LATEST: Tipperary Men's Shed group appears on national TV over recent funding issues

The future of Nenagh Men’s Shed has been a hot topic in local media over the past few week's after a local organiser posted on the Facebook group 'Nenagh Community News' to express his frustration over what seemed like their inevitable closure. 

Today, members of the Nenagh Men's Shed have made it all the way to live television, appearing on Virgin Media One's 12:30pm News. The group appeared roughly half way into the show, Midwestern Reporter Maxine Bramley met the group at their current location where their secretary Mick White explained "We did a lot of fundraising that kept the door open but basically all our time and energy seemed to be going into paying the rent. We chased numerous different premises and we've reached out to numerous bodies and agencies for help but the response has been disappointing."

READ NEXT: Tipperary community members express frustration over closure of local men's shed

Liam Morrissey, who is a member of the shed said "It's going to have a serious impact on my well being because it's been a part of my life for the past 10 or 11 years. I live on my own and it's something I look forward to, to come to a meeting at least once a week if not twice a week."

Vincent Marzok added "I found the group really good for integration you know, but also I am by myself with no family here."

Mick White continued to explain the story so far, "certain bodies have stepped up and they had given groups of men a premises or a piece of ground and that's what we want. We just want either a twentieth of an acre that we can put a structure on or we want a disused building. That's all we want and we can take it from there."

The segment will appear again on the 5:30pm news.

Raised in Dáil Éireann

Last week, Nenagh TD Ryan O'Meara brought up the issue in Dáil Éireann saying “I wish to raise the need in our society for greater supports for men’s and women’s sheds. These are incredibly important organisations in all our communities. They provide a social outlet for individuals from all walks of life, particularly people who are living alone and at risk of social isolation and mental health difficulties.

“Nenagh Men’s Shed is looking at having to cease operations due to unsustainable running costs, including rent, insurance, and electricity. Nenagh Men’s Shed have approached Irish Rail, the HSE and the Department of Defence to try and secure just one twentieth of an acre for a cabin to operate out of, but to no avail.

“The lack of community spaces for voluntary organisations such as Nenagh Men’s Shed in Nenagh has resulted in this group paying over €1,000 per month in rent for a small space. I would ask that we look at supporting our Local Authorities to establish municipally provided spaces for voluntary groups such as Nenagh Men’s Shed at affordable rates.”

In response to Deputy O’Meara’s intervention on behalf of Nenagh Men’s Shed, Minister Butler recognised the important role of Men’s Sheds, and she provided a commitment to liaise with Deputy O’Meara on the matter and to further examine Nenagh Men’s Shed’s current situation.