Offaly man joins Irish Men’s Shed Association as CEO
The Irish Men’s Shed Association (IMSA) has announced Enda Egan as its newly-appointed chief executive officer.
A native of County Offaly, Mr Egan has 22 years of experience in the community and voluntary sector, 16 of those at CEO level in three different organisations.
The IMSA said in a statement that Mr Egan is a natural leader, and has a proven track record of increasing the reach and effectiveness of the organisations under his management through powerful advocacy, dynamic profile building and the development and consolidation of financial sustainability.
Mr Egan, who is from Rath and lives in Tullamore, joins the IMSA from his role of CEO of Inclusion Ireland, a national organisation representing the 66,000 people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Prior to Inclusion Ireland, he was CEO of the Offaly Centre for Independent Living, where he oversaw the reopening of its residential respite unit, Clochan House.
He also held the post of CEO of the Carers Association for 11 years, and lobbied for the official recognition of family carers, an often overlooked but vital cohort of society.
“I am incredibly honoured to take up the post of CEO with the Irish Men’s Sheds Association. It is an organisation that I have dealt with in the past in an informal capacity and have always admired the central role that the Sheds can play in the wellbeing of men in both rural and urban communities.
“There is no doubt that men need an outlet, a secure place to go, to be active, to chat and to meet each other as equals. In addition to consolidating the health of existing sheds, I am determined to grow the capacity and reach of the organisation. The demands of the Men’s Shed movement in Ireland is as diverse as the shedders that it encompasses, and I look forward to visiting the sheds and meeting the members as soon as circumstances allow.”
Eamonn O’Connor, chairperson of the Irish Men’s Shed Association, said: “There is no doubt that Enda has lengthy experience as a CEO and, having spent his career in the charity health sector, is a great fit for this role.
“It is his genuine enthusiasm for the Men’s Shed project that particularly impresses – not only can I imagine him getting on well with our board, staff and stakeholders, but in particular I am certain he will communicate effectively with the many men in our sheds around the country.”
About the IMSA
The IMSA represents 450 Men’s Sheds that would normally have about 10,000 men attend each week. Although the sheds are now closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, shedders continue to communicate electronically and the IMSA is facilitating the network with online events and workshops.
The sheds will re-open as soon as it is safe to do so and the IMSA staff and volunteers will be on hand to ensure a smooth and secure return to regular shed activities.