Marconi Men’s Shed, Clifden, Co. Galway

Description

Marconi Men’s Shed is North Connemara’s first shed. It is the first shed in Ireland to have been established exclusively by male family carers, following the completion of a unique Creative Carers Wood-turning Project through funding from Creative Ireland. Through an effective partnership with FORUM Connemara CLG, on-site premises were agreed, and the shedders worked diligently to retrofit four out-buildings, amalgamating two as a workshop and two for storage. The shed has over fifty members with an age range from 43 to 85 years, with the majority >65, who meet twice weekly, with two groups of shedders involved in a gardening project in the onsite poly-tunnels, and a wood-turning project in the workshop. Shedders also meet weekly to socialise and to provide peer-support. The ethos of the shed is to work to build relationships across the Connemara community, the shed has partnered with the HSE, Connemara Care CLG, FORUM Connemara CLG, the ETB, and a myriad of local health and social care professionals, such as, GPs and Public Health Nurse’s, to identify and support vulnerable men, including, isolated men living alone, older men, those with chronic conditions e.g. Early Onset Dementia, and burdened family carers. Shedders visit the vulnerable men to encourage them to join and arrange transportation to enable this to happen. The lens through which the shed functions and plans its activities, is one that emphasises the ‘promotion of health and well-being’ and ‘inclusivity’, Many members are vulnerable men who have experienced much adversity, such as unemployment, chronic conditions, stress, loneliness, depression, caregiver burden, and isolation. Forty shedders have undertaken two Tai Chi and Mindfulness Courses, and have completed Workshops in ‘The 5 Ways to Wellbeing’, ‘Healthy Eating’, ‘Physical Activity Go for Life’, and ‘Stop Smoking West’. The impact has transformed the lives of many shedders, with some successfully giving up smoking, and the majority practice regular Tai Chi and Mindfulness at home. All shedders that completed the Tai Chi and Mindfulness courses, cited observed benefits such as, sleeping better, improved coordination, greater flexibility, feeling more relaxed and calm, improved mood, improved shoulder mobility, reduced joint stiffness and pain, feeling fitter, managing stress better, more energy, and improved physical and mental wellbeing overall. Given the loneliness epidemic in the area, and an awareness that the need for social connection is innate; Marconi Men’s Shed have planned a myriad of health promoting activities for Men’s Health Week 2025 including, a Blue Health Respite and Social Outing, two Therapeutic Support Days, and Walking Football. The Shed will also be undertaking the first ever Legacy Project, and the first ever Heartbeats Drumadore Project in Ireland exclusively for shedders and family carers this year, and have planned certified training in ‘Heartsaver CPR AED’, given that almost 3/4 of cases of sudden cardiac arrest occur at home. The importance of social connections, physical activity, learning, giving to others and mindfulness, to enhancing the mental health and well-being of shedders is an important aspect of the Shed’s ethos, which resonates across all Shed activities.

Aim of Initiative

The Shed Aims:
a) To provide a venue for men to talk and connect with others while participating in group and/or individual projects.
b) To provide opportunities for friendship and socialising in a safe environment while at the same time the space, expertise and facilities for men to pursue hobbies, crafts and creativity.
c) To undertake projects, acceptable to the group, which are of benefit to individuals, groups and the broader community.
d) To support positive ageing: The Shed provides an opportunity for men in particular older men, to acquire a new skill and enhance their well-being.
e) To address issues of social isolation, loneliness and caregiver burden: The twice weekly meetings are a respite break, a social outlet and a form of peer support for men, including older men and male family carers.

