Meeting the Déise Women's Shed

Formed in 2018, the Déise Women’s Shed has become a beacon of community for women across county Waterford.

The Shed provides a safe environment for women to come together to share skills, form friendships, socialise, and engage with community initiatives.

One of the Shed’s staples has been their Blankets of Hope project, providing blankets made by the members to people of all ages facing illness across the county. Countless blankets have been delivered to local hospitals and palliative care units since the inception of the initiative.

The Waterford News & Star stopped by the Shed’s fundraiser last week to ask some members what the Shed means to them.

Eileen said: “I had retired from work, my son had gone to university and I was at home on my own, so we decided to start something for the women.

“We organize different outings and different people to come and give talks. People also just come to meet and make new friends. Everybody has their own reason to come. It really gets you out of bed in the morning."

Maureen added: “If you’re a widow and you live on your own and living in the country, you can be very isolated. So when we open Monday and Tuesday mornings, people are welcomed in and they feel part of a family.

“The shed has kept me going and I find it helps everybody in a different way.” 

Trish added: “Especially after Covid, a lot of things closed and didn’t come back, so the Shed might be the only time some of the ladies would meet people and get out of the house.

Eleanor said: “We have companionship here and people who have lived alone have made friends.

“Everybody comes together to sit down or have a cup of tea and that makes a huge difference to a person. It’s like a new lease of life for people. It’s taken away the loneliness from peoples lives which is fantastic.”