Anger as supports for Tipperary Men's Sheds pulled without consultation

Calls have been made by a Tipperary County Councillor to have supports reinstated to men’s sheds across Tipperary.

The issue was raised during the most recent meeting of the Thurles Municipal District of the Tipperary County Council by Cllr Kay Cahill Skehan.

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Speaking with the Tipperary Star, Cllr Cahill Skehan outlined the importance of the Men’s Sheds to the local community, highlighting that the Sheds in North Tipperary are heavily reliant on the supports they receive in order to stay open.

“There's four Men's Sheds in North Tipperary that are affected by Silvermines, Borrisokane, Thurles, and Littleton, and they differ from the sheds in the south of the county in that they are standalone sheds, and they don't get funding. In some of the ones down south, they're in with the community centre, or in with, I think the Knockanrawley Centre down in Tipperary Town, the Men's Shed is incorporated into that, and you would have a few different community groups, maybe together. But in North Tipperary, these sheds are standalone sheds, so they're operating on their own, trying to keep everything going on the ground, so to speak. So as you know, the Men's Sheds do tremendous work, and they're open to everyone. So, like, they're open to men from 18 upwards, and they can have mental health issues, they can be anything, you know, they can have problems to various degrees, but there's no differentiation made, anyone can join the Men's Sheds. They're a fantastic group then for men to be able to go in, pursue maybe some of their hobbies, meet other men, it's a total social and mixing group, and really beneficial for the men in the area of all ages.

“But unfortunately, I suppose the dominant age in it is a retiring age. It's something that's there for men that are retired, something to do, something to pursue their hobbies, get involved in something within the group. The age profile is elderly within the groups, and that's just because of the type of group it is. It's very suitable for people that are retired, something to join and something to do, and maybe somebody that doesn't play golf, or somebody that does play golf but has various interests, and somebody that has a bit of extra time in their hands. So like all groups, the organization of it, is probably left to one person. So that one person in a standalone group is just one person on their own trying to do all the administration, all the governance, everything within the group.

“It's totally unfair to expect a retired group to be able to do all the things that are necessary within the group for the running of it and the governance of it. And like, if you have a person there then and that there's a SICAP person there to help them, it makes the burden of running it and the burden of applying for different things much easier altogether. So like, without the SICAP support, and without the SICAP representative to help these groups, they will fall apart because there's only one person, or two people, maybe within the group, that's able to do everything that's needed to do.”

Cllr Cahil Skehan spoke of what the loss of a SICAP representative would mean for these Sheds, highlighting that they are an invaluable asset to the Sheds when it comes to things such as paperwork and making applications for various grants.

“The main thing that's a loss to them is helping them with the paperwork and the governance of the Shed in general. And like they want to apply for grants, they want to apply to do different things, and they know that when the SICAP representative is there, he's able to help them with these forms. He's also able to tell them when, when a grant is becoming available. What type of a grant it is and if it's suitable for them to apply for. And like, I know myself, a few years ago, I was applying for a grant for the Bridge Club. And like, it's not easy. And you know, none of this, none of the paperwork within the realms of these things, the grant is there, but it's to be able to access it and realize that your group is suitable for it and all of that. But it's not an easy job to do. And like in the Thurles Men's Shed, they're really lucky, because Tom Cullen is fantastic, and his job suits him, he’s suited to that array of things, and he enjoys doing it. But you see, if Tom wasn't there, the shed would be left running on its own, because not everyone is either willing or able. A lot of them might be able to do it because they've gone into a retirement capacity but they don't want to take on the responsibility of that, and the SICAP representative then helps to do all that.

Cllr Cahill Skehan spoke of how the removal of the SICAP representative from the Men’s Sheds was done so without any consultation with the respective Sheds, and she feels that this transition could have been much smoother on each end, had some discussions taken place to at the very least find a content middle ground for each party.

““The SICAP representative was taken away without any consultation, and they really feel at a huge loss without this person there. Now the County Council have given me an answer to bringing it up at the at the meeting in Thurles, at our Municipal District meeting, but it really means that they're saying that he's there within, taken to other groups, and that the Men's Sheds availed of it for a couple of years, but now the funding has to move elsewhere. But like, that's not good enough for them, because it's not enough help for them. They really need one, and a bit of consultation maybe with them before the removal of it might have stopped this problem escalating.

