Australia gives us Ugg boots, Fosters and now Men’s Sheds

A Men's Shed in the UK

Smaller housing complexes had, by the early 90s, left less room for Australians to have their traditional large back-yard sheds. Men, especially retired ones, therefore, were often left without a place to go or activities to get on with. 

As a result, the concept of community sheds was born, and it has since become something of a phenomenon in that country. Like Ugg boots, Fosters and Home and Away, the export has since taken off in Ireland.

Arklow: Men leave their shed in a boat

BY ALAN JACQUES

An Bád Inbhear Mór

The 25 members of Arklow Men’s Sheds Group made waves recently as they kept their hometown’s long and proud tradition of boat building alive with the launch of their 20ft timber dory.

Named 'An Bád Inbhear Mór', the rowing boat took 13 weeks to build at a workshop in Croghan Industrial Estate with timber sourced from the ‘TSV Asgard II’ supply.