singing once we got started. We had some lovely songs and music for about an hour and a half. I heard lovely songs that I’d never heard before and old favourites that are sung regularly at sessions all over the country and beyond. We had one or two shy men also, and we’re hoping we might encourage them to sing with us the next time around. We might also encourage some of our other members who weren’t present yesterday to join us and sing or just have a listen.

Anyway, a successful afternoon, and I believe everyone present enjoyed the music and the banter. We even got some homework, we all have to have at least one song that we didn’t sing yesterday!!
So until the next one………

Categories:Uncategorized – Posted on July 1, 2020

It’s great to be back

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit the global population with a sledgehammer blow that no-one foresaw or could have foreseen. Overnight our lives were changed utterly, and in mid-march 2020 we underwent a ‘lockdown’. Overnight, our shed was closed indefinitely, and in an effort to stay connected – like the rest of the world – we resorted to virtual meetings using our computers and our phones. Not everyone has been able to join using these computer/phone meetings so had phone conversations in an effort to stay in touch.
It has been a difficult few months, however, the good news is that we have re-opened our doors (in a limited fashion and observing the HSE and IMSA guidelines on social distancing, coughing etiquette and hand sanitising) again.
For the coming weeks until things stabilise further we will open on Tuesdays and Fridays only. Our workshop will remain closed until further notice, however it may be possible to work on some projects in the open air during this time if we can do it while meeting the social distancing requirements.

It is truly great to be back.

Categories:East Cork JournalECJ Article Archives – Posted on December 5, 2019

East Cork Journal 25-Jan-2019

Busy week for Midleton ‘Shedders’

Day trip to Cork
On Friday January 18th a delegation from Midleton Men’s Shed attended a very important event at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City.  Towards the end of 2018 the Irish Men’s Shed Association were awarded the European Citizen’s Prize.  Since 2008, the European Parliament awards the European Citizen’s Prize every year to projects and initiatives that facilitate cross-border cooperation or promote mutual understanding within the EU.  Previous Irish winners include the GAA in 2013 and CoderDojo in 2017.

The Men’s Shed Association was nominated for the prize by Sean Kelly MEP and Deirdre Clune MEP both of whom were in attendance.
Mr. Kelly spoke about how delighted he was to Nominate the Men’s Shed movement and how doubly delighted he was that they won the prize.
Ms. Clune also expressed her delight that the Men’s Shed movement had won this prestigious prize, and praised in the highest terms the excellent work being done in facilitating over 400 sheds across the country to get up and running.  She also expressed her hopes that funding from the Government and from Europe could be secured for individual sheds and for the National association.
Mr. Barry Sheridan, CEO of the Irish Men’s Shed Association also spoke briefly, outlining the strong growth of the Men’s Shed movement in Ireland; In 2018 alone, more than 60 new sheds were established, an average of more than one every week.
The award was then presented to Mr. Sheridan by Mr. Kelly and Ms. Clune and that concluded the formalities of the event.

We were then entertained by the choirs from the Men’s Sheds from Carrigaline and Mayfield who were in great voice and we were all encouraged to join in the singing in the spirit of involvement that is key to the Men’s Shed ethos.
At this point, having worked up a thirst from listening and singing, refreshments were served and the shedders did some of the things they do best, chatted, drank tea and had the craic.

Launch Evening at Aghada Centre Theatre Group
Later the same evening some members attended the official launch of the Theatre Group’s 2019 musical, Nanny Poppins.  Our Men’s Shed Group are hugely grateful to be one of the beneficiaries from the show, and our Chairman was called upon to say a few words.  In related big news, one of our members has been auditioned and accepted and will make his stage debut in the show March.  We are very excited for him and we are sure he will be a huge asset to the group and the show.  More about this in the coming weeks.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us by email at:midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

ECJ Article Archives – Posted on December 5, 2019

East Cork Journal 18-Jan-2019

What to have in your Winter Driving Safety Kit

While we’ve been lucky with the settled spell of weather in recent weeks, we have seen in recent years that the coldest spells appear to come in the months of January to March. And even though we’re seeing a ‘stretch in the evenings’, it will be prudent and sensible to be prepared in advance of another ‘Beast from the and ensure that you and your car are winter-ready. As the old saying goes ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail,’ but what exactly should you stock in your car’s winter driving kit? We may not be able to predict the weather, but our checklist below should take the guesswork out of staying safe on the roads this winter.

Ice, Ice, Maybe

Ice on the roads & ice on the windscreen is most likely to be a factor early in the mornings, for this reason we recommend keeping an ice scraper and some de-icer in your car & drive to the conditions.

Save yourself a winter breakdown

Keep your Insurance cover info in your vehicle, or/member card handy. Ensure mobile phone is always charged up before trip. Keep hi-vis clothing, a torch and an emergency warning triangle in your car so that you can make yourself more visible to passing traffic if you must step out from your car.

Maybe its cold outside

For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep some warm clothes and potentially even a blanket/sleeping bag, in your car so that you can stay warm while waiting for roadside rescue team.

Food for thought

No-one likes being cold and/or hungry, so as silly as it may seem it can be a good idea to have some food in your winter emergency kit (we recommend something with a long-shelf life like a cereal bar along with a bottle or two of water to help keep you or your car hydrated depending on the circumstances. This is particularly important if you have a pre-existing medical condition which could be worsened by any significant length of time without food. We would also encourage motorists to keep a small amount of any medication that you need to take at regular intervals in the car, so that you are not left without if you find yourself stuck in your vehicle.

Fingers crossed you’ll never need to use your car’s winter safety kit, but it’s always a good idea to have one ready for the worst case scenario. While the above essentials are likely to be the most important items to include, if you still have room in your boot a small fire extinguisher, spare light bulbs, and even a first-aid kit could also be useful during the winter months. For the sake of 10 minutes and a small amount of cash, your winter kit could prove to be a life-saver.

                                           PREPARATION NOT REPARATION

Categories:ECJ Article Archives – Posted on December 5, 2019

East Cork Journal 11-Jan-2019

Remembering Pierce Smyth, Midleton Men’s Shed member.

It was with great sadness, after a long, hard-fought battle with his illness, that Pierce, better known to many of us as ‘The Perce’ and by his grand-children as Pe Pe, recently passed away.

