Published: Friday, 26th February, 2010 5:00pm

Male re-awakening in the West

Sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander

Thomas McGovern, Joe McGovern, Craig Sands, the Organic Centre, Rosinver and Martin Carleton.

A high percentage of the men are single and living on their own in remote areas and they have now been afforded an exciting new window of opportunity to mingle with their neighbours in a non-threatening environment.

When The Anglo-Celt visited Glangevlin Hall recently, the men were actively engaged in learning all about gardening.

Marie O'Reilly, community development officer working for Cavan County Council explained that she is carrying out her remit in West Cavan with the aid of the Peace III funding under the auspices of the local authority.

The project also forms part of the EU programme for peace and reconciliation with an emphasis on building up good relations within the community and with their cross border counterparts.

One of the main objectives of the programme is to address the isolation of men in West Cavan and put supports in place for them. They will be afforded opportunities to meet people from other communities who also experienced the troubles and plot the future way forward.

There is an emphasis on getting them involved in the community and building up the community spirit in West Cavan. Marie pointed out that the area had suffered from social isolation over the years and emigration and is somewhat detached from the centre of Cavan.

She also highlighted that the geopark in the area has the potential to bring people back into the area.

Marie carried out a profile on the 30 men who attended a recent get together. Eighteen of them were married and 12 were unmarried - either single or separated and most living alone. The group ranges in age from 40 to 60 years old.

Marie added that the men are very interested in social interaction and to become acquainted with the other people in the community.

During one of their recent debates, the men related smuggling stories on the Border. They have also had the opportunity to meet the North Leitrim men's group.

The men are quite interested in the idea of a community garden where they could work together like the bog years ago. They are also interested in looking at their heritage and the history of the area and the history of the troubles in the area.

When the men were asked what training they would like to be offered, they immediately indicated computers. "The world wide web would open an entire new world to these men," said Marie. Some have also expressed an interest in learning how to paint, while others are anxious to have ballroom dancing arranged and learn to play an instrument. A bus is put on to transport the men who do not drive to their meetings.

Sandy Holland from Community Connections, a similar project, said it was a community project, which works with a wide range of people. "One of the groups we work with are men and that is why were involved in helping to establish this project. It involves bringing men together in a relaxed environment with a view to decreasing the sense of rural isolation. We are also examining opportunities where people can come together to improve their own community." He revealed that they too have an idea to develop a community garden.

Mens' view

Vincent Convey said he had come along first and foremost to enjoy the social aspect of the group. "I'm a single man and I live on my own - it gets me out of the house. We talk about interesting subjects. We also go on trips and recently visited the machinery show in Cavan Equestrian Centre."

Great outlet

He finds the networking great and he is interested in following up a number of courses that have been suggested. Vincent says the idea of a community garden would be most positive and would also get people out of the house into a healthy environment.

Craig Sands from the Organic Centre in Rossinver was on hand to give the men a talk on organic horticulture and growing. "They had lots of good questions here tonight."

Brendan Cornyn from Dowra says he is a married man and "my wife can be out four nights a week at courses for computers, cookery and different things".

He added: "There was nothing for men until this initiative was put in place. We had a really enjoyable trip to the farm machinery show in Cavan. There was great comradery and craic. Finally there is something for men to do with a social aspect."

"As you can see here tonight there are a lot of boys living on their own and it gets them out of the house and they have good social interaction with other people," added Brendan Cornyn.

He also pointed out that this project offers a total new concept for men. Prior to this there was nothing to do for men accept go to the pub. Now with the drink driving laws, that avenue is closed off.

"The good thing about this project, it is totally up to ourselves what we want to do - we are not be pushed in any direction - that it very important and I think it is a fantastic idea," said Brendan.

JP Dolan revealed that he is a single man and was enjoying the new outlet the project was offering. He is interested in the various courses and learning new things.

Some of the men have expressed an interest in learning basic computer skills and the farmers are looking forward to meeting personnel from Teagasc to explain the new single payment scheme and the new REPS scheme.

Frankie Maguire from Dowra explained that the project affords him a new opportunity to get out of the house. "I am living on my own on a small suckler farm." He smiled when it was suggested to him that he could end up buying a laptop computer, and quipped: "It could happen - you never know." He enjoys getting out to meet all his neighbours and hearing the run of the country.

Thomas McGovern says he enjoys meeting all the people and it is a good education. He lives alone and enjoys what the project has to offer.

Community Development

Ciaran Cornyn from Dowra says he was involved in community development in the Dowra area and Marie O'Reilly asked him if he knew people who would be interested in forming a new men's group.

"I thought it was an absolutely fantastic initiative and full credit must go to Marie O'Reilly and Cavan County Council for making funds available for this imaginative venture. It is structured in such a way as to empower people to get involved in deciding their own level of training. There was a deficit in this part of Cavan and it is addressing that directly," said Ciaran.

The pub is off the agenda and people are suffering from rural isolation. "This offers a change to meet in a safe non pub environment and meet neighbours. People are brought here by bus and left home again."

The fact that the agenda is driven by the participants, as opposed to a structure being imposed from the outside will according to Ciaran, guarantee its success.

The men usually conclude the night with a few songs and music.