Meitheal
Encyclopedia
Meitheal (ˈmɛhəl) is the Irish
word for a work team, gang, or party and denotes the co-operative labour system in rural Ireland
where groups of neighbours help each other in turn with farming work, such as harvesting crops. Neighbours who give their work to others are helped in turn with their own heavy seasonal tasks so the heart of the concept is community unity through cooperative work and mutually reciprocal support. Meitheal is the Irish expression of the ancient and universal appliance of cooperation to social need.
The term is used in various writings of Irish language
authors. It can convey the idea of community spirit in which neighbours respond to each other's needs. In modern use, for example, a meitheal could be a party of neighbours and friends invited to help decorate a house in exchange for food and drink, or in scouting
, where volunteer campsite wardens maintain campsites around Ireland
.
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
word for a work team, gang, or party and denotes the co-operative labour system in rural Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
where groups of neighbours help each other in turn with farming work, such as harvesting crops. Neighbours who give their work to others are helped in turn with their own heavy seasonal tasks so the heart of the concept is community unity through cooperative work and mutually reciprocal support. Meitheal is the Irish expression of the ancient and universal appliance of cooperation to social need.
The term is used in various writings of Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
authors. It can convey the idea of community spirit in which neighbours respond to each other's needs. In modern use, for example, a meitheal could be a party of neighbours and friends invited to help decorate a house in exchange for food and drink, or in scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
, where volunteer campsite wardens maintain campsites around Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.