Pierce was a gentleman, kind, caring, soft, outgoing, and polite. His smile would light up a room, and just loved being around people. A man who exuded extraordinary determination in everything he did, from sport, to how he battled his illness to the very end. Pierce never gave up, and even in his final hours he fought his hardest battle with extraordinary bravery, dignity and strength.

In addition to Pierce being a loving husband to Eileen, father to Damien, David & Robert, grandad, he was als a true friend.

Always very outgoing. and loved to be sociable, and the sporting highlights of his week would be, Midleton Rugby, cards at O’Meara’s and even a game of snap with his grand-kids! ‘The Perce’ liked to win at them all.

He loved going to the Men’s Shed, where he was an active member for several years, and was responsible for dragging me into joining.  Even if it was just for a coffee and a chat and the odd biscuit, he’d be there!

Pierce would be first there too, and as soon as we would arrive, he’d ask if we wanted a cuppa & a cookie, if there were any left! He did like his food!

On any other day, he’d head into town and meet up with his brother Ivor, who was always there for him, and happy to head to where they thought had the best toasted special or coffee.

Pierce worked as a salesman for Hanover for over 30 years until he retired, and his red van was a big feature in his family and sporting life; it was regularly seen at all the rugby matches country wide, sometimes serving as taxi, and changing room, and Pierce would be there, coaching his three sons before a game, the only things missing were a toilet & fireplace.

The Perce had a really competitive spirit. We knew him whilst playing at Midleton College and thereafter for Midleton Rugby Club and anyone who experienced his tackling – round the ankles – knew they had been tackled, a skill he passed onto his sons. A great pair of hands too.

It’s hard to believe that Pierce has passed on from us. He is now at peace.

Midleton Shedders will miss him. Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us by email at:midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:ECJ Article Archives – Posted on December 5, 2019

East Cork Journal 04-Jan-2019

New year, new hopes, new beginnings.

First of all can I take this opportunity to wish all of our readers and their families and friends a happy and healthy 2019.

New year is a time when people go ‘a bit mad’ with new resolutions; give up the cigarettes, give up the drink, cut back on the coffee, cut back the sugar in the tea etc etc.  You only have to look at the adverts on the television or listen to the radio and every second one is about weight loss food supplements or nicotine patches, and while these things are all good in their own way, sometimes we might be better off to take up something new rather than trying to give up things, or better still give up something that’s negatively affecting your life or health, and take up something that will help to improve it, and it doesn’t have to be something that costs a lot of money.  Things you can take up and that will cost you nothing more than your time are as follows:
Walking
: Walking is free, and walking briskly for 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week will improve your fitness, help towards a healthier heart, and may even help to dislodge those extra few pounds that arrived over the Christmas period. While there is a definite stretch in the evenings, please wear a hi-viz vest or carry a flashlight if you’re walking early in the mornings or in the evenings, it could save your life.
Reading. During 2018, the cost of library membership was removed, and since the start of this year fine for the late return of books was removed so you have no excuses for not joining your local library. Alternatively, for about €1 or €2 per book you can support local charities by buying a ‘previously loved’ book from one of the local charity shops in the area.

Volunteering.  There are many local organisations that are crying out for people to give an hour or two every week to help others in the area who need assistance.  I recently noted that Midleton Meals on Wheels were looking for drivers; this is a great way to give something back to society at little of no cost to ourselves.

Another option that won’t break the bank is to take up a new hobby or do a night course. St. Colman’s College Midleton offer a wide range of evening classes, with costs from €80 for an eight or ten week course.

Remember Oscar Wilde’s wise words: “Everything in moderation, including moderation”.

At Midleton Men’s Shed we also have hopes of new beginnings, and our primary focus in 2019 will be on making good progress on getting a shed for ourselves.  We will keep you informed on progress in future columns.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us by email at:midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:ECJ Article Archives – Posted on November 10, 2019

East Cork Journal 17-Dec-2018

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News

The Christmas Season, a dangerous time on our roads.

For many, Christmas is a season of celebration, and for some, the celebration seems to revolve around drinking.  Now the dangers of drinking are many, varied and well known, but at this time we want to emphasise the dangers, and illegality of drinking and driving. It has been proven time and again that any amount of alcohol will impair our driving and increases the risk of a collision. This is not an opinion it’s a scientific fact. Yet a minority of people in Ireland continue to drink and drive, making our roads less safe for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
Below are some important facts and figures you should be aware of as you head out to celebrate this Christmas Season.

A 2016 Road Safety Authority investigation into drink driving in Ireland found that alcohol was a factor in road deaths as follows:

  1. 38% of all driver deaths
  2. 30% of all motorcyclist deaths
  3. 47% of all pedestrian deaths
  4. 42% of all passenger deaths
  5. 86% of drivers and 51% of passengers not wearing seatbelt who had consumed alcohol were killed.

Both the time of our last drink at night and the number of drinks consumed will determine when it is safe to drive on the following day. It is vitally important to be aware that there could still be alcohol in our system the morning after a night of drinking. Almost half of all arrests for drink driving take place between midnight and 6.00am, while 1 in 10 arrests are made between 8.00am and 2.00pm, with a peak on Sundays.

Driving the morning after drinking.

  1. It takes the body one hour to process one standard drink, and there’s no quick fix. Common examples of one standard drink include a half pint of beer/ glass of wine (100ml) / pub measure of spirits (35.5ml).  It is also very important to keep this in mind if having drinks away from the pub environment where measures may be larger.
  2. There is nothing we can do to speed up the removal of alcohol from our systems. Common myths are that a big breakfast or drinking coffee or having a cold shower will sober us up, but these are simply not true and don’t work.

