Activism & Volunteering

Has Killarney Men’s Shed got Ireland's biggest pear tree? Show us a bigger one then! Plus - the five magical steps you need to take to open a Men’s Shed.

The welcome towards Ukrainian refugees is not as universal as it was in February, as shown by hostile comments from Irish people regarding refugees who were living in tents in a recycling centre.

Offaly Volunteer Centre officially opened its doors at Bury Quay, Tullamore, on Friday, March 4th. As chairperson Martin Buckley, founder member of Pullough Community Shop which recently won the ‘Unsung Hero of Offaly’ award, said, “The future of Offaly volunteering is well and truly established and I am proud to be part of something that is outstanding.”

“I had thirteen children hanging out of my car one time and the guards stopped us. ‘Where are ye going?’ one of them roared. Luckily, one of our team managers was a guard – he said ‘Do no more about it. He’s taking children off the road.’” – recalls Billy Grehan. Above: Billy and Margaret attending a match.

"My time volunteering is mostly spent in the ICU, cleaning hedgehog homes and doling out regular feedings to birds." - Grace Barrett reports on her visit to Ireland’s first wildlife hospital, in Meath.

Why has the community of Garryowen been left without a community centre? It is almost certainly the only community of its size and age in all of Ireland without such a facility.

“I am from the area and I work with over 60 young people from the area. These young people are crying out for a community centre.” - Youth worker, Jonathan Collins

Is gentrification stealing Dublin city from its people? “We have a great fear as this land is such rich land,” says Rita Fagan of Inchicore. “We see a hollowing out of traditional communities,” says Noel Wardick of Dublin City Community Co-operative. Both talk to journalist Laoise Neylon.