Who is it aimed at

All men aged 18 years and over, living in Clifden and surrounding areas.
The group is a combination of male family carers, isolated men and older vulnerable men.
Many of our Shedders have experienced the stark reality of loneliness from retirement, unemployment, bereavement, ill-health, and full-time family caregiving. Many of our members have expressed that there is a loneliness epidemic, particularly in rural areas such as Clifden, which has caused increased morbidity, stress, anxiety, and depression amongst many of our shedders. Our shedders who have expressed feeling lonely, have also expressed feeling isolated and disconnected, due to a lack of social connections, particularly given the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marconi Men’s shed has therefore helped to address this ‘silent’ and devastating reality for many shedders who are victims of loneliness and isolation.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Shedders engaged with FORUM Connemara CLG and the Carers Department, HSE West and North West for support in establishing the Shed. FORUM Connemara agreed to provide a suitable premises for the shed onsite. An information event was held in Clifden Station House Hotel to garner interest from men in the area and to hear from the various partners FORUM, HSE, GCC and the IMSA. Inaugural meeting arranged and photo call and media release undertaken to promote the Shed and Committee established. Shedders visited other sheds for inspiration and to share what has worked well for them and the activities they have arranged. Shed registered with the PPN and the IMSA. Shed met with the Health and Wellbeing Team of the IMSA to discuss initiatives such as Daffodil Benches. Shed met with Age and Opportunity to discuss shared projects such as Walking Football.
2. Agreement from FORUM staff to support the Shedders to retrofit the shed, amalgamating two out-buildings as a workshop and two for storage. On-site poly-tunnels and a meeting room also secured.
   The shed partnered with the HSE, Connemara Care CLG, FORUM Connemara CLG, the ETB, and a myriad of local health and social care professionals, such as, GPs and Public Health Nurse’s, to identify and support vulnerable men, including, isolated men living alone, older men, those with chronic conditions e.g. Early Onset Dementia, and burdened family carers. Shedders visit the vulnerable men to encourage them to join and arrange transportation to enable this to happen.
   Shed wrote to local businesses for support and wood and tools were provided pro bono.
3. Funding applied for and secured from HSE, Galway County Council and SICAP, to enable activities to be arranged, including Tai Chi and Mindfulness, various workshops on smoking cessation, nutrition, physical activity and well-being.
   Three media releases including press release and photographs arranged with local print media annually, to raise the profile of the shed and to identify ‘invisible’ men in the area.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Securing a suitable premises for the Shed- however this was overcome through engagement and partnership working with FORUM Connemara Ltd. who provided four out-buildings which the shedders retrofitted.
2. Arranging respite to enable male family carers with full-time caring roles to attend. This was addressed through engagement with the HSE Carers Department who arranged in-home respite.
3. Sourcing Funding- however this was overcome through funding applications to SICAP, Healthy Galway Fund and the HSE National Lottery Grant Scheme. Registering with the GCC PPN and the IMSA also assisted, as these entities notify the Shed Chairperson and Secretary of ongoing funding opportunities.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Shedders and their families have expressed the following benefits/outcomes since joining Marconi Men’s Shed:
   • Increased well-being
   • Increase in self-esteem
   • Reduction in social isolation and loneliness
   • Increased feelings of social connectedness
   • Improved family communication
   • Improved symptom burden
   • Enhanced sense of meaning
   • Enhanced social interaction
   • Reduction in caregiver burden and stress
2. The Shed is also an important medium to:
   • Offer a respite break, and
   • Offer an opportunity for cathartic self-expression.

   This is a particularly important outcome for Marconi Men’s Shed as its very origin stemmed from a family carers wood-turning course, and many male family carers in the area did not wish to join the local Carer Support Group as it was deemed to have a predominantly female membership.

3. 40 Shedders undertook two Tai Chi and Mindfulness Courses, and the evaluation faciliTated by the HSE, found that all participants reported improvements in their health and well-being as a result of undertaking the courses, citing observed benefits such as, sleeping better, improved coordination, greater flexibility, feeling more relaxed and calm, improved mood, improved shoulder mobility, reduced joint stiffness and pain, feeling fitter, managing stress better, more energy, and improved physical and mental wellbeing overall. The vast majority of shedders continue to practice regular Tai Chi and Mindfulness at home since completing these courses.

   As a result of undertaking a HSE Workshop in ‘Stop Smoking West’ some shedders have successfully given up smoking.

   One shedder has Early Onset Dementia and his wife/family carer has reported that the shed has been ‘life changing for him and their family’, the shedder now has a social outlet as he feels he is too young to attend the local Dementia Cafe. This shedder has attended all workshops and both Tai Chi and Mindfulness courses, which gives his wife a break from caring, and the Chairperson of the Shed arranged transport for him to attend all such activities.

   The impact is borne out in the qualitative feedback given by Shedders also, as follows:
   Shedder TMcW commented: “Tai Chi and Mindfulness has taught us how to concentrate on our breathing and to really be in the moment, which helps to calm your mind of life’s daily worries. The course also helps you to feel more connected with others in the group, and we all have had a great deal of fun together and we’re a support for each other, which is also an important aspect of the ethos of the Men’s Shed.”

   Shedder PJ commented: “This is my second time to do this course, and for both courses, I did not miss one class, each week was fantastic. Tai Chi is safe for people of all ages and fitness levels – I am living proof of this at 81 years old and the oldest person on the course. It is a low-impact exercise involving slow and gentle movements with mindful breathing. The course also gave me and the other shedders a social outlet and an opportunity to meet people and make new friends.”