Queer Sheds project is a new initiative that aims to challenge social isolation and foster LGBTQ+ community.

Queer people all over Ireland continue to face challenges including isolation, discrimination, and limited access to support networks and healthcare - particularly in rural areas.

Inspired by the successful Men's Sheds, and more recently Women’s Sheds movements, Queer Sheds is a community-based initiative aimed at creating a new type of an inclusive, non-judgmental, and safe environment where LGBTQ+ people can connect, engage, co-create, share and support each other.

In 2024, we are currently running a six month pilot project with the kind support of Clare County Council. In this time, we will support the development of a Queer Sheds group in Clare that can inform and inspire other groups, with six workshop events bringing together the skills of those participating. We will run a small queer festival in July that aims to celebrate queer people thriving in rural and unconventional ways. Throughout, we will ask questions that help us understand how this type of space could support LGBTQ+ people.

At the end of this pilot period, we hope to have learnings and evidence to support further development of the Queer Shed Network in Ireland.

If you are interested supporting this project, please get in touch at hello@queersheds.org.

The Queer Sheds team

  • Fionn Kidney (he/they)

    Moving to the west of Ireland in 2021, Fionn enjoyed being closer to nature but missed the sense of queer community he once enjoyed in Dublin. As co-founder of Common Knowledge, a non-profit social enterprise, he now works to support people and communities to live more sustainably through skill sharing, and is keen to share this experience in a new way through the Queer Sheds project. Fionn has worked to establish social impact projects for the past 15 years, and has served as a Director of Anu Productions, Darklight Film Festival and GAZE LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Fionn is currently Chairperson of Inishturk Community Club CLG, the charitable social enterprise managing community development for one of Ireland’s most remote islands.

    Fionn on Instagram

  • Aoife Hammond (they/them)

    Based between Clare and Leitrim, Aoife is a community facilitator, cultural producer and musician. They have spent over 15 years working in the social enterprise and community sectors in Ireland. Aoife is currently the coordinator of Common Knowledge's community projects and previously as director of Fulacht Fiadh Café – a community focussed venue and café in County Leitrim and manager of the Dublin Food Co-op. Aoife have spent many years organising, facilitating and producing projects with queer and grassroots organisations.

    Aoife on Instagram