Our recommendation this Christmas season is to enjoy your celebrations, but simply Never Drink and Drive, and if you need to drive the next morning, don’t drink on the previous evening.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us by email at:midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:ECJ Article Archives – Posted on November 10, 2019East Cork Journal 10-Dec-2018

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News

We appear to be well and truly into the midst of the Christmas season now, and with less than two weeks to go until Christmas Day, it’s very easy to get caught up in the hype and commercialism that seems to begin earlier and grow in intensity every year.  I know that I definitely saw Christmas trees displayed in one of the large shops in Cork City as early as last August, and the towers of chocolates and biscuits were in many supermarkets from the first of November.
In the midst of all this hype and commercialism, it is very easy to forget that Christmas is not a time of joy for everyone.  Some may have lost a loved one around this time of year and for them, it’s a time of loss and sadness, and they can see little to celebrate.  Likewise, some people simply don’t have someone with whom to share the joys of the Christmas season, so for them the giving and receiving are not-existent and the loneliness is increased.
So what can we do?  Well, we can all check in on a neighbour or friend whom we know to be alone or having a tough time around Christmas.  Invite them out for a coffee or a pint, or just phone them for a chat.  Such a small thought from us can mean a huge amount for a friend or neighbour.

Exciting times.
As one of the very few ‘shedless’ Men’s Shed groups in Ireland, we are very excited and delighted that we are making some good progress on finally getting a shed for ourselves.  Obviously, the cornerstone of and Men’s Shed group has to be the shed, and while we’re delighted to have the use of the facilities at the Edmond Rice Centre every Friday for our meet-ups, it’s just not a shed!  We are absolutely delighted that Midleton Parish has given us the use of a site, and we are now proceeding with getting drawings finalised and working on getting planning permission.  While all of this is happening, our main task over the coming months will be fund-raising.  This is a huge job of work for our small group, and we hope the people and businesses from Midleton and surrounding areas will support us so we can support the community with more endeavours such as the Dam Easy floodgates we installed recently in several houses around the town.

Anti-Social Behaviour.
At our last meeting, we have a very good and wide-ranging discussion about Anti-Social Behaviour in the area.  It is disgraceful that elderly and infirm members of the community who are not in a position to defend themselves are preyed upon by young and not-so-young locals who appear to think nothing of banging on doors and windows of other people’s homes in the dead of night and scaring the occupants out of their wits.  In an effort to get a better understanding of this outrageous scourge on vulnerable people in the locality we have decided to ask the community garda to come to one of our meetings in the near future to discuss this worrying topic, and to explain if there is anything we as a group can do to help.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com 
Our new website is www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:ECJ Article Archives – Posted on November 10, 2019

East Cork Journal 02-Dec-2018

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News.

Our Man in Calcutta

Midleton Men’s Shed chairman Niall Coffey recently took on a significant challenge; he went on a sixteen-day volunteering visit to West Bengal in India.  After fundraising for the trip over the previous several months, Niall traveled with the Hope Foundation who support the street children of Calcutta through education and medical assistance.
During the first days of the trip which was made up mostly of volunteer work, Niall and the group spent time in the schools and crèches located in the slums of the city.  These children are taken from harrowing situations and given a lifeline through education.  Children are taken in from infanthood upwards and supported right up to when they are seventeen-year-olds, and even after that are assisted with finding work to maintain themselves.  Niall found the poverty these children are forced to survive in before they are rescued to be particularly difficult to stomach, but then on the flip-side, seeing young men and women, supported by the Hope Foundation from early childhood, finishing their education and finding work to live independently was hugely uplifting.
After the slums of Calcutta, the group then undertook the challenge of a charity walk in the foothills of the Himalayas.  They traveled to Sikkam province in Northern India and spent five days walking daily distances of up to eighteen kilometres at altitudes of seven thousand feet. Niall said the scenery was breath-taking, but the distances walked at that altitude were challenging.
Upon returning to Calcutta, Niall spent time on one of the Night Ambulances run by the Hope Foundation, where he experienced more harrowing scenes of abject poverty and deprivation.  He also, however, saw more of the fantastic work carried out by the Hope.  The Hope Foundation also has a fully-functioning hospital where Niall met with both fulltime Indian Doctors and volunteer doctors from Europe the US and many other parts of the world who were volunteering their time and expertise to this very worthy cause.
Niall’s highlight from the trip was seeing the fantastic work carried out by the Hope Foundation.
The lowlight: The mosquitoes.
More information on the great work done by the Hope Foundation can be found on www.hopefoundation.ie

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com 
Our new website is up and running at www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:ECJ Article Archives – Posted on November 10, 2019

East Cork Journal 26-Nov-2018

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News.

The dangers of working on your own.

We should all take account of situations where we work alone.  This is more important for retirees; cutting the lawn in sandals, using workshop equipment which may be as old as themselves – never serviced, carrying out electrical repairs, chopping firewood, etc. etc., no supervisor to enforce rules & safety measures, so what do we do?  Do we take a risk?  No-one is watching!

You take a chance and the chances are you’ll lose!!

We need to think about what we are going to do.  What could go wrong?  What can be done to prevent injuries?  Is help or advice needed?  If something goes wrong while we are alone and you cannot call anyone, does anyone know where we are?

We should never work alone if possible, and if that’s not possible, we must tell someone where we will be working, what time we expect to return, give them our phone number, and if we change location, let them know.

With our Men’s Shed we do everything with a minimum of two people, no matter what the circumstances.  There is safety in numbers.

Most farmers are ‘work-alone workers’, carrying out many hazardous tasks, and the work has to be done. Working long hours in various parts of the farm, feeding/dosing cattle, using heavy machinery, cutting up fallen trees, etc. etc.  A serious injury to the farmer means the farm comes to a virtual standstill.  It’s a hazardous occupation and the farmer must work responsibly.

There is plenty of help available for farmers; Teagasc, HSA newsletters, Farmers Journal, safety circulars for various operations, but action is required to stay safe.

The same assistance is available for retired people.  We can download a lot of useful information from the internet, and if we are not computer literate (many of us) we can just ask a friend or relation who can do this for us. That is why being a member of the local shed, (being a shedder), will give your loved ones peace of mind.  
At the shed, we share ideas, our issues, health & wellbeing, we talk about life, politics, family, and how best to do things as we grow older; it’s teamwork.

Look what the Irish Rugby team achieved recently against the number one team in the world through absolute teamwork. 

