Banagher Men’s Shed group finds a permanent home

Banagher's Men Shed has found a permanent home on Cuba Avenue.

The former fire station building there is to be leased to the group for a nominal fee of €100 per annum. The lease, which is set for 30 years, was agreed at the latest meeting of Offaly County Council.

The group, in which men can meet to work on joint projects, socialise with others or just drop in for a chat and to get out of the house, is expected to take up residence in the disused fire station in Banagher in the coming months.

"It's a done deal, and it's great to see that they will have a permanent home," said local Fine Gael councillor Hughie Egan. "It's a very vibrant men's shed, and it's a great way for lads to get socialising. It's very well attended.

"Banagher is getting its vibrancy back, between the new outdoor pool, and the footpaths being extended. It's important for the investment to continue in these smaller rural towns."

Banagher fire station closed in September 2010, along with stations in Daingean and Kilcormac, prompted by Offaly County Council due to funding, staffing, and health and safety concerns.

The former fire station building on Cuba Avenue was later repurposed and taken over by West & South Offaly Homefix, which began using it in early 2020.

The social enterprise that provides a minor home repair service to people aged 65 or more in the communities of West and South Offaly.

The HomeFix service, which operated for 17 years within the local communities of West and South Offaly, was discontinued in August 2025 - once again leaving the fire station disused.