Castlebar Men’s Shed enjoy productive year despite lockdown
DESPITE being closed from last March due to the pandemic, Castlebar Men’s Shed committee took advantage of the lockdown to carry out improvements at their premises in the old workshop at the rear of the GMIT campus.
A number of skilled members have been involved in the work, with some significant improvements carried out.
Over the course of the year old kitchen presses have been replaced, the kitchen floor and walls have been tiled, and new appliances have been installed, while walls and ceiling have been repainted.
The toilet area has also been tiled and painted. The meeting room, too, has been repainted.
The outside courtyard has been partly covered so members can work and socialise outside.
Despite the restrictions, the work was carried out in an atmosphere of fun, craic and general camaraderie.
It's not all about work! Exercise machines have been donated to the shed to keep the members fit and well.
All this work has been carried out while strictly adhering to current Covid-19 health regulations. The committee has ensured everybody entering the shed has their temperature taken and wears a mask. Posters and floor markings supplied by the IMSA (Irish Men’s Shed Association) are in place and sanitisers are provided on entry.
During lockdown, shed members kept in contact with each other through a telephone buddy arrangement.
Earlier in the year, members organised a tea morning and raised money for Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
A shave-off was organised in September where two members grew their beards from March to September and much needed funds were raised for Castlebar Voluntary Social Services.
More recently, members of Castlebar Men’s Shed organised parking and traffic control at an outdoor music session at Cuan Catriona Nursing Home in Castlebar.
The shed also donated a number of bird boxes to Castlebar Tidy Town Committee.
Castlebar Men’s Shed is ready to roll when they get the word to re-open.
Members are looking forward to resuming singing under the baton of the wonderful Sr. Mary Johnson and regularly performing for residents of local nursing homes. They will also resume their weekly ceili-house music/recitation sessions as well as engaging in activities with other community groups for the betterment of the community at large.
In the meantime, members go walking weekly on Thursday mornings, when guidelines allow. They also hold a weekly quiz on Skype every Friday evening. A shed WhatsApp group has been set up so members can keep in touch and they have received training in organising Zoom meetings so they can arrange to meet online.
Hopefully they will soon be back doing what the shed is all about - chatting with friends, where the most important piece of equipment is the kettle.