Mens Shed patron in Australia amazed by movements growth here

An academic researcher who contributed significantly to the growth of the Mens Shed movement in Australia where it all began has admitted to being highly impressed by the growth of the organisation in Ireland.

The remarkable growth of the movement in Ireland in the past five years has been such that we now have more outlets per head of population than Australia, the country which came up with the idea in the mid-1990s to improve the overall health of its males.

There are 1,200 sheds Down Under compared to 230 in Ireland, according to George Kelly, chairman of the Irish Mens Sheds Association.

Apart from an obvious need for places to which men with time on their hands could go, he said, co-operation between individual sheds was important. Theres a great support network throughout Ireland, Mr Kelly said.

While each shed is an independent entity, they network with each other, help with problem-solving, and share experiences.

Associate professor Barry Golding, patron of the movement in Australia, recently visited Ireland and noted that sheds here differ markedly from others internationally because of their community links.

Sheds in Ireland are already very well networked in contrast to other countries, said Prof Goulding, who who has dedicated much to the shed movement and is renowned internationally among shedders.

An experienced researcher in adult, vocational and community education, he is the author of a NCVER publication, Mens Sheds in Australia: Learning through community contexts, which has been one of the most valuable tools and most common references for those initiating a mens shed project.

He conceded: Ireland has a history of community development which we dont have in Australia. Youve got community agency at grassroots level and its beautiful.

Finding a suitable premises and then paying rent can, however, create difficulties in some areas.

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Mens Shed patron in Australia amazed by movements growth here