Meitheal Makers 2

*Please note - every member of your group must register their attendance through this form*

Meitheal Makers is a cost-free planning retreat at Common Knowledge for community groups, inspired by the tradition of meitheal where neighbours come together to share the workload.

This retreat is designed to help you build momentum around an existing idea, make a clear plan, and leave with the confidence to deliver a local climate or biodiversity meitheal in your own locality.

What to expect:

We’ll share a practical model for building momentum and follow-through in community projects. It is less about perfection, more about what works. 

Expect a focus on:

• Warm welcome and clear purpose (people show up when it feels good to show up)
• Roles and shared ownership (so the project is not carried by one person)
• Small wins early (so momentum becomes visible)
• Good communication rhythms (before, during, after)
• Practical planning (what, who, when, with what tools)
• Care and conflict skills (because group work is real life)
• Making it replicable (so the work can continue beyond one day)

Meitheal Makers is a two-day residential workshop for 5 community groups, with 4 participants per group. Over one focused weekend at The Common Knowledge Centre in Kilfenora, Co. Clare, you will shape your idea into a practical, step-by-step plan, and practise the “meitheal mindset” through a hands-on trial meitheal outdoors on the land. This is a hands-on weekend with a clear structure and plenty of time to work as a team. 

You will:

• Build your project plan step by step, with support from the Common Knowledge team
• Strengthen facilitation, communication, and conflict resolution skills
• Identify timelines, milestones, and clearly defined roles
• Develop outreach and funding strategies
• Name the obstacles holding your project back, and plan how you will address them
• Spend one full afternoon outdoors running a trial meitheal focused on coordination, leadership, and project delivery in action

What's included? 

• Shared accommodation
• Meals across the weekend; Friday - dinner, Saturday - breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sunday - breakfast and lunch