21/08/2026
“You’re never too old. You’ll never achieve anything if you don’t try.”
Meet Owen Durkan, 88, of Tuam Men’s Shed.
Owen has just completed a rather special job — personally hand-turning 40 executive pens from olive wood for the Department of Transport as part of Ireland’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Every one of the 40 pens was made by Owen, with the entire order completed in around three weeks.
The pens incorporate the broken wheel of St Jarlath, a symbol deeply associated with Tuam, giving a distinctly local identity to gifts that will now be connected with Ireland’s role on the European stage.
A former Garda Sergeant who later trained Gardaí at Templemore, Owen took up woodturning in retirement and is largely self-taught. He was also there at the beginning of Tuam Men’s Shed around 13 years ago.
For Owen, the Shed is about far more than woodworking. It is somewhere to go, something to do, people to meet and a reason to keep learning.
At 88, he is still doing exactly that.
And his advice to other men considering joining a Shed or trying something new?
“You’re never too old.”
A remarkable piece of craftsmanship — but an even better example of what Men’s Sheds are all about: purpose, friendship, skills and the opportunity to keep achieving at every stage of life.
Congratulations Owen and everyone at Tuam Men’s Shed.
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