We have worked hard to get this far in our lives, now we deserve a good quality of life, we are not children any more.  We need to remain injury-free, relax, be safe.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com 
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Credit to East Cork Journal

Categories:ECJ Article Archives – Posted on November 7, 2019

East Cork Journal 19-Nov-2018

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News

Try a little kindness
As I sat down to write this report, a news article on the radio was reporting that today is World Kindness day.  This got me thinking that while it’s a good thing that we have a World Kindness Day, realistically everyday should be kindness day.  There are plenty of little sayings like ‘It’s nice to be nice’, or ‘It costs nothing to be nice’ and these are all very true, however I believe that in addition to not costing anything, there is a kindness dividend too. Every time we do something nice or kind for someone we know, or even someone we don’t know, we feel better about it too.  So can I suggest to you all that you actively carry out a ‘Random act of kindness’ for someone every day as you go about your business. If it’s only to hold a door open for someone as they pass through or pick up something that someone else has dropped, just do it. You’ll both feel better.

Dam Easy Flood Barriers
A few months back it was well reported locally that our Men’s Shed was giving something back to the community by installing ‘Dam Easy’ flood barriers at houses in the Midleton area that are particularly susceptible to flooding.  The recipients were delighted and hugely relieved to get these quick, easy to install devices to protect their homes from future flooding. The good news is we hope to be in a position to present and install another small batch of these barriers in the coming weeks, to other flood-prone households that meet the qualifying criteria.  As soon as we have definite dates for the arrival of the flood barriers we will make it known here and on our facebook and twitter pages. Our Men’s shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com 
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:ECJ Article Archives – Posted on November 7, 2019

East Cork Journal 12-Nov-2018

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News

We are delighted to be working with the Aghada Centre Theatre Group to make some of the stage props for their upcoming musical called Nanny Poppins. The group have already started rehearsals and plan to raise the curtains in Spring 2019.
We have already made some of the smaller props for the show and are also assisting with the transfer of other props from a theatre group in Thurles – who recently finished a run of this same show – and re-assembling these in Aghada. 

Get Winter-Ready
We saw the weather take a turn for the worse over the weekend, and this is a timely reminder that we all have a responsibility not only to look after our own bodily and mental wellbeing but also that of our neighbours around us in the community.  In recent days the government launched its Winter Ready programme, and they have assembled a good amount of very useful information that is available on their website www.winterready.ie   

Simple things you can do.
Have important contact numbers such as doctor, Gardaí, etc. where they are quickly and easily accessible
Always have a flashlight (with a charged battery) in an easily accessible location
You should always have your Eircode in an easily accessible location
*Know how to turn off the electricity, gas and water in your home

Flu Vaccine
In the Men’s Shed article here last week, the importance for men to get checked for prostate cancer was emphasised.  This week we are also promoting getting the flu vaccination, and not just for men.
Flu causes death and hospitalisation every year
You need to get the Flu Vaccine every year as the virus changes every year
The Flu vaccine contains killed viruses, so it cannot give you the flu
Healthy people can have flu without any obvious symptoms and unknowingly pass it on.
More information is available on www.hse.ie/flu

Our Men’s shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed@gmail.com  or by phone on 087-7677866

Categories:Uncategorized – Posted on November 7, 2019

Another little update

For almost a year now, thanks to the generosity of the people at The East Cork Journal, we have been lucky enough to have a news article in their weekly publication. Some have been updates on what has been happening in the men’s shed and we are delighted with the progress we’ve been making. Some articles have been information we considered to be suitable and useful for our men and the general public.

We have had a few enquiries from people recently about some of the old articles, so over the coming weeks, we will add the old articles to the website so you can have a look back over them if you wish.

Uncategorized – Posted on October 16, 2019

It’s been a while

We haven’t issued an update here for a while now, however, we haven’t gone away.  During that time we’ve been settling into our temporary accommodation in Carrig, and it’s working out great for us.  It’s such a pity that we don’t have this facility in Midleton.

During the summer the gardeners among us did super work, and we’ve all been enjoying scrumptious potatoes, peas and many other goodies fresh from the shed vegetable plot.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses who supported our fundraising letters we have been able to buy some tools for the workspace, and many of our members have been working on individual projects including making a house number from a piece of driftwood to refurbishing furniture to making a barn owl box and many other bits and pieces.  We are also thankful to Musgraves who have been very good to us with a great donation of biscuits to go with our teas and coffees, these are all very very much appreciated.

Categories:CarrigtwohillMen’s HealthMen’s ShedMidletonshedTemporary WorkshopUncategorized – Posted on June 7, 2019

Our ‘official’ opening in Carrig

Categories:CarrigtwohillEast Cork JournalmenMen’s HealthMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshedTemporary Workshop – Posted on May 1, 2019

Temporary Workshop Space in Carrigtwohill

We all know the world presents its challenges.  However, there’s good news out there too, if you look hard enough for it.  Apart from the lengthening evenings and (slightly) rising temperatures, we have received a share of good news for our Shed in the past week.  In the first instance, the number of members of the shed is increasing (although there is always room for more).  The variety of community activities in which we are involved is also increasing (although, again, we are always open to suggestions for us to get involved with other community activities).

Several of our Men’s Shed members attended the Nanny PopPpins show in the Aghada Community Centre on Saturday night, April 6th.  The show was spectacular, and our Men’s Shed are very proud to be associated with the show, even though the part we played (in assisting with the set & stage props) was modest by comparison to the scale of the entire production.  It was great fun and we would love to be involved with future productions.

As mentioned previously, we have commenced our classes in conversational Irish.  Some of the members are already fluent Irish speakers, which is a great help.  One of the shedders, Colm Ó’Catháin, is a former Irish school teacher and is facilitating the classes.  Our aim is to use a little Irish when we can, but not having Irish will not act as a barrier to existing or new members.  Nothing too serious, but you’d be amazed how quickly the “cúpla focal” would come back to you.

Finally, on the good news front, we have found a temporary home for our workshop.  We are very grateful to Father Bermingham in the Parish of Carrigtwohill who has made some disused stables available to us for the next 6 months or so.  At present we are assisting with clearing out the building & making it habitable.  We plan to ‘move in’ in the very near future.  This is a short-term measure only, as our real aim is to have our workshop/shed within walking distance of Midleton town centre.

