The Hen's Shed is well up to scratch in Belturbet.L-R Back Row, Emer Hyland, via Dublin/England/Spain/Belturbet; Mary Kennedy, Quivvy; Carmel O'Reilly, Belturbet; Marian O'Brien, Belturbet; Vida Ziziene, Lithuania/Belturbet; Sheila Armstrong, Belturbet/Ex Dublin; Tonni Anderson McCusker, Denmark/Can

Women in Belturbet Hen's Shed spread their wings

The Hen’s Shed in Belturbet is going from strength to strength and wonderful friendships and social interaction is being forged in the Goods Store at the Railway Station each Thursday morning.

To get an insight into the story behind the formation of a Hen’s Shed in Belturbet, I visited the ladies at their base recently as they chatted and enjoyed a cup of tea.
Formed in June 2016, Hilary McPhillips explained that the shed was initiated by Karina Charles and Emer Henry.
There is a core group of around 25 women and, most weeks, there are new people coming along to be part of a relaxed social interaction for two hours. Age is no barrier and ladies from 19 to 90 can be part of this wonderful initiative.
“We recently did a six-week cookery course run by the ETB before Christmas. We also did arts and crafts, enjoyed sound meditation baths when lying on the floor, made wreaths for the table or graves prior to the festive season and we also did Reiki,” Hilary said by way of giving a flavour of the activities undertaken by the hens.
The co-ordinator of SOSAD recently gave a presentation at the shed, while representatives from MABS and CAMCAS are set to visit in the coming weeks.
A six-week beauty course is scheduled to commence on March 2.
The hens recently went rambling over to the Men’s Shed, which is in close proximity to their base in the Good Store. “We were very well entertained and the beautiful refreshments included ample pieces of apple tart,” said Tina Fitzpatrick.
While a majority of the ladies in the Hens Shed are from the Belturbet area, there are also members from Redhills, Ballyconnell, Ballinagh, Mullahoran and Milltown and others from Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Dublin, and Canada who are now living in the area.
“We share ideas, talents and network,” explained Hilary.
Mary Kennedy from Quivvy said she was encouraged to come to the group by friends. “I came along to see for myself and this is my first day – I am very pleasantly surprised,” she said.
Carmel O’Reilly from just outside Belturbet said she had recently retired from nursing. “I have found everybody very welcoming and I intend to come back. I have met former colleagues here that have retired.”
Mary Gaffney from Milltown, who also retired from nursing recently, also heard about the shed through word of mouth.
Tonni Anderson McCusker, who was born in Denmark and raised in Canada, is now living in the countryside near Belturbet. She joined the Hen’s Shed to make new friends.
Sheila Armstrong hails from Dublin and has been living in Belturbet for eight years. “I find it is very important to have groups like this, so that we get an opportunity to mix and make friends when you are new in the area. I think this is a brilliant group,” she said.
Margaret Charles has been with from group from the outset. “I enjoy it every week. I have good friends here and I look forward to it every week.”
Helga Petch from Germany who has been living here seven years said she joined to learn more about Irish culture. “I have enjoyed every minute of it so far.”
Mary McElgunn explained that she came along to meeting people and have fun with lovely friends. “They all gave me a lovely time for my recent birthday.”
Una O’Connor, originally from Dublin, lived in Canada for 35 years before moving to Milltown to be close to her brother and his family. “I joined in September and it is a great group and I have met lots of friends.”
Margaret McGuigan joined about two months ago. “I have found the group very welcoming and you can dip in and out of it without making a commitment. I have gotten to know more people as a result of joining. I had been working for nearly 40 years. I hate to miss the group meetings now.”
The group are the lookout for a premises that they could call a permanent home and enhance to suit their activities.
The general committee tasked with co-ordinating the activities of the group are Hilary McPhillips, Tina Fitzpatrick, Margaret Charles and Mary McElgunn.