Sister Sheds is a community for women all over Ireland to meet up on a weekly basis in their locality for a chat and a cup of tea, or for a workshop or class in various topics.
The group was set up by cousins Rachel and Sherin Hughes off the back of the pandemic in October 2021 at a time where loneliness was at an all time high, yet there was also sense of community with everyone coming together to get through difficult times.
Rachel said: "Even though we were in lockdown, neighbours actually had time to talk to each other over the garden wall and play bingo together. I was talking to Sherin at the time and we were talking about back in the 1970's and 80's there were ladies clubs which kind of became extinct.
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"When we initially started with the sister sheds we didn't know what we were doing, we just knew we wanted to create a space for women to be able to come and connect with each other. Our main mission was to combat loneliness and isolation."
She added: "I think during covid everybody felt that, we all felt that disconnection. So we spoke about it on the phone and I took to social media and posted on Finglas Talks on Facebook because I knew they had a big following and I just put up the idea we had, we didn't even have a name yet and it absolutely blew up.
"That was on the Wednesday and we were sitting in our first sister shed on the Friday."
Rachel explained that at the time there were no community centres available to use due to the pandemic so they rented a space in a hairdressers in Finglas where 15 women showed up.
Speaking about the present day, Rachel said: "We are a little bit more organised now and we have facilitators on board that can deliver talks on healthy eating, personal growth or whatever that specific group wants."
She explained that each group now stands alone for the most part and each has their own individual committee and they can decide what kind of activities or workshops the group wants.
Speaking about the things each group do, Rachel said: "Well Sherin is a life coach herself and I'm a hairdresser so I'm a bit of a therapist in a way and we personally love the holistic approach to life so yoga, mindfullness and meditation. We brought some of that to the sister sheds and they absolutely loved it.
"In terms of the activities we have had before, there have been mental health courses, mediation workshops, crochet classes, jewellery makers, makeup tutorials, life coaching sessions and more over the years.
"In terms of who can join a sister shed group there are no limits as long as you are over 18 any woman is free to join. The youngest member currently is 25 and the eldest lady is 97.
"In terms of payment when it comes to joining a sister shed as the group is now a registered CLG and they are awaiting charitable status, there is a yearly membership fee of €36.50 which makes you an insured member of the sister sheds and includes perks such as a discount with fbd insurance and a discount for the opticians in Arnotts.
"There is also a four to five week grace period for new members where they don't have to pay the membership and can see if the group is for them before signing up."
The next event upcoming for members to join is a 'heal your body heal your soul' beginners yoga and fitness class that is on in St. Anne's Park at the red stables on June 7.
There are now 16 sister sheds across Dublin and one in Wilton in Cork.
If anyone is interested in joining they can contact Rachel on 085 733 0997.
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