Women’s shed ‘definitely needed’

The Ballyjamesduff Women’s Shed was set up in April this year and has been a huge success.

The woman behind it all is Theresa Tierney, who firstly explained why the group is called a ‘Women's Shed’ as opposed to the more commonly used ‘Hens Shed’.

“We’re weren’t like clucking hens,” she explained, adding that the committee decided to leave the word shed in the name, but were keen to highlight that the the inhabitants weren’t animals, but women in the community.

“It’s all encompassing, everybody from all ages were invited, it wasn't just a little old ladies club or anything like that.

“It was going to be for everybody.”

The idea spurred from a conversation among friends, who wondered why there wasn’t a women's group in the area, with neighbouring successful organisations.

Forty women showed up to the initial meeting, and the group, which meets at 7pm every evening in the old courthouse is, now home to 60 members who span the ages from 25 to 90.

The group do “a mixture of everything”, ranging from yoga, holistic talks, reflexology, energy retrofit talks, a swap night where members traded unused items and, also time out nights, the chairperson explained.

“It’s not easy to have something on every week and it’s not really like an entertainment club.

“It’s a place that they can come and have a cup of tea, relax talk to other women and have a conversation and meet people.

“If there’s something on great, if there’s not that’s fine, we’ll go anyway.”

The group broke up for the summer months and will resume on September 4.

For their final outing, they went to Carraig Gardens in Mountnugent.

Theresa explained why the group is important to the town.

“We have a lot of new communities in Ballyjamesduff as well and a few of them have joined us.

“We’re hoping that more will come on board because we don’t know these ladies.

“It’s great to have them come in and be part of it.

Originally from England but having moved to the area when she was younger, Theresa said “it’s definitely needed” to help people socialise and meet others in the community.

“There’s a lot of loneliness out there, you can be in a busy house and still be lonely.

“It’s nice talking to other women about your life and what’s going on.”

“I’m glad we set it up, there’s a great buzz about it.”

Next for the group is to get national recognition which will provide more funding. Currently members pay €5 per night to cover expenses.

“The four or five of them [sheds] set up in Cavan have come together and we’re on a community forum under CCLD.

“For funding and things like that, it’s [national recognition] badly needed,” she concluded.