National Lottery 'Legend' honour welcomed for this Kildare Men's Shed

Minister James Lawless TD has welcomed the recognition of Naas Community Men's Shed as a 2026 National Lottery Good Cause Legend.

The Shed was one of nine organisations nationwide named as Good Cause Legends this year, and one of three in the Community category.

It received €15,000 in prize funding and a bespoke trophy.

Minister Lawless joined National Lottery CEO Cian Murphy and Shed members for a tour of the facilities.

Since 2014, Naas Community Men's Shed has given men from their twenties to their eighties a place to connect, share skills and support one another. Members take part in carpentry, music, sport and gardening, with a particular focus on tackling the isolation that can come with retirement, illness or bereavement. The Shed Band performs regularly at nursing homes, dementia cafés and community events across the county.

Speaking after the visit, Minister Lawless said: "It was a real pleasure to visit Naas Community Men's Shed and congratulate the members on being named a National Lottery Good Cause Legend. It is a richly deserved honour. For more than a decade the Shed has given men of every age somewhere to connect, learn and look out for each other. And they have never kept that spirit to themselves, whether it's the Shed Band playing in nursing homes and dementia cafés or members building spaces the whole community can use.

"Isolation after retirement, illness or bereavement is something many families in Kildare will recognise, and the Shed meets it head-on. I want to thank Eddie, Chris and every member for what they give to Naas. I also want to thank the National Lottery for shining a light on the difference Good Causes funding makes in communities like ours."