The Kilmacud/ Stillorgan Men’s Shed: A Haven for Camaraderie & Diverse Activities

Unveiling the Kilmacud/Stillorgan Men's Shed: A Haven for Camaraderie and Diverse Activities 

In the heart of the greater Kilmacud/Stillorgan area, a haven for men seeking fellowship and engaging activities has emerged. 

Established in January 2023, the Kilmacud/Stillorgan Men's Shed (KCMS) stands as a testament to the power of community and the pursuit of shared interests. 

Behind the foundations of the shed that started everything are six local men named Hugh Campbell, Ronnie Murray, George Smyth, Dave Byrne, Kevin Mulligan & Dermot Maher. 

Vice-Chair Ronnie Murray, 62, told Dublin GAA all about the shed: 

“It would’ve been December of 2022, when a couple of us got together and Hugh had posed the question ‘I wonder would there be a need for a men’s shed in the Kilmacud Community?’. So we set about doing some local advertisement and then in January 2023 we set up an initial meeting.“

“Using the function room in Kilmacud Crokes GAA club, we had the meeting. We thought ourselves that 5 or 10 people would turn up, but as it turned out about 40 people turned up.”

Affiliated with the Irish Men's Shed Association (IMSA), the KCMS operates out of the welcoming facilities at Glenalbyn House, generously provided by the Kilmacud Crokes GAA Club/KGSC. It's important to note that membership is open to all men in the community, regardless of their affiliation with the GAA Club. 

Every Monday at 11am, the KCMS members gather at Glenalbyn House to plan and discuss upcoming events. The camaraderie within the group is palpable, fostering an atmosphere of support and friendship. 

The KCMS prides itself on offering a diverse range of activities catering to various interests. 

From gardening and pitch & putt to card schools, hill-walking, cycling with KCWheelers, and cultural tours, the Shed provides a platform for members to explore their passions and interests together. 

The group's engagement extends beyond its walls, with members attending events hosted by other organisations, such as the Kilmacud/ Stillorgan Historical Society. 

The Shed has already made a positive impact on the community through initiatives like regular maintenance of the grounds at the Laura Lynn facility on Leopardstown Road. 

Additionally, members have been involved in brightening up the surroundings of Glenalbyn House through painting and gardening projects.

Despite being relatively new, the KCMS has ambitious plans to expand its list of activities over time. As a member-driven organisation, the group looks to its members to contribute ideas and actively participate in shaping the Shed's future endeavours.

Prospective members are invited to attend the weekly meetings held in the large function room at Kilmacud Crokes Clubhouse every Monday at 11am (Eircode A94 E7K8). Alternatively, those interested can reach out to any of the KCMS Committee members listed below for more information.

While there is an annual membership fee which for this year has been increased to €100, new members are offered a four-week trial period to explore the facilities without any commitment. The KCMS warmly welcomes all men in the community to join in, connect and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of activities that the Shed has to offer. 

Ronnie stated “The population of the shed is probably only 1/3 from the GAA club and the rest are just members of the local community.”

“I think at the moment there’s about 70 members in the group.”

“As of now we don’t have a physical building. The GAA club affords us a function room for now, but we are just figuring out what the next step is to getting our own building.”

“We are fundraising at the moment for a shed to be built and have used our own contacts through lads in the club to get donations for the building of the shed and we also got a capital grant from DLR towards building of the shed.

“We meet every Monday at 11 O’Clock and the typical agenda would have for instance presentations, people coming in for a talk, say for example men’s health, mental health, local history, local councillors… topics that would be of interest. One of our members has recently started hosting an Art class on Monday’s also”

“The second thing we do is organise excursions outside of the Monday, so that might be a visit to Dáil Éireann which we have done, a trip on the Dublin Bay cruise and next up we have a tour booked to visit the Incinerator in Ringsend.”

“We have our own budgeting, through membership fees.”

“We are trying to build collaborations with charities or community groups. For example a group of the us from the men’s shed go up to the Laura Lynn Children’s hospice every Tuesday to help with garden maintenance.”

“We didn’t know if there would be much take up, but we had a great response. Five of us started it and it has gone from strength to strength”. 

You can find out more about the Shed at Men’s Shed | Kilmacud Crokes

KCMS Committee members

Hugh Campbell, Chairperson 

Ronnie Murray, Vice-Chair 

George Smyth, Treasurer 

Dave Byrne, Secretary 

Kevin Mulligan, Committee Member