Men’s Sheds have a reputation as resourceful, skillful, and imaginative. There is no better example of this than the recent submission by The Rosses Men’s Shed to the MyWaste #UpcycleChallenge.
Their Thomas The Tank Engine was a big hit with the judges, winning the €750 first prize. Says Shedder Pat Bonner, ‘The inspiration for our project came from a shed member’s better half. She decided to brighten up their back garden by painting a Thomas The Tank Engine face on their oil tank.’
As entrants must use materials that would otherwise be discarded, the men repurposed an old oil tank and some pallets, Perspex, and an old aluminum chimney cap into the stunning tank engine creation that we see before us.
Current restrictions meant that extra health and safety measures were required and building outside in the Donegal weather also posed its own challenges- ‘Thomas had to be tethered during high winds and covered when it rained.’
Pat continues ‘Of all the projects over the past four years this task has generated the most enthusiasm among the members. It may sound like a childish proposition but as they say, “Adults are just children at heart… but with a few more wrinkles”.
Work in the sheds has stopped for now but the men are keeping in touch with each other and with the IMSA which has been running classes, workshops, and events online to keep everyone connected during these challenging times. The Shedders will be back in the Sheds as soon as they can – building, making, and creating. There are over 450 Men’s Sheds in Ireland – the highest concentration of sheds per capita in the world.
If you would like to join a shed or want to know about our work, please visit www.menssheds.ie.
