A busy start to 2022

We have 80 names on our Member’s list now.. These include rugby club ;members who are retired , widowed or over 60; overseas past members; friends and guests of members; speakers and anyone who has a like minded approach to keeping in touch , learning useful things , visiting interesting places and enjoying each others company while doing some good projects, The Shed tries to come up with a variety of activities which keep members involved and active.

In summary ….HAVE FUN TOGETHER

So how did we do this in January 2022??

Our Friday morning gatherings continued throughout January . The average number attending these has increased to circa 20.
This group has now completed the removal of the green Portacabins and emptied one of the remaining “ twin” 20 footers prior to it being taken away. Currently we are trying to tidy up the mats and other Horse show paraphernalia so as to level off the ground and prepare the site for a new custom made Shed to store everything in. Manpower is needed for all this especially as we lop trees; prune hedges and trim edgings ready for Spring planting. More flower beds will become visible in time but these will need maintenance and a bit of weeding etc.Nothing too strenuous. Meanwhile a quiet and effective group of four painters have sandpapered and repainted almost two sides of the main pitch as can be seen by those attending matches.
Our walkers continue to walk and our talkers can’t be stopped!! Tea , coffee , biscuits and cake are served to all with a bit of ” medicine” for those with health issues post their activity!!

On the informational front , We had a Zoom presentation by Dermot Goode of Total Healthcare in Jan 19 th . 30 Shedders managed the technology involved , listened attentively and participated in a lively and informative Q and A session afterwards. It seemed clear to all that everyone pays too much for whatever Health insurance cover we have with substantial savings available for those that wish to follow it up.

12 Shedders travelled to Navan for our vital away AIL match on Jan 25th which saw us run out 37-30 winners. We stopped in the excellent An Sibin pub/ restaurant in Dunshaughlin on the way to Navan where we had a great lunch and good pre match craic.

And now a glimpse into what events are coming up
On Feb 3rd we had a tour of Jack B Yeats’s paintings in the National Library followed by lunch in Dunne and Crescenzi’s;
Eddie Gannon is organizing our participation in the 2022 version of OBRFC keep fit challenge ; We have Andy Dunne coming along to show a small group of us on sticks and mobility aids what limited physio exercises we can do as part of the Old Belvedere RFC Challenge and we’ll do that every Friday ourselves. with occasional oversight and input from Andy. Our thanks to him for his help and enthusiasm.

Morgan Sheehy David Murray and Tony Doran will continue to spearhead our Friday projects ;
John O Leary and Eddie Tucker will continue to paint all before them ( with help from others)
Tony O Brien is putting together a visit to Russborough House on Mar 3rd with lunch afterwards in Ballymore Eustace.
We have booked Shed tables at the Club’s Rory Best dinner ( Feb 24th) and Annual Dinner ( Mar 5th) and and will do likewise at the pre match lunch in Highfield ( Feb 26th) .

In the longer term we’re still hoping to go to visit the Normandy beaches for four days during the last week of April and Pat Griffith is trying to put an itinerary together that meets our needs.

Sadly we lost Peter McKeever during January and just recently John Lavelle each in their own way stalwarts of the Rugby Club and our Shed .
We welcome new Shedders in Declan Hogan , David Ross and Declan Molloy. .

Join us any Friday and see for yourselves .Otherwise keep well

OBRFC Men’s Shed Committee