It might appear odd that we are going to Carrigtwohill for a workshop.  However, despite our continuing best efforts to secure suitable premises in Midleton, and notwithstanding the very large amount of vacant property in the Midleton area, we have not been successful, yet.  We repeat our call for any landlords in the Midleton area to consider having the Midleton Men’s Shed as tenant.  Our requirement is for 1,500 square feet of space, or a greenfield site on which to build our own premises.  Tot be based in the heart of Midleton is our primary wish.

Our fund-raising efforts are going well.  We have had a good number of very generous donations from local businesses, to whom we wrote seeking support for which we are truly grateful.  We remind those who have received a letter, or those who did not, to consider making a donation if you have not already done so – our details are included below.  The funds will be used wisely for the shed & tools, when that emerges in the near future.  In the meantime, having a workshop space, albeit in Carrigtwohill for the moment, is great for us as It gives us a space to work on our short-term projects which we hope will in turn benefit the people of Midleton and further afield.

As we are fully committed to being based in Midleton, we will continue to hold our weekly meetings in the Edmond Rice Centre on Rosary Place on Friday mornings at 11 o’clock, until we secure our long-term solution of having our workshop based in Midleton.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.00 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us using any of the following methods:

Shed phone number: 083-4019739
email: midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MIdletonMensShed2018

Categories:East Cork JournalIrish Men’s Shed AssociationmenMen’s HealthMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on April 11, 2019

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News 14-Mar-2019

Isn’t there a grand stretch in the evenings all the same?

It has been another busy week for our shedders.  On Friday last we had a good discussion on progress or lack of progress in our search for a new shed.
We are in Fund-raising mode at the moment, and at present we are writing to businesses in the Midleton area requesting financial support.  Our members have been out and about in the area delivering our letters and thanks a million to them all for getting the job done and keeping our postal costs to the minimum. Thanks a million also to those who have responded positively already, and we hope more businesses will support us in the near future so that we can get involved in more community work around the area. The first batch of these letters were distributed this week, and we will have another batch being distributed in the coming week.  If you have a business that we have missed and wish to make a financial donation to Midleton Men’s Shed be it big or small, please contact us on any of the methods outlined at the end of this article and we will reply to you as quick as we can.

Thank you also for your continued support of us in the ‘Tesco Blue Tokens Scheme’ we’re delighted with the progress to date, but the scheme runs for eight weeks, so we need your blue tokens every time you shop in Tesco Midleton.

On Saturday night last, a group of our ‘night hawk’ members headed to Healy’s Bar in Rostellan to join with the Aghada Centre Theatre Group for a few pints and a sing song. Fair play to the Aghada gang, they had been rehearsing all day, but still managed to give renditions of several songs from their upcoming show Nanny PopPpins. I am reliably informed that someone sang a song about the amorous intentions of a short-sighted armadillo towards a concertina which was one of the highlights of the evening.  As they say, a great night had by all.  Liam, you have the patience of a saint, volunteering for driving duties on this occasion.

It was back to work in Aghada again on Tuesday Morning for the shedders.  With dress rehearsals now taking place at the weekends for Nanny PopPpins, we’re at the stage of putting the final finishing touches to the stage props, and we plan to be finished by next week.

We have been in contact with Conradh na Gaeilge regarding getting our conversational Irish classes up and running and we’ll let you know here when we have a start date.

If you have any queries about our Men’s Shed group, or suggestions for projects that we might be able to assist with please contact us on any of the methods below. Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us using any of the following methods:
Shed phone number: 083-4019739
email: midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MIdletonMensShed2018

Categories:East Cork JournalmenMen’s HealthMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on April 5, 2019

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News 07-Mar-2019

For the past several weeks we have been working hard on the stage props for Aghada Centre Theatre Group’s upcoming show, Nanny PopPpins.  There was quite a lot of work involved, from adapting some of the props to suit the size of the stage in Aghada Community Centre to making up some of the props from scratch.  It was a challenging and a rewarding experience, and we made lots of new friends; people who are volunteering serious amounts of time to get this show ready for the end of March. We’re getting close to the end of this project now and have gained a great insight into the workings behind the scenes, and more importantly the huge effort it takes to bring a show like this to fruition.  We are all looking forward to seeing the show, and have our tickets secured already.  If you want to get, they’re available online from https://www.gr8events.ie/aghadatheatre be quick though, they’re selling like hotcakes.

Our search for a shed continues. At present we are investigating a number of possibilities both for a short-term solution, and for a permanent home.  Hopefully we will have more news to report on this in the coming weeks, but if you can offer us any assistance in this regard, please contact us using any of the methods outlined below.

We will take delivery of another delivery of Dam Easy Flood doors in the next few weeks. If your home is in danger of flooding and you don’t have the means to purchase this flood protection, we may be able to assist you.  Please contact us using any of the methods outlined below to find out if you qualify.

We are aware that not everyone uses social media and email etc, so we have purchased a ‘shed phone’.  Our ‘shed phone’ number is 083-4019739.  If you have any questions or want to contact us regarding any shed related matter, please phone and leave a message including your number or text us.  We may not always answer immediately, but we will get back to you as quickly as we can.

We are planning to commence Conversational Irish Classes for our members in the coming weeks, and we hope to be able to make this available to non-members also.  Once we have finalised the details, we will share it here, and on our website/social media etc., but if you are interested let us know, and we can include you on the list.

Another project we plan to get involved with in the next few weeks is to commence regular trips to local beaches to conduct beach clean-ups.  We plan to start with Inch Beach and see how it goes from there.  We are very thankful to Cork County Council and Clean Coasts Ballynamona for their assistance with this endeavour Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us using any of the following methods:
Shed phone number: 083-4019739
email: midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MIdletonMensShed2018

Categories:East Cork JournalmenMen’s HealthMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidleton – Posted on March 18, 2019

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News, February 10th 2019

As we men approach the ‘silver’ or even the ‘golden’ years of 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond, it’s a great opportunity for us to take stock of our wellbeing and start living life at our own pace again. With the stresses of home and family life hopefully beginning to ease somewhat, now is a great time to shake off any bad lifestyle habits you may have picked up along the way and to ensure that you can continue living happily, healthily and independently for many years to come.

