Tullow Men’s Shed launch new garden
Eileen Kinsella (left), sister of the late Anthony Wilson, officially opened the new garden. Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
MEMBERS of Tullow Men’s Shed have just launched a garden, called An Gairdín na bhFear, in memory of one of their much-loved members.
The garden, which is tucked in beside the Tullow Men’s Shed official headquarters beside Pairc Mhuire, was launched in memory of Anthony Wilson who passed away in 2020. It’s also a diversity garden, meaning that all the flowers and shrubs have been planted to attract birds, bees and butterflies.
The garden was opened by Anthony’s sister, Eileen Kinsella, while other members of his family were also special guests.
“There was a bit of wasteland beside our building so we wanted to create a diversity garden in memory of Anthony. There’s a plaque dedicated to him while there’s also a tree of hope. There are yellow ribbons tied around it in memory of those who have died,” explained Frank Morris, chairman of the group.
“We have a bench, too, where people can spend some time here, while we also have a wishing well and bug hotel so it appeals to all of our senses. Everything planted here is designed to attract all the pollinators," continued Frank.
All the plants and flower were very kindly sponsored by Burnside Autocyl Ltd who are celebrating 50 years of being in Tullow.
"The people in Burnside heard what we were doing so they actually approached us and offered to pay for all the plants, so we're very grateful to them. It’s also a beautiful quiet place to sit and be alone. That’s the whole thing about the garden, it’s a place where you can relax and already we can see people from Pairc Mhuire coming in to sit down," he said.
"The main message to take away from here is that you are not alone, we wanted to create a space where people could take out for themselves.”
Tullow Men’s Shed was established in 2012 and have gone from strength to strength since then, meeting on a weekly basis at the former health in Tullowpheim in the town.
The Irish Men’s Sheds Association was formed in 2011. However, the men’s shed movement originally started in Australia which inspired their Irish counterparts to begin their own movement.
Following the formation of the first shed group in Ireland, the shed movement began to grow rapidly, with there now being over 400 sheds registered with the Irish Men’s Sheds Association and at least 12,000 men visiting a shed every week.
All sheds are independent and self-autonomous, and the range of activities carried out by sheds differ from the next.
Most sheds engage in activities such as woodwork, gardening, carpentry and community work. However, there are more special interests sheds that focus on things like music, fishing and restoration work.
