Naas Men's Shed hosting wide range of activities this weekend following successful fundraising concert which raised €3,000

By Kim O'Leary

Naas Men’s Shed is calling for support from members of the public this coming weekend as it prepares to host a Flag Day to raise funds as well as to attract new members to the group.

Naas Men’s Shed was set up in April 2014 by Cllr Seamie Moore, and local men Jim O’Reilly and Gerry Laheen to encourage men who are at retirement age or who may have suffered a bereavement to socialise with one another.

Speaking to KildareNow, Norman Farrell of Naas Men's Shed, said: “On Saturday and Sunday (7th & 8th of July) we are holding a Flag Day with plenty of activities starting from 8am-9am each day. Naas Men’s Shed was founded in 2014 as it was felt that there wasn’t enough for men to do and the group started with just 2 or 3 members and it now has 43 members. We have tea at 11am and we meet up six days a week at our premises at Rathasker Road in Naas.”

The Naas branch is located at Clough, Rathasker Road, Naas, and it features a renovated workshop building and gardens at the rear, with a newly fitted kitchen and many of the members have assisted with electricity and setting up shelves. Naas Men’s Shed also acquired polytunnels so that members can enjoy gardening all year round.

Also, many of the Naas branch’s members are gifted musicians and they recently put their skills to good use with a fundraising concert at The Osprey Hotel on June 22, with the concert having successfully raised €3,000 on the night.

Speaking about the successful concert, Norman said: “The concert was a culmination of massive effort from our members as they raised €3,000 on the night. Naas Men’s Shed is providing a great service to elderly men living in Co Kildare from different persuasions who may not belong to a club or do Golf. We talk about a wide range of topics from men’s health, the recent Kildare v Mayo GAA match, and politics as well. It’s great for the men to have socially.”

The Men's Shed, Naas is part of a rapidly-growing network of more than 250 across the country with similar groups in Newbridge, Athy, Clane and Rathangan.

For more information about Naas Men’s Shed visit http://menssheds.ie/