'Hatred' felt by members of Travellers' Men's Shed in Cavan

The Cavan Travellers’ Men’s Shed, one of the biggest in the country, believes that it has never had an actual 'shed’ due to “hatred” and “discrimination” against the community, a senior volunteer with the group says.
At a recent public meeting on social inclusion, the group were described as feeling “discriminated against” on “racial” grounds over the lack of a base for the 43 members.
“We’re very disappointed, embarrassed, even a bit jealous of other groups,” volunteer Thomas Maughan told the Celt.
“If you look at the amount of empty buildings around the town, well, we just don’t seem to be getting anywhere. For the last three years we’ve been told that there’s no space available and we feel let down - we’ve been in and out of the council and to letting agents.
“We see all these new men’s sheds that are forming up around the county and it’s great to see it but, literally, within weeks they have a building and we feel that there’s still a lot of discrimination in Cavan Town and around County Cavan and there’s still a lot of hatred against our community,” he said.
The group, formed over three years ago, is one of the oldest and largest in the country and was intended as a workshop for physical and technical craft but without a shed that has proved impossible.
“We do feel it’s because it’s a Traveller group [that there is no shed] but we’ve so much skill and craft: tin smithing, wagon-building, mechanics, musicians, story-tellers and it’s going to go to waste. I am sick and tired of my own community coming back to me saying 'why do you call it Cavan Traveller Movement’s men’s shed, when we don’t have a shed, maybe we need to call it something else’.

'Ongoing battle’
“We’ve set up our own football team, we travel around the country playing people from all different backgrounds and they’ve got their shed, but we cannot even meet up.
“Just have a look around the outskirts of Cavan Town, there’s so many buildings that have been closed down for the last number of years - it’s a shame and we feel let down.
“The group isn’t going to shut down, though. There’s too much energy and for a lot of the lads this is the first time that there’s been anything done for the Travelling men in Cavan.”
The group get funding from Cavan County Council and from the St Stephen’s Green Trust to run various projects but only enough money for a single short-term community worker, supported by volunteer Thomas.
“We had a community worker on a five-six month contract. She’s actually had to leave because we didn’t have any funding and she was only part-time. It’s an ongoing battle and without Cavan County Council and their support on social inclusion and St Stephen’s Green Trust there would literally be no Cavan Traveller Movement here,” said Mr Maughan, adding the group has a single, small office on Bridge Street that “sits two people”.

'Hurt’
“It should be supported, with so many people coming together doing positive things for the community and to show pride in their identity. It also keeps them away from depression, drinking, smoking; they’re living longer, they’re healthier - the suicide rate in the community is twice that of settled people. It’s important.”
Without an actual 'shed’, the group are move activity-based - hiking, fishing competition, camping, handball - but those are weather-dependent and not ideal.
“But we actually want to build something, get the 43 into a shed and actually sit down and decide what we’ll build, something for the community and the county, but it’s physically not possible because we haven’t been giving the opportunity.
“Other groups have the funding and the premises but are struggling for people, there might only be five or six in another group. We’ve got the people but no premises - we’re different. In this day and age, that hurts,” he said.

Cavan County Council statement:
“Cavan County Council are aware of the difficulties that Cavan Traveller Men’s Shed has had in securing premises and we will work with Cavan Traveller Movement to assist them in their attempts to secure premises for the Men’s Shed.
All of the Men’s Sheds in County Cavan, including the Traveller Men’s Shed, were collectively entered into this year’s national Pride of Place competition. In their presentation to the judges, the Traveller Men’s Shed was described as one of the most successful Traveller Men’s Sheds in the country with 43 members attending regularly.
They have been involved in various sporting activities and outdoor activities such as camping and fishing. Cavan County Council has a very positive working relationship with Cavan Traveller Movement (CTM) and provides support to CTM in the form of office space and financial support for a part-time Community Development post.
Previously, support was also provided through the Peace III Programme and we have accessed other grants where possible for Traveller inclusion work, for example, for Traveller Pride Week, funded through Dept of Justice; a community and voluntary grant for a mural project, and funding for a Traveller Youth Engagement Project. We will continue to work to leverage additional funding for Cavan Traveller Movement, including for the Men’ Shed.”