By taking control of our health as we get on in years, we can keep at bay some of the illnesses and conditions that become more common in our 50s, 60s and 70s.  It is so important to stay active, eat a healthy and balanced diet, keep our drinking under control and stay in regular contact with our GP.  Taking these simple and positive steps will reduce our risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, arthritis and more.

Positive steps for taking care of our health

  1. Only thirty minutes of moderate physical activity per day, for 5 days of the week can help to keep our bodies trim, fit and healthy.  A brisk walk, a swim or a bicycle ride are all simple ways to do this. It’s never too late to start, and it’s fine to work at your own pace.  It’s not a competition.
  2. We should stay sharp and alert by challenging our brains; learning new things, reading books, taking up new hobbies, or just doing crossword or sudoku puzzles, and staying in touch with people whose company we enjoy.  Banter is brilliant!
  3. We all need to stay connected with friends and family members. We must not allow ourselves to become isolated. Many older men find men’s sheds the ideal place to make new friends, pass on skills and fill their days with laughter and good company.
  4. We all need to schedule regular appointments with our GP. This will allow us to have certainty regarding our health, as well as to review any conditions we may have developed and any medications and vaccinations we might require.
  5. Many of us enjoy a drink or two, and the camaraderie and the craic in the pub is almost part of our heritage it seems, but it’s important that if we drink, that we do so moderately, and allow three alcohol-free days every week.
  6. The importance of sleep cannot be over emphasised.  It is vitally important that we all get enough sleep.  Sleeping patterns can often change as we get older, but good sleep is vital for good health, and that’s not just for us older guys, that’s for everyone.

Don’t forget, our local pharmacists are also healthcare professionals, and in many cases can assist us very quickly with many of our health concerns.  They can offer information about treatments, explanations on medications as well as a range of services such as flu vaccinations etc.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us by email at:midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:East Cork JournalIrish Men’s Shed AssociationmenMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshedwinterWinter Driving – Posted on February 25, 2019

What to have in your Winter Driving Safety Kit

As we have seen in the last week, at this time of the year the weather can turn cold very quickly, and even though we’re seeing a ‘stretch in the evenings’, it will be prudent and sensible to be prepared in advance of another ‘Beast from the East or similar, and ensure that you and your car are winter-ready. As the old saying goes ‘if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail’.
But what exactly should you stock in your car’s winter driving kit? We may not be able to predict the weather, but our checklist below should take the guesswork out of staying safe on the roads this winter.

Ice, Ice, Maybe

Ice on the roads & ice on the windscreen is most likely to be a factor early in the mornings, for this reason we recommend keeping an ice scraper and some de-icer in your car & drive to the conditions.

Save yourself a winter breakdown

Keep your Insurance cover info in your vehicle, or/member card handy. Ensure mobile phone is always charged up before trip. Keep hi-vis clothing, a torch and an emergency warning triangle in your car so that you can make yourself more visible to passing traffic if you must step out from your car.

Maybe its cold outside

For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep some warm clothes and potentially even a blanket/sleeping bag, in your car so that you can stay warm while waiting for roadside rescue team.

Food for thought

No-one likes being cold and/or hungry, so as silly as it may seem it can be a good idea to have some food in your winter emergency kit (we recommend something with a long-shelf life like a cereal bar along with a bottle or two of water to help keep you or your car hydrated depending on the circumstances. This is particularly important if you have a pre-existing medical condition which could be worsened by any significant length of time without food. We would also encourage motorists to keep a small amount of any medication that you need to take at regular intervals in the car, so that you are not left without if you find yourself stuck in your vehicle.

Fingers crossed you’ll never need to use your car’s winter safety kit, but it’s always a good idea to have one ready for the worst case scenario. While the above essentials are likely to be the most important items to include, if you still have room in your boot a small fire extinguisher, spare light bulbs, and even a first-aid kit could also be useful during the winter months. For the sake of 10 minutes and a small amount of cash, your winter kit could prove to be a life-saver.

                                           PREPARATION NOT REPARATION

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us by email at: midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:East Cork JournalIrish Men’s Shed AssociationmenMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on February 18, 2019

Busy Week for Midleton Shedders

Day trip to Cork
On Friday January 18th a delegation from Midleton Men’s Shed attended a very important event at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City.  Towards the end of 2018 the Irish Men’s Shed Association were awarded the European Citizen’s Prize.  Since 2008, the European Parliament awards the European Citizen’s Prize every year to projects and initiatives that facilitate cross-border cooperation or promote mutual understanding within the EU.  Previous Irish winners include the GAA in 2013 and CoderDojo in 2017.

The Men’s Shed Association was nominated for the prize by Sean Kelly MEP and Deirdre Clune MEP both of whom were in attendance.
Mr. Kelly spoke about how delighted he was to Nominate the Men’s Shed movement and how doubly delighted he was that they won the prize.
Ms. Clune also expressed her delight that the Men’s Shed movement had won this prestigious prize, and praised in the highest terms the excellent work being done in facilitating over 400 sheds across the country to get up and running.  She also expressed her hopes that funding from the Government and from Europe could be secured for individual sheds and for the National association.
Mr. Barry Sheridan, CEO of the Irish Men’s Shed Association also spoke briefly, outlining the strong growth of the Men’s Shed movement in Ireland; In 2018 alone, more than 60 new sheds were established, an average of more than one every week.
The award was then presented to Mr. Sheridan by Mr. Kelly and Ms. Clune and that concluded the formalities of the event.

We were then entertained by the choirs from the Men’s Sheds from Carrigaline and Mayfield who were in great voice and we were all encouraged to join in the singing in the spirit of involvement that is key to the Men’s Shed ethos.
At this point, having worked up a thirst from listening and singing, refreshments were served and the shedders did some of the things they do best, chatted, drank tea and had the craic.

