Kildare Men's Shed finds its 'forever home'

Maynooth Men’s Shed in Kildare has officially found its new permanent home thanks to strong community collaboration between TD Naoise Ó Cearúil, Cllr Donna Phelan and Maynooth Town Football Club, and the work of Labour councillor, Angela Feeney.

The Men’s Shed will now be based at Maynooth Town FC, where they will have access to a warm and welcoming meeting room for their gatherings.

The next step will be to install a dedicated workshop unit on the club grounds, giving members a fully equipped space to continue their invaluable work.

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While Kildare County Council was unable to accommodate the group directly, due to underdeveloped zoned lands in the town, they have made a commitment to fund the new workshop, something both representatives are now working to deliver.

“I’m thrilled we could secure a permanent home for the Men’s Shed,” Cllr Phelan said.

“As a proud member of Maynooth Town FC myself, I see every day the amazing work the club does for our young people, and this partnership shows that same generosity now extending to another vital part of our community.”

Deputy Ó Cearúil added that this outcome is “a testament to what can be achieved when community groups and public representatives come together with a shared goal.”

Earlier this month, Labour councillor Angela Feeney tabled a motion at a meeting of Clane Maynooth Municipal District, calling on the council to support Maynooth Men's Shed in securing a new premises in Kildare.

Cllr Angela Feeney explained to members of the Clane Maynooth MD on Friday, October 3 that Maynooth Men's Shed has operated from a portacabin for the last seven years.

In that time, she said, they have carried out “fantastic work”, with the work they carry out for the community being “just amazing.”

This is a really vital service, said Cllr Feeney, who pointed to the benefits of the Men's Shed, from socialization for members to promoting positive mental health.

Cllr Feeney explained that the members were given a week to remove their workshop tools, that they are now without a workshop and are very restricted when it comes to undertaking any activities.

Cllr Feeney said she appreciated the response from the council, but it was “vital” for the Men's Shed to be able to continue to provide a valuable service to the local community.

Noting that members of Maynooth Men's Shed were present in the public gallery, Cllr Feeney said this clearly demonstrated how important the group is to them.

She added that it highlighted once again the “huge need” for a community centre for the town of Maynooth.

Because there is no community centre, she said, the Men's Shed simply had “nowhere to go.”

She urged the council to work towards finding a resolution to the problem, and pointed out the “huge loss” that would be suffered if the Men's Shed were left without a premises.