North Leitrim Men's Shed celebrates 30 years with night of Music and Drama

The Bee Park in Manorhamilton was alive with drama, poetry and music last Friday as the North Leitrim Men's Shed celebrated 30 years of serving the community.

Based at the Bee Park, the Men’s Shed provides a space where men can socialise, develop new skills, take part in activities and access support.

“The fact that it has lasted 30 years says a lot about how much it's needed,” said Joel Smith, supervisor of the North Leitrim Men’s group.

Smith started working with the men's group around 20 years ago while running a research project called the Men of the Border Project, which highlighted some of the educational and health disadvantages of people in the border region.

During his two decades working with the group, Smith has seen some of the challenges facing men in the region change, while others have remained constant.

“Initially it was focused on geographical and physical isolation, alcohol, addiction, mental health issues, loneliness and depression. So although those issues are still relevant, you know, I suppose there's other issues that have come into it now, such as, you know, drug addiction or just drug use.”

Homelessness has also become a growing concern, with the Men’s Shed supporting several people experiencing homelessness over the past two years.

“It highlights how vulnerable people are out there,” said Smith, who says the group advocates on behalf of people with the county council and helps set up mental health support if that is what they need.

Alongside providing support, the Men’s Shed gives members opportunities to develop skills and take part in horticulture, physical activities, computer courses and drama. It also offers access to the Community Employment Scheme.

“It is good to empower them. We've been very lucky; we have got funding from the ETB and Healthier in the past to develop people's drama skills, so that people are ready to go up there and do their bit on stage, you know, which is, you know, it's not easy necessarily, like there'll probably hopefully be a hundred people or so there tonight.”

The night opened with a sketch, put on by the men’s shed members to the enjoyment of the crowd that turned out to the event.

That was followed by a reading of A Bobby Sands poem: The Rhythms of Time.

The music began in haste, with The Bee Park being graced with a set of beautiful reels and folk songs from musicians Declan Cornell, Mossie Martin, and Sean Carroll.

The centrepiece of the night was a one-man show written for the night by the fantastic Gerry Farrell, called Three Billboards Outside of Manorhamilton.

The one-act show acted as a love letter to the men's groups, the local area, and the people who have been part of the group over three decades. It was based on a time when Farrell, a mental health professional, went to the group to give a talk on men's mental health during the Celtic Tiger.

It finished off with Irish dancing and songs from local musical ensemble, That Mullies Crowd.