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:[email protected]
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