A group of modellers in Co Armagh have created a ‘shed’ with a difference – an incredible six-foot replica of St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Armagh’s Men Shed is a community-based organisation that brings together men of all ages into an inclusive and safe social environment from Monday to Friday.
They have embarked on several other projects building models of Armagh’s First Presbyterian Church and St Malachy’s Chapel.
The St Patrick’s Cathedral model, launched at Armagh City Hotel, took around three months to build and incorporates wood, clay and working lights inside the replica.
It measures an impressive six feet in length and four and a half feet wide.
Around 30 members of the Men’s Shed would work together to construct it every Thursday.
Stephen McCleary (56) was part of the team that helped out.
Armagh Men’s Shed with Dean Shane Forster at the launch of the model of St Patrick’s Cathedral. (Credit: Jonathan Hull)
“Each person was tasked with a specific aspect of the church,” he explained.
“The whole aspect of doing it together from a mental health perspective was good it was great craic too. Thursday’s there was a great buzz about the place.”
Members took a tour of the cathedral and snapped photos from every angle to ensure they were as accurate as possible.
Stephen said: “The hardest part was getting it out the door when we finished it. We actually broke a wee part of it going out the door but it was easy enough building it.
“Everything else was dead on, we had good craic building it.”
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For their next project, they plan to hone their crafting skills in making traditional-style cottages.
The Armagh Men’s Shed first opened their doors in January 2012 with just six members. After that, Stephen said things “snowballed.”
Their group ranges from men in their early 30s to late 80s and is one of over 100 organisations scattered across the country.
“It’s about getting men together and giving them something different to do, a different purpose,” Stephen explained.
“Our Shed is situated in a spot that brings in both sides of the community. There’s people of all religions and no religions here. It’s a brilliant concept, I think there should be one in every town.”
He added: “It improves family life, home life it gives a bit of respite for the wives. A lot of the men who came to the Men’s Shed would have had a bit of depression. I would call it a prescription for something like that – a tablet for depression.”
Stephen said the Men’s Shed organisations will be visiting MLAs at Stormont in the coming weeks to advocate for increased funding.
The model measures six feet in length and four and a half feet in width
Similar groups in the Republic of Ireland are backed by the public health body, something Stephen is hoping for here.
“It takes the pressure off of the mental health services. Boys are going to the Shed’s instead of going to their doctor’s,” he said.
“Down south, the Men’s Sheds are fully tied in with the health services. So we’re hoping Stormont can step in and offer the same for the Men’s Shed’s here.”
Stephen added: “Loneliness and isolation is a major factor. I didn’t take on board until I retired from work, you don’t realise how lonely you are until you’re sitting at home doing nothing.
“I think it’s so important to combat loneliness and get men talking to each other together.”