Birr Men Together has become a very positive part of Birr's life

Midland Tribune Deputy Editor 'Long before history books and news bulletins, stories were passed on around the fire' Sign up to our Ireland Live newsletter Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Ireland Live within your account. 'The Rambling House' was a community arts project during Heritage Week, that was showcased in Birr Library. Led by Birr Men Together and artists Hazel Greene and Christor the project included the making of a video which highlighted the fun, sociability and general craic which Birr Men Together regularly enjoy when they meet in the Presbytery in Birr. The idea of the project was to highlight the value and importance of the old tradition of the rambling house where neighbours gathered for music, stories and memories. The project was featured nationally on RTE Radio 1's CountryWide programme and it was supported by the County Council through the Creative Ireland Community Grant Programme. READ NEXT: Birr Men Together to host Open Day as part of Vintage Week celebration "Our short visual project,' said Hazel Greene, 'explores the tradition of the Irish rambling house through storytelling, oral history, and a contemporary recorded gathering, reimagining this rich oral heritage for a modern audience. Long before history books and news bulletins, stories were passed on around the fire: some old, some new, some made up, and some told in song. Birr Men Together are keeping that tradition alive.' Birr Men Together has blossomed into something very positive in a short space of time. It's providing a wonderful opportunity for men to come together, meet new people, make friends, have a chat, enjoy activities and trips together. Community, they believe, is all about bringing people together, making connections and ensuring that nobody feels alone. The film is very well made and features a number of personal reflections from members of the group. 'You need to be talking, you need to be mixing,' says Jimmy Shortt, Secretary of Birr Men Together. 'No man is an island. Isolation is an awful thing and it makes such a difference for people to have something like this.' Speaker after speaker touch on this theme, the need to have somewhere where you can have a chat and a cup of tea, where you can mingle, talk and listen, 'far away,' as one member says, 'from the corporate world mentality'. Another said the camaraderie is very important to him and a sense of creating friendships. It's obvious that the group's meetings in the Presbytery are a safe place (emotionally speaking) for the members where they can be themselves and engage in essential social interaction. The film takes place in the Presbytery and in Carrigeen Farmhouse in Five Alley and features a mixture of songs, poems and music. 'At our first meeting we had five members,' says Cyril Stanley. 'Now we have 21. I love people and it's very important for me that I get out there and interact with them.' The film is strongly recommended. You can watch it on the Birr Theatre & Arts Centre website. Google: birrtheatre.com/communityprojects-1/the- rambling-house The film will be given another public viewing during OFFline.