Women's Shed in Cork town going from strength to strength 

Never was there such an impressive bunch of women in West Cork!

The Clonakilty Women’s Shed has gone from strength to strength since its inception only two years ago. In that small space of time, these women have created a place of friendship, camaraderie, education, fun, and solidarity.

From small acorns will grow a mighty tree, as planning permission is now being sought for a proper- sized shed to replace the one they currently have.

It’s hardly surprising that they need a bigger space as their numbers currently sit just shy of 200!

So, what inspired them to start this shed? It was the wives of the men in the Men’s Shed!

A lady approached Maureen Griffin and said with the men having such a great time, would it be an idea to start one for the women?

They decided to gauge interest locally, expecting a dozen or so - 65 women showed up on the first day full of enthusiasm and raring to go. Word got around quickly about this wonderful initiative and soon their numbers swelled.

“We formed our committee, drafted our constitution, and began in earnest,” said chairperson Rosemarie Leahy Dempsey. Her vice chair is Maureen Griffin, secretary is Marianne Cadigan, assistant Marie Hennessey, treasurer Elaine Lordan, and the assistant treasurer is Mary Creedon.

Initially, they met every fortnight but now it’s down to once a month. Everything from health and safety to accessibility to anti-bullying policies were set in stone as their strong foundation going forward.

They are a diverse group of women with ages ranging from mid-thirties to 93, some are from the town, some from the outskirts, some from other countries, and some from a rural setting.

Rosemarie organised a meeting last December and gave out a questionnaire asking what it is that people want from the group. And so began the most extensive list of activities and entertainments to suit all members.

These include yoga, chair yoga, tai chi, art classes, day trips, lectures, gardening groups, five book clubs, a historical information group, pole walking group, intermediate walking group, concert and play groups, and upcycling clothes and furniture. There was also an interest shown in further education.

Maureen, who had worked in the area all her life and knew pretty much everyone, tapped into local resources including the Adult Further Education Centre and asked if classes could be provided.

Some of the women who hadn’t been in a school setting in years were a bit nervous at the start, but with a little encouragement proved to be worthy students.

The Women’s Shed also had a horticulturist come and help them with their allotment, which has proved to be invaluable as some members gained experience in that and sustainability.

Rosemarie says they knew they were on the right track when, in the early days, they won €1,000 in a Fleetwood paints competition. “We couldn’t believe it, it was a sign to keep going and built our women’s shed into something wonderful.”

As a voluntary organisation, the committee were able to tap into funding from groups like Reach, and Cork Education and training Board (ETB). Local businesses gave donations to help with their insurance. The HSE has also supported their activities and a special mention is given to June Hammell in Dunmanway, who helps to source funding for the committee.

Cork County Council have been a great support, as have the local Men’s Shed. “They are amazing,” says Rosemarie, “they are on hand to help us in any way they can. All we have to do is mention a job that needs doing and they sort it out without a word.

“Tommy O Donovan, from O Donovan’s Hotel, who we all know as the master of sustainability, donated the plot and the shed.”

Most of the women’s activities are self-funded via the miniscule annual membership fee of €60 which helps to subsidise outside tutors or classes. They would be quite happy to fund- raise locally if needed but so far they have managed to mostly self-fund.

The benefits for the members of this amazing Women’s Shed cannot be overstated. Some of the women practiced their tai chi on the beach in the mornings through the summer. The lecture on cybersecurity was empowering and the day trips and mystery tours are looked forward to weeks in advance.

There is some activity happening every day of the week, but Wednesday morning is reserved for their coffee and chats in one of the welcoming cafes and hostelries.

The GAA Hall is on hand for gatherings and the youth centre are happy to let them use one of their rooms for their book club meetings.

The community in Clonakilty have really embraced this initiative.

The local day care centre approached Rosemarie and asked if they would like to volunteer to help at the centre. The ladies, as always, wanted to give back and help in the community and now visit the centre on Tuesdays and facilitate an activity called Boccia, which is like indoor bowls, and other ball games.

For the first couple of months, some players were quiet, but now they have a measuring tape as it has become quite competitive!

Donations were also made to groups like Cork Penny Dinners.

As for health, the women have had talks on subjects like coronary care, diabetes, and menopause.

At one of their meetings, Liam, the community garda explained property marking, a system whereby you have your property, be that a phone or laptop or bicycle, scanned, and this allows the gardaí to reunite owners with lost or stolen items.

Day trips have included visits to Garnish Island, Rossmore Theatre, Kinsale Harbour, Killarney, and Drishane House in Castletownshend.

For some of the women, who may have been widowed, or who have spent years rearing a family and now would like to make new friends, or those that have lost their confidence for whatever reason, this group is invaluable. At their headquarters, some of them explain what being a member has added to their lives.

“This space allows someone who is a carer at home the chance to chat, or just sit quietly and belong.”

“It addresses rural loneliness.”

“Your life can be hijacked by time, so the visit here can help you reset.”

“We get to try new things together without judgement’.”

“It helps new people to the town integrate.”

“I now have the confidence to try new things, new learnings.”

“There’s great fun, great teamwork.”

“My confidence is back, and I’m learning new skills!”

Check out the Facebook page of this amazing group of women, and if you think you might like to start a Women’s Shed in your community, the ladies in Clonakilty will be delighted to offer advice. You go, girls!