Mr. George Kelly:

A question was asked about ground-up development and Deputy Michael Collins asked about women being involved in the sheds, which is very appropriate given that the ICA is here. We have had a discussion with the ICA which is very anxious to work with us. We will certainly reciprocate that because the first shed in the world was founded in south Australia by a woman. We would also welcome Macra na Feirme on board.

In my own shed in Killarney in Kerry we have started a project with a younger group whose members are working on the refurbishment of a tractor. Such projects offer huge potential for other groups. The ground-up approach is very much the ethos of the men's sheds. Each shed has its own structure, as Mr. Sheridan pointed out. Our board, which I chair, is made up mainly of shedders. I am a shedder and am one of the founding people in Killarney. I was the first chairman of the first shed in Kerry. We set up our shed five years ago and there are now 16 sheds in Kerry. Mr. Eoin Martyn is a board member from Galway and he is also a shedder. Everybody is active on the ground. Our board is diverse and we have tried to include people with skills that we lack. The majority of the board are shedders.

We are encouraging the development of the social side of men's sheds. We believe it should not just be about work. In our own shed we have made Monday evening our social evening. Sometimes it involves music or the rambling house type of activity. It provides a great opportunity for people to get an introduction to sheds and what they are all about. We refer to it as the pub with no beer.