Funding boost announced for Men's Sheds in Clare

THE Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys has launched a new €1 million Fund to support Men’s Sheds in Clare and across the country.

Under the initiative, grants of up to €3,000 will be provided to assist Men’s Sheds with their running costs such as their heating, electricity utility and insurance bills.

There are currently ten Men's Sheds at locations across County Clare.

Announcing details of the funding, Minister Humphreys said: "The emergence of our Men’s Sheds has been a hugely positive development for communities right across Ireland. “They help tackle isolation and provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment where men of all ages can come together to socialise, share skills and work on meaningful projects. As we enter the winter months, the support that our Men’s Sheds provide are more important than ever."

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The funding, announced this week, builds on last year’s fund of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds

Minister Humphreys added: “As Minister for Rural and Community Development, I regularly meet Men’s Sheds and I am very proud of the work they do and the contribution they make to their communities. I have no doubt that this funding that I am announcing today will give a helping hand to Men’s Sheds in terms of paying a bill or perhaps carrying out small improvements to the facilities.”

Enda Egan, CEO of the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, has welcomed the funding for Men's Sheds in Clare and across the country.

“We are delighted with the announcement and we’re grateful to Minister Humphreys for her ongoing support for the sheds.  The Men’s Shed movement was hit very hard by the Covid pandemic with weekly attendance numbers falling from 10,000 pre-covid to approximately 6,000 currently. This announcement is a major boost for us in the Irish Men’s Sheds Association to know that this funding can be utilised by sheds to pay for their utility bills throughout this winter and mitigate against the increased cost of running a Men’s shed."

The ten Clare Sheds which are eligible for funding are: Clarecastle, Seanchoill/Parteen, Ennis, Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry, Doonbeg, Shannon, Ennistymon, Cora Caitlin - Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ennis West and Mountshannon.