Multy Menshed
The Men’s Shed movement originally started in Australia, with the first Men’s Shed in Ireland being formed in Tipperary in 2009.
Multyfarnham Men’s Shed was founded in 2016.
Originally based in a Portakabin beside Multyfarnham Community Centre,​ a national lottery grant was received to install electricity to the Portakabin.
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The members took on the task of making large wooden flower planters for Multyfarnham Tidy Towns, to adorn our beautiful village.
With the permission of the owner, work began on clearing out the derelict Powerhouse building behind the Friary, including some external site clearance, but due to the enormity of the task, further works were deferred.
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The Portakabin was relocated due to site works. Unfortunately, the weekly meetings ceased for a good period, due to loss of members.
Westmeath Men’s shed held a networking day in the Community Centre in June 2019.
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A few new members were recruited for Multy Men’s Shed, and in late June an AGM was held to elect a new committee.
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With the permission of the owners, work restarted in restoration of the derelict Powerhouse building in Abbeyland, which was originally part of the Francican Friary & Multyfarnham Agricultural College.
Monthly meetings were held, lots of crafts were made for the Christmas Market, and as we turned into 2020, Covid arrived. Meetings were paused, but contact was maintained by whatsap and text, and lots of email support from the Irish Men’s Shed Association during the entire Covid restrictions.
We undertook overgrown Ivy removal from the stonewall down past St.Cremin’s school, within Covid distance guidelines. It was a great success, in that the ivy was removed, and we all got to socialize during the Covid pandemic.
As part of the re-energised Multy Men’s Shed, we commenced weekly music sessions in the Portakabin. This brought in new members. Some played music and sung songs, some recited poetry, and some just enjoyed the music and joined in. We currently have 13 musicians, who play every second Tuesday.
Our musicians have entertained at some of the Active Retirement functions, also Portiuncla Nursing Home, in the Alzheimers Day Care unit and at the Lake Holiday Park after our Tractor Run fundraisers.
We continued with the Powerhouse restoration – a new roof was installed by the owners, and the lean to was fully refurbished by the members.
We vacated the portakabin, and moved into the Powerhouse in late 2021.
At present we meet weekly in the Powerhouse on Tuesday’s
from 7pm-9pm. We hope to extend our opening days in the New Year.
Whilst we continue with refurbishment work, we currently undertake carpentry, craft making and furniture upcycling, which we plan to sell at the upcoming Christmas Market in the Community Centre.
No matter what works are being undertaken, we always stop and make time for tea, coffee, refreshments and a chat.
On 19th November, the Irish Men’s Shed Association, set a Guinness World record for the most number of working kettles in one place - 1089 kettles.
This was to stress the importance of the kettle in our (Mens Shed ) society.
Our email details are : multymenshed@gmail.com if you would like any more information about Multyfarnham Men’s Shed.