Slane Men's Shed welcome Heather Humphreys with gifts and tea

Presidential Candidate for Fine Gael Heather Humphreys had a tour of Slane Men’s Shed which she said was a “wonderful organisation and it deserves to be supported.”

The presidential hopeful was greeted with a cup of tea and given a tour of the men's shed. Chair of the Men’s Shed Kevin Macken showed Humphreys different tools members use, such as the lathe used for chiselling wood which she said was “very therapeutic” to use.

Slane and District Mens Shed officially opened in 2019 and was founded by Rory Gould, Bill Connolly, Dermot Caldwell, John Deacon ,William Carolan and Pat Doyle who built the original premises. It currently has over 50 members and is open to all six days a week.

Heather Humphreys said while at the men’s shed “It was absolutely great to be here. The men’s shed is a wonderful organisation and it’s right across the country. When I was Minister for Rural and Community Development I worked very close with them and I was delighted that I was able to give them a small bit of funding.”

“The most important thing in the men’s shed is the cup of tea and the chat and that’s what makes the difference. It’s a wonderful organisation and it deserves to be supported.”

Members of the shed gifted Humphreys a Christmas decoration which she said, if she wins, will be put on the Christmas tree in Áras an Uachtaráin.

Macken said they have the facilities at the shed but there is a struggle to get more members because “There’s a hesitancy for people to come and join the men’s shed.”

“The main function of the men’s shed is to make the brain calmer. Lots of people are saying theyre lonely or bereaved or various things. This is just an opportunity to come down and talk to men of a similar age group and possibly make conversations about problems.”