Our Story

We are a not-for-profit Cooperative and Sustainable Enterprise run by a wonderful team of people passionate to create positive change!

An Mheitheal Rothar came about after a good idea was pursued with determination. In September 2010 The NUIG Ecology Society was having one of its first meetings of the college year, the simple question ‘what fun initiatives could we organise which would have a positive impact for the local environment?’ was asked. 

The answer was an ‘ecospace’ – an environment which encouraged peer to peer learning, civic and environmental responsibility and empowered people in their own abilities.

An Mheitheal Rothar was born from the idea that people could come together in a group or a cooperative, helping each other as part of a community.

What We Do?

  • Fix bikes

  • Sell bikes

  • Teach repair skills

  • Get bikes to people who need them

  • Advocate for a Galway where active travel is realistic for everyone

  • Build the circular economy

  • Fight climate change

  • Reimagine the economy: What's enterprise anyway?

What Does Our Name Mean?

The name of our community organisation is as Gaeilge and is in an effort to respect and share our heritage and culture.  Meitheal is a gaelic word traditionally used in rural communities when people from a community would come together to work on a particular problem or task - often which would not be able to be done by individuals on their own. 

An example would be if one week a particular farmer had an orchard which was ripe and needed to be picked, the members of the community would come together on a particular day or days and work together to pick the fruit.  There would often be food and sharing on the day.  The following week at another location the members of the community would get together to help plough a field etc. etc. 

There is a strong sense of support and togetherness expressed through the meitheal’s, or community working groups. It is a great example of community resilience and communities being stronger working together.

And ‘Rothar’ is the Irish word for bicycle!