Launch Evening at Aghada Centre Theatre Group
Later the same evening some members attended the official launch of the Theatre Group’s 2019 musical, Nanny Poppins.  Our Men’s Shed Group are hugely grateful to be one of the beneficiaries from the show, and our Chairman was called upon to say a few words.  In related big news, one of our members has been auditioned and accepted and will make his stage debut in the show March.  We are very excited for him and we are sure he will be a huge asset to the group and the show.  More about this in the coming weeks.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre, and we welcome new members.
If you would like more information you can contact us by email at:midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
or have a look at our website: www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:East Cork JournalmenMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonObituary – Posted on February 1, 2019

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News

Categories:Anti-social BehaviourChristmasEast Cork JournalmenMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidleton – Posted on January 10, 2019

First post of 2019

Christmas Time……

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News

We appear to be well and truly into the midst of the Christmas season now, and with less than two weeks to go until Christmas Day, it’s very easy to get caught up in the hype and commercialism that seems to begin earlier, and grow in intensity every year.  I know that I definitely saw Christmas trees displayed in one of the large shops in Cork City as early as last August, and the towers of chocolates and biscuits were in many supermarkets from the first of November.
In the midst of all this hype and commercialism it is very easy to forget that Christmas is not a time of joy for everyone.  Some may have lost a loved one around this time of year and for them it’s a time of loss and sadness, and they can see little to celebrate.  Likewise, some people simply don’t have someone with whom to share the joys of the Christmas season, so for them the giving and receiving are not-existent and the loneliness is increased.
So what can we do?  Well, we can all check in on a neighbour or friend whom we know to be alone or having a tough time around Christmas.  Invite them out for a coffee or a pint, or just phone them for a chat.  Such a small thought from us can mean a huge amount for a friend or neighbour.

Exciting times.
As one of the very few ‘shedless’ Men’s Shed groups in Ireland, we are very excited and delighted that we are making some good progress on finally getting a shed for ourselves.  Obviously, the cornerstone of and Men’s Shed group has to be the shed, and while we’re delighted to have the use of the facilities at the Edmond Rice Centre every Friday for our meet-ups, it’s just not a shed!  We are absolutely delighted that Midleton Parish have given us the use of a site, and we are now proceeding with getting drawings finalised and working on getting planning permission.  While all of this is happening, our main task over the coming months will be fund-raising.  This is a huge job of work for our small group, and we hope the people and businesses from Midleton and surrounding areas will support us so we can support the community with more endeavours such as the Dam Easy floodgates we installed recently in several houses around the town.

Anti-Social Behaviour.
At our last meeting we have a very good and wide-ranging discussion about Anti-Social Behaviour in the area.  It is disgraceful that elderly and infirm members of the community who are not in a position to defend themselves are preyed upon by young and not-so-young locals who appear to think nothing of banging on doors and windows of other people’s homes in the dead of night, and scaring the occupants out of their wits.  In an effort to get a better understanding of this outrageous scourge on vulnerable people in the locality we have decided to ask the community garda to come to one of our meetings in the near future to discuss this worrying topic, and to explain if there is anything we as a group can do to help.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com 
Our new website is www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

East Cork JournalmenMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on December 27, 2018

Our Man in Calcutta

Midleton Men’s Shed chairman Niall Coffey recently took on a significant challenge; he went on a sixteen-day volunteering visit to West Bengal in India.  After fundraising for the trip over the previous several months, Niall travelled with the Hope Foundation who support the street children of Calcutta through education and medical assistance.
During the first days of the trip which was made up mostly of volunteer work, Niall and the group spent time in the schools and crèches located in the slums of the city.  These children are taken from harrowing situations and given a lifeline through education.  Children are taken in from infanthood upwards, and supported right up to when they are seventeen-year-olds, and even after that are assisted with finding work to maintain themselves.  Niall found the poverty these children are forced to survive in before they are rescued to be particularly difficult to stomach, but then on the flip-side, seeing young men and women, supported by the Hope Foundation from early childhood, finishing their education and finding work to live independently was hugely uplifting.

A person with a beard and a hat in front of trees and mountains

Description automatically generated with low confidenceNiall with the Himalayas in the background


After the slums of Calcutta, the group then undertook the challenge of a charity walk in the foothills of the Himalayas.  They travelled to Sikkam province in Northern India, and spent five days walking daily distances of up to eighteen kilometres at altitudes of seven thousand feet. Niall said the scenery was breath-taking, but the distances walked at that altitude were challenging.
Upon returning to Calcutta, Niall spent time on one of the Night Ambulances run by the Hope Foundation, where he experienced more harrowing scenes of abject poverty and deprivation.  He also however saw more of the fantastic work carried out by the Hope.  The Hope Foundation also has a fully-functioning hospital where Niall met with both fulltime Indian Doctors and volunteer doctors from Europe the US and many other parts of the world who were volunteering their time and expertise to this very worth cause.
Niall’s highlight from the trip was seeing the fantastic work carried out by the Hope Foundation.
The lowlight: The mosquitoes.
More information on the great work done by the Hope Foundation can be found on www.hopefoundation.ie

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com 
Our new website is up and running at www.midletonmensshed.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:East Cork JournalmenMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on December 17, 2018

East Cork Journal Weekly News 29-Nov-2018

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News.

The dangers of working on your own.

We should all take account of situations where we work alone.  This is more important for retirees; cutting the lawn in sandals, using workshop equipment which may be as old as themselves – never serviced, carrying out electrical repairs, chopping firewood etc. etc., no supervisor to enforce rules / safety measures, so what do we do?  Do we take a risk?  No-one is watching!

You take a chance and the chances are you’ll lose!!

We need to think about what we are going to do.  What could go wrong?  What can be done to prevent injuries?  Is help or advice needed?  If something goes wrong while we are alone and you cannot call anyone, does anyone know where we are?

We should never work alone if possible, and if that’s not possible, we must tell someone where we will be working, what time we expect to return, give them our phone number, and if we change location, let them know.

With our Men’s Shed we do everything with a minimum of two people, no matter what the circumstances.  There is safety in numbers.

Most farmers are ‘work-alone workers’, carrying out many hazardous tasks, and the work has to be done. Working long hours in various parts of the farm, feeding/dosing cattle, using heavy machinery, cutting up fallen trees etc. etc.  A serious injury to the farmer means the farm comes to a virtual standstill.  It’s a hazardous occupation and the farmer must work responsibly.

There is plenty of help available for farmers; Teagasc, HSA newsletters, Farmers Journal, safety circulars for various operations, but action is required to stay safe.