“But also, you know, like it doesn't mean that one SICAP worker couldn't help maybe two or three Men’s Sheds. It mightn’t necessarily be that they have one each, but like a little bit of consultation on the ground, maybe might help. There surely is a way around us without removing all the help from them. And like they're saying in the County Council or in LCDC, that the courses will be available for them to do online, or to go into them to see what they can do, what they can avail of, the different things that are available to them. But it's still putting the total responsibilities on the Sheds, to go in and get those accesses and do it themselves. And like what they're looking for is to be able to have somebody to help them, and that's totally understandable.”

Silvermines Men’s Shed CLG and Silvermines Community Centre CLG have condemned the withdrawal of SICAP support, calling it: “A reckless decision that abandons vulnerable men and undermines essential rural services.”

In a statement issued following the announcement of the removal of supports, they said: “Silvermines Men’s Shed CLG and Silvermines Community Centre CLG have condemned the withdrawal of SICAP support for Men’s Sheds across north Tipperary, calling the decision: “a shocking failure to recognise the essential services we provide” and “a complete abandonment of the men who rely on us.”

“Men’s Sheds are not hobby groups. They are frontline service providers supporting men aged 18 and over, including many who are isolated, vulnerable, or living with long‑term health challenges. In Silvermines, the Shed provides daily structure, social connection, and mental‑health support for men ranging from young adults to those in their 70s and 80s. For many, it is their only consistent point of social contact.”

Patrick Hennessy, Director of Silvermines Men’s Shed CLG and Director of Silvermines Community Centre CLG, said the withdrawal of SICAP support demonstrates a: “deep and troubling disregard” for the reality of service provision in rural communities.

“Our Shed provides essential services to men aged 18+, while our Community Centre delivers vital supports to the entire community and wider area,” Mr Hennessy said.

“It is a dereliction of responsibility that puts the entire service at risk.”

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Mr Hennessy emphasised that Silvermines Men’s Shed CLG and Silvermines Community Centre CLG are two separate units, each with its own governance, responsibilities, and service users. Despite this, both organisations have been hit by the same withdrawal of support.

He confirmed that SICAP support has also been withdrawn from Silvermines Community Centre CLG, a facility that serves the entire community and wider area, men, women, families, older people, young people, and local groups, and not just the Men’s Shed. The Centre is now facing the same loss of administrative, governance, and developmental support.

“To remove support from both the Men’s Shed and the Community Centre — without consultation, without warning, and without any plan to replace it — is reckless,” he said.

“Volunteers are already stretched to breaking point. This decision shows a complete lack of understanding of the scale and seriousness of the work being carried out.”

They say the impact has been immediate and severe.

Silvermines Men’s Shed CLG has already been forced to reduce its opening hours, limiting access for the very men who depend on it most.

Funding streams and training courses previously available through SICAP have also been removed, stripping away vital opportunities for skills development, wellbeing programmes, and community participation.

“This is the real‑world impact of this decision,” Mr Hennessy said. “Men who rely on us for connection, routine, support, and learning opportunities are now losing access because volunteers cannot carry this workload alone. That is the human cost of withdrawing SICAP support.”

“When a service for vulnerable men is being undermined, delaying action is the same as refusing action,” Mr Hennessy said.

“Kicking this down the road is not acceptable. Every week that passes without support puts more pressure on volunteers and reduces the services available to the men who need them.”

Silvermines Men’s Shed CLG and Silvermines Community Centre CLG welcome the motion brought forward by Cllr Kay Cahill Skehan and the cross‑party support expressed by councillors, but insist that immediate action is now required.

“Men’s Sheds and community centres are not optional extras,” Mr Hennessy said.

“Silvermines Men’s Shed CLG is an essential service for men aged 18 and over, and Silvermines Community Centre CLG is a vital resource for the entire community and wider area. Neither organisation can continue to operate safely or sustainably under these conditions. The decision to withdraw SICAP support must be reversed — and it must be reversed now.”