Professor from Oz drops in to men’s shed

Around Carlow Town
Mairead Wilmot
AUSTRALIAN professor Bar¬ry Golding landed in Carlow last week to give a talk on the Men’s Shed project.

An expert in his field, Prof Golding addressed a meeting in the Cathedral Parish Centre last Tuesday.

The Men’s Shed project originally came to life in Australia, where they saw a need to provide a venue where men from all walks of life could feel comfortable.

To be clear, the men’s shed is not about sitting down, holding hands and talking about feelings! It’s a place you can go to pass some time while doing different projects, be it photography or carpentry. The agenda is really set by the men themselves.

It has since spread globally and Carlow Men’s Shed began life in June.

Meeting every Tuesday from 10am to 5pm at College Street, opposite the cathedral, Carlow Men’s Shed is slowly but surely finding its feet, with more and more local men using the service.

Sponsored by Carlow Men’s Health Project, it now has some funding from Carlow VEC and hopes to get more support from different organisations in the future.

“Men don’t want to look face-to-face to talk,” explained Midge Nolan from the project. “But if they are doing something, they will talk shoulder-to-shoulder.

“These are troubled time for a lot of people in Ireland,” said Midge. “A lot of men from all age groups are finding themselves in a situation where they are unemployed. You have young men who may have never been able to get a job or older men who have been made unemployed and who know they won’t work again ... the shed is there for young and old men, right across the board.”

Speaking about Prof Golding’s address, Midge said it was extremely informative, explaining that he has been instrumental in researching men’s health.

“He did a lot of early research on men’s health and is one of the key people in spreading the word about the men’s shed,” she noted.

Lawmen maintain unbeaten run in charity soccer series

UNBEATEN for five years, Car¬low gardaí managed to hold on to their record against staff from Dinn Rí as both sides faced-off in their annual charity soccer game last week.

The teams played against each other on Monday night in the grounds of St Pat’s, Graiguecullen.

With 11 players aside, it ended in a 2-2 draw, securing for the guards their five-in-a-row unbeaten record.

The charity soccer match has been held every year since 1999, with both groups raising funds for local organisations.

“It has varied from sports clubs to groups like Saplings,” explained Warren Byrne from the Dinn Rí. “This year, we raised funds for the Sacred Heart Hospital and we hope to have brought in between €1,500 and €2,000.”

Warren also admitted that “the guards have the slight edge in the roll of honour stakes. They won for the past four years and we drew this year, so they are unbeaten.”

Following the game, the teams headed back to Dinn Rí for some “refreshments”, with the Dinn Rí team, no doubt, concocting their plan of action for next year.

Ceremony remembers suicide victims

IN TRIBUTE to the many lives lost in Carlow through suicide, a special tree-planting ceremony took place in Carlow Town Park recently.

The poignant event was organised by Carlow Mental Health Association in partnership with Carlow Town Council and also marked World Suicide Prevention Day, which takes place annually on 10th September.

A fitting poem, remembering the many loves ones, was recited eloquently by Seamus O’Rourke, while Noel Jenkins planted the mountain ash tree, which will be a lasting memorial to those who have died.

Carlow Town Council donated the tree, which was planted near the river, while the wall itself was also engraved to mark the occasion.

The engraving read: ‘This tree was planted to remember all those who have died by suicide in Carlow to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th, 2011’.

The event was attended by members of Carlow Town Council and Carlow Mental Health Association, as well as many local families touched by suicide.

(Suzanne Pender)