Kilnamanagh Men's Shed & Community Centre
Posted by Camilla Walter on
Pictured L to R: Eric Stronghair (Health & Safety), PJ Conroy (Secretary), Paddy Donohoe (MD Liffey Providers), Jimmy Martin, Denis Mackin (Chairman Comm Centre), Danny Walsh, Michael Mahon (Chairman Men's Shed)
Last week we took a short trip down the road to visit the newly erected Men's Shed, located on the grounds of Kilnamanagh Family Resource and Community Centre.
In early March we had committed to supporting this fantastic community effort as we are the local Hardware to the area, but as COVID-19 took hold and gripped our country into lock down, this project as others where forced to halt their plans.
We have been getting many updates from the lads who are leading this project and where invited down to have a look at the facilities. And what facilities they are. We where given an open arms (at a distance) welcome and a grand tour by Community Centre Chairman Denis Mackin. The Community Centre itself was built in 1989 after extensive lobbying by locals for 8 years.
The entire centre has been given a face lift by the volunteers during lock down and looks absolutely fabulous. The facilities are great and they all deserve a pat on the back and a great big launch party when allowed to do so. Kilnamanagh and the surrounding area is a community who needs these types of facilities and services here include a full size hall and theatre (pictured below), a fully equipped catering kitchen and dining hall which on a normal basis provides a 4 course meal to the elderly and retired in the community for only €6.
Pool tables, dart and bar area, a cafe and of course large grounds outside which is also the location of the new Men's Shed. (Pictured Below)
The Men's Shed is led by Chairman Michael Mahon and Secretary PJ Conroy and currently has 15 members, a membership which of course they hope to grow as soon as they are able to operate under government guidelines.
We popped down to have a look and to hand over a few tools to get the lads started and to get a better bearing on what they may need in the future and we are SUPER EXCITED to be supporting this community effort and to see what they come up with because I know for sure there are some very talented handymen in Kilnamanagh!
The outside area is also being cleared to make way for locals to arrange allotments here and show off their green fingers. The lads showed us some ingenuity in the use of laminate flooring inside the centre also where they have used it to clad outdated wall surfaces in the bar and dining areas.
The Mens' Shed building kindly donated by Amazon and supported by local businesses and the bar dining area spruced up with some on trend grey laminate flooring..