An Mheitheal Rothar – Galway’s Community Bike Workshop

• Volunteer mechanics and coordinators help run the workshops and teach DIY repair.
• Helps UoG Staff and the wider community, partners & funders
• It does bike repairs and services, Waste Prevention, Raw Material Recovery, Remanufacturing, Bike recycling and refurbishment,
• Unique skill development through classes and workshops,
• This is a new social enterprise model, and grwoing affordable travel for everyone.
• Siopa Rothar, University of Galway Campus
• An Meitheal Rothar has received recognition through awards, such as the 2023 EU Shared Green Deal award, 2021 All Island Fund from Community Foundation Ireland and Northern Ireland. They have also received the ReMark stamp of quality assurance in recycled goods

• Running “Recycle Your Cycle” (since 2018) to repair and upcycle second‑hand/broken/scrap bikes.
• Providing repair services, mechanical skills training, workshops for the public and schools.
• It now has a shop for new and recycled bikes and accessories; helping people join programs like the “Bike to Work” scheme.
• Old and unused bikes: many bikes end up scrapped when repair might be possible. ‘ReCycle’ reduces that.
• Meitheal Rothar offers affordable, low carbon transport for people who can’t afford cars or expensive bikes.
• Many people dont know how to fix bikes; Meitheal Rothar gives training and helps people to learn from eachother.
• Carbon emissions are lower from bikes.
• ReCycle and re-useing bikes helps us think better about how we use things and knowing that we don’t have to just throw things away.
• More than 3,000 people supported through DIY mechanic workshops.
• They give affordable recycled and repaired bikes through Siopa Rothar at University of Galway, as well as bikes through the University of Sanctuary programme.
• Has given training and skills and green jobs to local people.

An Meitheal Rothar have been leading the way in the Circular EconomyInstead of buying-throwing-away-buying again, this is about repairing what we have and keeping it or giving things we are finished with to someone else, providing hands- on learning opportunities, sustainable employment, and teaching green skills. It is a very successful example that other people and communities can copy. It includes everyone and is led by volunteers. This way of doing things brings care for the  environment, health, social goals together: cycling as transport, reducing waste, training and reducing carbon emissions.