A Women's Shed in north Kildare has transformed the lives of women in the community by creating a network for socialising and friendship.
The Celbridge Women's Shed has organised a book club, walking group, card games and day trips so there's something for all women in the community to enjoy.
Theresa Whelan founded the Shed last September to try tackle loneliness in the town.
She told Dublin Live there was immediate interest in the Shed and there are now over 100 members.
She said: "I was fairly lonely during the lockdowns because I live in Celbridge and my family are all in Ringsend.
"Even though you're doing the zoom calls and all that, I was living alone and I was working in a three-floor office building in a room for 40 people on my own.
"My sister-in-law called over one Saturday for coffee. I sat in my porch and she sat out in the garden and when she left after about an hour I actually burst into tears. I was so happy to see somebody.
"So I anonymously put up a post on the Celbridge Information Facebook page and I just said would anybody be interested in setting up a Shed with me and I got quite a few replies."
Theresa organised for the women to have their first meeting in a function room in a local pub and over thirty people showed up.
The Shed has blossomed ever since and and have organised lots of fun events and gatherings.
They also meet every second Tuesday in the Abbey Lodge McNamees in Celbridge.
Theresa said: "Everyone has a talent and a skill that maybe they don't realise they're good at something if it hasn't been brought out of them.
"Everyone can contribute something. We have close to 100 members and we have lots of things planned."
Theresa said one of the most rewarding parts of the Shed has been seeing the friendships among the women grow.
"We're just thriving. The ladies are so supportive of each other.
"I can see the friendships forming already. You'd have maybe the same three or four on the Wednesday walk or you'd know who'd meet up on a Friday morning.
"The lovely thing is, that as we leave McNamees on a Tuesday evening, the girls are standing outside talking to each other and arranging to meet separately.
"Now for the first time in 20 years, since I've lived in Celbridge, I actually know people by name if I walk through the village, whereas before I didn't know anybody.
"I'm not married, have no kids and I work full time. It's such a lovely place to live but you need to be part of something to get involved."
The group have loads of upcoming activities planned.
Theresa said: "We have a local author, Anthony Giblin, coming in to talk to us soon. We did afternoon tea before Christmas.
"We meet every second Tuesday at McNamees at 7:30pm so our next meeting is March 1.
"Next weekend we are going to do a two-hour walking tour of Dublin and then we're going for food afterwards.
"We're doing a day to Newry, a day trip to the Isle of Man and we're planning glamping."
The group are completely not for profit and charge a €20 annual fee to cover public liability insurance for when the members go on trips.
Theresa said the only thing the group is missing is their own shed with a hall door or meeting place that is accessible seven days a week.
She also said the group are really open to sponsorship and new members and you don't need to be from Celbridge to join.
If you can assist the women in securing a meeting place or would like to find out more information about the Celbridge Women's Shed, you can get in touch with them by email: womensshedcelbridge@gmail.com
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