Women's Shed members "humbled" by generosity of local community

The members of Tullamore Women’s Shed have admitted they are “humbled” by the overwhelming generosity of the local community since they put out a call for assistance after securing a new premises in the town last week.

PRO for the group Gina Condron said they have been “inundated with offers” of everything from furniture to paint and everything in between.

“I even had a phonecall this week from a local oil company who are going to give us a year’s supply of oil free of charge,” says Gina. “To say we are all genuinely humbled by the generosity of the local community is an understatement.”

Having enjoyed huge success since its foundation in March of this year, Tullamore Women’s Shed was faced with an unexpected dilemma earlier this month when Laois Offaly Education and Training Board informed them that they would have to vacate the room they were using for their weekly meetings in Castle Buildings by September.

“The room we were using was used as a canteen for staff in pre-Covid times, and from September onwards it is going to be used for the same purpose, so we were faced with looking for a new premises,” says Gina.

The group was contacted by a local person who offered to lease them a premises on Henry Street which was formerly the site of the original Gaelscoil in Tullamore and operated as a playschool in more recent years. “We are signing a lease for a year and we are only being charged a very nominal rent, so we are delighted to finally have a meeting place, but we are not underestimating the challenge we face in bringing the building up to standard,” says Gina Condron.

The benefactor wishes to remain anonymous, as does the local company who donated oil to the Tullamore Women’s Shed for a year, but the group’s PRO says “many other people” have offered their time and their services to the group free of charge and she says there is “huge goodwill” in the community towards the Shed members.

Gina says the members are “extremely grateful” to each and every person and company who has offered to help so far, including Tullamore Lions Club which gave them a donation of €1,2000. “We are hoping to create a library in our new premises where members can come in and make a cup of tea, read a book and just relax, and already we have been offered a full box of new books,” she says

“We have had a lot of offers of money, for which we are so grateful, and the offers are not just coming in from all over Offaly but from neighbouring counties as well,” says Gina Condron, who adds that the members will be moving into their new premises in September and will use the month of August to get the building ready for occupation, including cleaning, painting and installing furniture and fittings.

“We also have a large area out the back which needs cleaning up, so if there are any horticulturists out there who would like to take a look at the space and give us a few ideas we would love to hear from them,” says Gina, who has also put the call out to local tradesmen to come on board and help them with revamping their new premises.

Anyone who wants to make a donation of furniture or fittings is asked to send a photo of the item they wish to donate to: tullamorewomensshed@gmail.com as Gina Condron says they are not in a position to dispose of items which are not suitable.

Tradesmen who wish to donate their skills are asked to ring Gina Condron directly on: 086 8250811 to discuss what is needed.

Tullamore Women’s Shed has 160 paid up members, and a regular weekly attendance of up to 50 women, some of whom travel long distances to partake in sing-along sessions, ukulele lessons, craft mornings, yoga classes, walks and outings.

The Shed has ambitious plans going forward, including the provision of evening classes for members, and Gina Condron says their objective is to “remain open at all times” for members who need to connect with other members or who might need to “take a break, for whatever reason” and find sanctuary in their new premises.

When they have completed all the work on revamping their new premises on Henry Street, Tullamore Women’s Shed is hoping to have a Grand Opening, and already it has had offers from local companies who want to be involved in providing food, entertainment and publicity for the event.

If there is one lesson to be learned from their search for a new premises, Gina Condron says it is “the value of community” and she says the generosity of the community of Tullamore and the surrounding areas has been astonishing.

“We are still looking for tradesmen and for any other offers of help,” she says, “and we are so, so grateful to everyone who has been in touch so far” she says.

Tullamore Women’s She can be contacted on: 089 6176850 for anyone who wishes to join or find out more information about the group’s activities.

It is planning to hold a fundraising flag day on September 3 next, and a Cake and Craft Sale in the Bridge Centre later in the year.