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Lissummon District Men’s Shed (LDMS) is going from strength to strength since its inaugural meeting in May 2022. A group of local men had got together with the realisation that there was a need for a Shed in the area to tackle the isolation and loneliness felt by many local men. The shed is in place a year this month and already it has been nominated for the County Armagh People of the Year Awards.
The men's shed is always happy to see new members and it's open to men from aged 18 to over 100 and there is a warm welcome assured.
The group put in an initial application to The National Lottery Community Fund for £10,000 which was successful leading to the setting up of the facility. They managed to locate a neutral venue on a fabulous one acre site at Tyrones Ditches. The site was quickly prepared with the shed delivered just a year ago in mid November 2023.
As a result of further funding from the National Lottery they managed to Insulate the Shed, plumb and wire it plus complete external works. Other grants from Community Foundation for a Polytunnel, The Honourable The Irish Society towards a Kitchen and a Micro Grant was received which helped purchase Tools.
The men have organised quite a few fundraising activities in just a year including Tractor runs, Wreath making and scrap metal collections.
Committee member Oliver O'Hare said "The meeting room at the Shed is now most comfortable with insulated walls and ceiling. The kitchen is complete with fridge, cooker, kettle, toaster, fridge and microwave. The wood burning stove makes it very homely and the kettle is always at the ready. Not all our work is completed but plans are in progress"
Lissummon Men's Shed have set times for group meetings: Tuesday nights from 7pm on and Saturday 1pm on. Members are able to attend the shed, garden and Polytunnel at any other time they wish meeting up with friends or on their own.
The hope is that the Shed now that it is so comfortable can also be utilised by other groups in the community to host Women sheds, Health seminars, Fund raising etc.
Membership is £20 from now to the end of 2025. Feel free to visit them and see if it will suit you before paying membership.
