The Irish word ‘Meitheal’ means ‘a collective effort for the greater good of the community’.
Meitheal is an ancient Irish tradition of a group coming together for a common purpose and working together and for each other to ensure that all succeed in achieving their goal
- Meitheal reaches beyond the Comhaltas movement to link the community, Comhaltas and the living tradition in a mutually enriching way.
- The interests, talents and energies of a wide array of individuals and groups engaged through new connections, partnerships and local co-operations, to work together for the benefit of all.
The key objectives of the program are to:
- Celebrate, maintain and strengthen the links between Ireland and the Global Irish;
- Address the diverse and evolving needs of Irish emigrants, especially the elderly, disadvantaged and vulnerable;
- Facilitate access to statutory and voluntary services in their country of residence for Irish emigrants;
- Foster a more vibrant sense of community and of Irish identity;
- Further the outcomes of the Global Irish Economic Forum;
- Support business networks to connect Irish people to each other at home and abroad;
- Research and define the emerging needs of Irish communities abroad;
- Support development of new ways to communicate and connect with the increasingly diverse global Irish, including non-traditional diasporas;
- Improve awareness and understanding of the emigrant and Diaspora experience
MEITHEAL NORTH AMERICA:
- Meitheal North America is a US 501(c)3 fund established to further the development of Comhaltas in North America.
- It supports the work of the established voluntary structure but its membership and structure is independent of the Provincial structure.
- Meitheal funding is project based.
- Funding must be used for development projects which are individual, time-limited in the Meitheal framework.
- Projects must also be to the benefit of Irish people and provide some legacy in strengthening the work of Comhaltas beyond the life of the project.
- This funding is available to all CCE branches interested in developing or enhancing its support for Irish people through new projects.
TYPES OF PROJECTS:
- Workshops
- Teacher Training
- Educational
- Publications
- Archive – based
- SCT Exams
WHAT THE FUND CAN BE USED FOR:
- Funding must be used for development projects which are individual, time-limited projects in the Meitheal framework.
- Projects must also be to the benefit of Irish people and the Diaspora.
- Projects must provide some legacy in strengthening the work of Comhaltas beyond the life of the project.
- This funding is available to all units interested in developing or enhancing its support for Irish people through new projects.
- But as with all grant funding it is only available on the basis of strict terms and conditions being adhered to
WHAT THE FUND CANNOT BE USED FOR:
Funding cannot be used to fund core branch activities.
For example:
- Provision of branch music/song/dance classes
- Travel expenditure
- Accommodation
- Meals/Catering
- Purchase of musical instruments
- Purchase of insurance
MEITHEAL EXPENDITURE:
- Initial funding has been provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, with strict terms and conditions for the usage of the funds. While the use of these funds has been primarily directed by CCE Headquarters, the Meitheal Fund does have some money that can be distributed to small, one-time Comhaltas projects. Please see the Download section of this website for the detailed Grant Application Process document (and related forms) that explains exactly how to evaluate a project and apply for Meitheal funds.
- Meitheal has begun its funding efforts with a number of projects which benefit as many members as possible of Comhaltas North America.
MEITHEAL currently provides funding for:
Mid-West & Mid-Atlantic Fleadhanna Ceoil
Féile Cheoil - Canada.
Convention – workshops.
SCT (Scrúdú Ceoil Tíre -Student exam structure)
Diaspora – Meitheal Newsletter
Distribution of Treoir
Small, one-time projects initiated by the Comhaltas branches of North America.
These projects benefit a wide range of people and at the time being are being co-assessed by CCÉ Headquarters
If you have any doubts, questions or want to know even more about Meitheal North America, please contact us!