TG4 covers the Men’s Shed movement in new Irish language series
Date Posted: May 23, 2023
In a new four-part Irish Language Broadcast Fund series, Men’s Sheds covers a year in the life of ten sheds right across the country, as they open their doors and introduce us to their members. Featuring sheds in Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Armagh, Dundalk and Dublin, the programme highlights the characters who belong to the sheds and the wide range of activities they do, from woodworking in Dundalk, online learning in Gaoth Dobhair, working out in Cahersiveen, beekeeping in Falcarragh, and vegetable growing in Corr na Móna, amongst many others. Produced by Macha Media, Men’s Sheds begins on Thursday 25th May at 8pm on TG4.
After two difficult years coping with the Covid 19 pandemic The Men’s Shed movement in Ireland has bounced back and is making a great impact once again on the lives of thousands. A sanctuary for men of all ages, providing company, friendship and support, the Men’s Sheds offer a welcome social outlet for members throughout Ireland.
The series is an emotional rollercoaster which follows the personal stories of men across all four provinces, in rural and in urban centres alike. With heart-warming stories of post-covid reopening, caring for the environment and supporting local communities, as well as poignant personal accounts of issues around mental health, family life, cancer, loneliness and loss, this observational documentary series sheds light on the significant positive role played by the Men’s Sheds for male health and well-being, especially in a society emerging from the Covid lockdowns.
Aodh Mac Fhloinn, a committee member of the Rosses Men’s shed based in Mín na Manrach outside Dungloe, took early retirement to become a full-time carer for his daughter Eibhlín, who was born with Down syndrome and diagnosed with autism. Aodh highlights the important role of the shed for men’s mental well-being: “I was initially reluctant to join, but since I started helping in the shed, I haven’t looked back since. I realised that it was great for my own well-being. When I’m in the shed, I don’t think of what’s going on at home, bills or anything like that. It’s my own personal space.”
In Ballybrack, south Dublin, the Men’s Shed has a unique focus on mental health as Mark Larkin, shed coordinator explains: “It just so happened that the type of lads we had here were isolated socially and had no confidence in themselves. Somehow, they come here, and they realise and understand that they’re the same as everyone else. They end up getting that confidence and getting to know their community and by going out doing bits of work, suddenly they become part of their community.”
The shed has become a lifeline for men in the community who suffer from depression and anxiety. Member, Brian Connolly makes the shed’s impact on his life very clear: “If it wasn’t for the shed I wouldn’t be here today.” Many of his fellow members nod in agreement.
The story of the Men’s Shed movement, as portrayed in this stirring four-part series, is one of friendship, trust, sharing and support, a story of companionship and compassion. The series provides a refreshing insight into men’s mental health issues and it will evoke and inspire, as we follow the personal journeys and projects carried out by the many characters of Ireland’s men’s sheds, who work and socialise ‘shoulder to shoulder’.
I sraith nua ceithre-chlár de chuid an Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge, tugann ‘Men’s Sheds’ léargas ar clár imeachtaí na bliana i ndeich scioból ar fud na tíre, agus iad ag oscailt na ndoirse agus ag cur a gcuid ball in aithne dúinn. Agus seideanna ar an tsraith ó Dhún na nGall, ó Ghaillimh, ó Chiarraí, ó Ard Mhacha, ó Dhún Dealgan agus ó Bhaile Átha Cliath, tugann an tsraith ardán do na carachtair a bhíonn sna seideanna agus réimse leathan na ngníomhaíochtaí a bhíonn ar siúl acu, ó adhmadóireacht i nDún Dealgan, foghlaim ar líne i nGaoth Dobhair, aclaíocht i gCathair Saidhbhín, beacaireacht ar an Fhál Carrach, agus ag fás glasraí i gCorr na Móna, i measc neart tograí eile. Léirithe ag Macha Media, tosaíonn Men’s Sheds Déardaoin 25ú Bealtaine ag 8 i.n. ar TG4
I ndiaidh dhá bhliain dhúshlánach ag déileáil le paindéim Covid 19, tá gluaiseacht Scioból na bhFear in Éirinn ar ais ar a sheanléim ag cur go mór le saol na mílte fear arís. Tearmann d’fhir de gach aois atá sna Sciobóil, a sholáthraíonn comhluadar, cairdeas agus tacaíocht dá gcuid ball ar fud na hÉireann.
