A public meeting to establish a second Women’s Shed in Portlaoise will be held on Thursday March 7 in the Parish Centre in Portlaoise at 7pm.
Yesterday, we reported how the first Women’s Shed had been set up in mid-February at the Laois Partnership offices on the Timahoe Road in Portlaoise.
But plans are now in place for a second shed with a meeting called for later this month.
The meeting is being organised by three local women, Anne Marie Allen, Barbara Sheridan and Cllr Thomasina Connell, who say they have long felt the need for such a facility for the women of Portlaoise and surrounding areas.
The mission statement of and the vision for the fledgling shed is simple: “to provide a safe and welcoming place for women aged 18 and above to come together, connect, and support each other.
“We offer a range of activities for everyone to enjoy, aimed at improving health and well-being through friendship and skill-sharing.”
Run by volunteers, they are a non-profit charity focused on reducing isolation and fostering a community of kindness and support.
Anne Marie Allen, who runs AMA Coaching, is one of the three.
She said: “I wanted to get involved in the establishment of the Women’s Shed Portlaoise initiative with Thomasina and Barbara to unite local women through friendship, support and skill enhancement.”
She is joined by local county Councillor Thomasina Connell and retired newspaper editor Barbara Sheridan.
“In my work as a county councillor in the Portlaoise area I frequently meet women who experience loneliness and isolation and a Women’s Shed in our area would go a long way in tackling that social isolation for so many women in our community and provide a space where women can come together to socialise and make new friendships in a comfortable and safe environment,” said Cllr Connell.
“I’m keen to make the Women’s Shed inclusive and have something for women of all ages and from all walks of life, be it health programmes, arts and craft, knitting, a book club or just to join in for a cuppa,” she added.
Barbara Sheridan, who retired last year, was surprised to find that Portlaoise, where she has lived for the past 18 years, did not have a Women’s Shed.
“When I retired I went looking for groups and organisations to join and get involved in and having discovered there was no Women’s Shed in the town I decided to get involved with Anne Marie and Thomasina to set one up.
“I believe there is a real need for one in the town and am confident that there are a lot of women out there of all ages and backgrounds who can contribute to and benefit from such an organisation.”
It is envisaged that the shed will meet once a week initially but its programme of activities and frequency of meetings will be driven by the membership.
It’s early days but they have already registered the shed as a voluntary body and obtained their tax clearance certificate.
They have also been successful in securing the community room in the new library in Portlaoise as a temporary home for the shed and have set up a Facebook page in the name of Portlaoise Women’s Shed.
They have also applied for community funding to help get the shed up and running.
Any woman who would like further details can email portlaoisewomensshed@gmail.com.