The same assistance is available for retired people.  We can download a lot of useful information from the internet, and if we are not computer literate (many of us) we can just ask a friend or relation who can do this for us. That is why being a member of the local shed, (being a shedder), will give your loved ones peace of mind.
At the shed, we share ideas, our issues, health & wellbeing, we talk about life, politics, family, and how best to do things as we grow older; it’s teamwork.

Look what the Irish Rugby team achieved recently against the number one team in the world through absolute teamwork.

We have worked hard to get this far in our lives, now we deserve a good quality of life, we are not children any more.  We need to remain injury free, relax, be safe.

Our Men’s Shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018

Categories:East Cork JournalmenMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on December 11, 2018

East Cork Journal Weekly Column 22-Nov-2018

Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News

Try a little kindness
As I sat down to write this report, a news article on the radio was reporting that today is World Kindness day.  This got me thinking that while it’s a good thing that we have a World Kindness Day, realistically everyday should be kindness day.  There are plenty of little sayings like ‘It’s nice to be nice’, or ‘It costs nothing to be nice’ and these are all very true, however I believe that in addition to not costing anything, there is a kindness dividend too. Every time we do something nice or kind for someone we know, or even someone we don’t know, we feel better about it too.  So can I suggest to you all that you actively carry out a ‘Random act of kindness’ for someone every day as you go about your business. If it’s only to hold a door open for someone as they pass through or pick up something that someone else has dropped, just do it. You’ll both feel better.

Dam Easy Flood Barriers
A few months back it was well reported locally that our Men’s Shed was giving something back to the community by installing ‘Dam Easy’ flood barriers at houses in the Midleton area that are particularly susceptible to flooding.  The recipients were delighted and hugely relieved to get these quick, easy to install devices to protect their homes from future flooding. The good news is we hope to be in a position to present and install another small batch of these barriers in the coming weeks, to other flood-prone households that meet the qualifying criteria.  As soon as we have definite dates for the arrival of the flood barriers we will make it known here and on our facebook and twitter pages.

Dam Easy Installation

Our Men’s shed group meets weekly at 11.30 on Friday mornings in the Edmond Rice Centre.  We welcome new members, and if you would like more information you can contact us by email at midletonmensshed2018@gmail.com
We are also on social media as follows:
Twitter: @MensMidleton
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MidletonMensShed2018
www.Midletonmensshed.com

Categories:Men’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on December 6, 2018

Categories:menMen’s ShedMen’s Shed NewsMidletonshed – Posted on November 27, 2018

Give a little – It will help a lot

For years this slogan, “Give a little, it would help a lot” has been on posters and radio and television adverts and at different times of year it wase seen and heard more often than at other times. In my memory, one of the times was Christmas, and even though I mightn’t have seen or heard it for several years, I was reminded of it last evening.
Nowadays there’s a lot of talk of secularism and the loss of spirituality in society, people may have turned away from the church for a variety of reasons, but they still have a lot of love and giving in their hearts.
This was driven home to me as I went to my local blood clinic to make a donation. It had been over a year since I last gave blood, for no particularly good reason, probably the time they were in the area didn’t suit me or maybe I didn’t know about it, however I was made aware of their being in the area this time, so no excuses.
The clinic in Midleton was scheduled to begin at 5pm, so I decided I’d get in early and avoid the crowds, however as I walked through the doors, I saw at least 20 people in front of me who all had exactly the same idea.

For a moment my heart sunk, but then I copped on and saw how brilliant this was. On a dark November evening a crowd of volunteers had gathered to donate their blood to help save someone else’s life, and I was fortunate and privileged to be able to do do this. I joined the queue, and there was banter and talk of the weather and the queue, all in good spirits, and once the queue started moving, it progressed quickly. All the while people were joining the queue, arriving after busy days at work, and still willing to take the time to give of themselves in the most literal and practical of ways.
At each stage of the process from check-in to blood test, to transfusion to refreshments, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service Personnel were genuinely thankful to all of us for making the effort.
As I left the blood centre, walking into the wind and rain, I was energised by the amount of goodness that exists in society. Much of the time, we only hear bad news in the media, however there is plenty of goodness and love and good people all around us everyday. People doing good and not broadcasting it.  I fully understand that not everyone is in a position to give blood for a variety of very valid reasons, and I’m sure they have their own ways of giving, quietly, just as the blood donors I encountered in Midleton last evening.
Our Men’s shed is a little bit like this, men getting together in a safe environment to help each other. Through chatting and working on projects we build self confidence, learn new skills and with the synergies created from combining life experience and wisdom, we can help each other to acquire the knowledge to improve mental wellness and in doing so improve all of our lives in small or not so small ways.

Categories:International Men’s DayMen’s Shed News – Posted on November 23, 2018

International Men’s Day 2018

On Monday November 19th, International Men’s Day was celebrated around the world… apparently,  I came across it almost by accident on social media,and I only heard a single mention of it in the mainstream media, from a guest on Brendan O’Connor’s television programme on Wednesday November 21st, two days after the event.

The objectives of International Men’s Day are as follows:

  1. To promote positive male role models; not just movie stars and sports men but every day, working class men who are living decent, honest lives.
  2. To celebrate men’s positive contributions to society, community, family, marriage, child care, and to the environment.
  3. To focus on men’s health and wellbeing; social, emotional, physical and spiritual.
  4. To highlight discrimination against men; in areas of social services, social attitudes and expectations, and law
  5. To improve gender relations and promote gender equality
  6. To create a safer, better world; where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential.

I have to say I’ve never heard of International Men’s Day before this week, but as a member of Midleton Men’s Shed, I see a lot of commonality between the aims of our shed and the objectives above, and the absolute importance of celebrating this day.

I will be discussing this with my fellow shedders at our next meeting to ensure we organise an event next year to celebrate this most important day.

Categories:East Cork JournalMen’s Shed News – Posted on November 19, 2018

New weekly column in the East Cork Journal

We are very thankful to the East Cork Journal for the opportunity to have a ‘Midleton Men’s Shed Weekly News’ published in this popular regional newspaper.  The first article was published on Thursday November 15th.

The column gives us a chance to let the people of Midleton and surrounds know what us ‘shedders’ are doing, in terms of local projects or progress with our shed or any other nuggets of wisdom we can pass on that might be of benefit locally.