Manglam corraitheach atá sa tsraith a leanann scéalta pearsanta na bhfear i ngach cheann den cheithre chúige, i gceantair tuaithe agus i mbailte móra araon. Tá scéalta croíúla sa tsraith faoi athoscailt i ndiaidh Covid, faoi aire don chomhshaol agus faoi thacaíocht do phobail áitiúla, chomh maith le cuntais tochtmhara pearsanta ar mheabhairshláinte, ar shaol an teaghlaigh, ar ailse, ar uaigneas agus ar an bhás. Tugann an tsraith faisnéise breathnaithí léargas ar an ról suntasach dearfach a imríonn Sciobóil na bhFear ar shláinte agus ar fholláine fear, go háirithe agus an tsochaí ag teacht amach as dianghlasálacha Covid.
Tá Aodh Mac Fhloinn ar choiste Scioból na Rosann atá lonnaithe i Mín na Manrach ar imeall an Chlocháin Léith, agus b’éigean dó dul ar scor luath le bheith ina cúramóir lánaimseartha dá iníon Eibhlín, a rugadh le siondróm Down agus a diagnóisíodh go raibh uathachas uirthi. Labhraíonn Aodh faoin ról tábhachtach a bhíonn ag an scioból d’fholláine intinne, “Ar dtús, bhí faitíos orm dul isteach, ach ó thosaigh mé ag cuidiú le reachtáil an sciobóil, níor amharc mé siar ó shin. Chonaic mé féin cé chomh maith is a bhí an scioból do mo shláinte féin. Nuair a bhím sa tseid, ní smaoiním ar an rud atá ar siúl sa bhaile, ar bhillí ná ar rud ar bith mar sin. Am s’agam féin atá ann.”
Ar an Bhaile Breac, deisceart Átha Cliath, bíonn aird ar leith ag Scioból na bhFear ann ar an mheabhairshláinte mar a insíonn Mark Larkin, comhordaitheoir na seide, “Tarlaíonn go raibh na fir atá againn anseo leithlisithe agus nach raibh féinmhuinín acu. Ar bhealach éigin, nuair a thagann siad isteach anseo, tuigeann siad go bhfuil siad díreach mar atá gach duine eile. Faigheann siad an mhuinín sin agus cuireann siad aithne ar a bpobal agus nuair a théann siad amach ag déanamh rudaí sa chomharsanacht, go tobann bíonn siad féin páirteach sa phobal sin.” Tá an tseid anois barrthábhachtach ag fir an cheantair a bhíonn ag streachailt leis an lionn dubh agus le himní. Leagann Brian Connolly, ball de seid LBS, béim ar an tionchar mór a bhí ag an seid ar a shaol féin, “Ach ab é an tseid seo, ní bheinn anseo inniu.” Tá neart ball eile ar aon intinn leis faoi sin.
Scéal cairdis, iontaoibhe, comhroinnte agus tacaíochta atá i ngluaiseacht Scioból na bhFear, mar a léirítear sa tsraith chorraitheach ceithre-chlár seo, scéal de chomrádaíocht agus de chomhbhá. Tugann an tsraith léargas úr ar cheisteanna a bhaineann le sláinte mheabhrach na bhfear. Músclófar agus spreagfar mothúcháin, agus muid ag leanúint na n-aistear agus na dtionscadal pearsanta a dhéanann na gcarachtar éagsúil i sciobóil na bhfear in Éirinn, a bhíonn ag obair agus ag comhrá ‘gualainn le gualainn’.
