An Mheitheal Rothar

An Mheitheal Rothar

An Mheitheal Rothar is a not-for-profit cooperative, social enterprise and sustainable Enterprise working to make cycling more accessible while putting the principles of the circular economy into practice.

From its origins as a student-led initiative at University of Galway, An Mheitheal Rothar has grown into a community bike workshop offering bicycle repairs, refurbished bikes, DIY workshops, training and education programmes.

Its mission is simple: promote repair and reuse, remove barriers to cycling and build stronger communities through practical skills and sustainable transport.

From a student idea to a social enterprise

The story of An Mheitheal Rothar began with a simple question.

At a meeting of the University of Galway Ecology Society in 2010, students asked what they could do that would have a positive impact on the local environment.

One idea was to create an 'ecospace' where people could come together to learn from each other, repair their bicycles and develop practical skills.

That idea became An Mheitheal Rothar.

The organisation was founded around the principle of meitheal, the traditional Irish practice of people coming together to help one another. 'Rothar' is the Irish word for bicycle.

What began as a student initiative has since developed into an established social enterprise and cooperative, combining community engagement, employment, education and circular economy activity.

Building a circular economy, one bicycle at a time

At the heart of An Mheitheal Rothar's work is the belief that bicycles should be repaired, reused and kept in circulation for as long as possible.

Its ReCycle Your Cycle initiative collects unwanted and unused bicycles, refurbishes those that can be brought back into use and recycles materials from bikes that cannot be repaired.

In 2021, the organisation repaired and sold 46 bikes. In 2025, this had grown to 302 bikes, demonstrating both the scaling of the initiative and the growing demand for affordable, refurbished bicycles. Other refurbished bikes are donated to needy people or form part of the new RotharLann (kids bike library).

The organisation also sold 241 second-hand bicycles in 2024, compared with just 46 in 2021, demonstrating the growing demand for affordable, refurbished bicycles.

The initiative is also expanding beyond Galway city. Working with Galway County Council, An Mheitheal Rothar has been involved in expanding bicycle collections into the county, including through the Civic Amenity Site in Ballinasloe.

By extending the life of bicycles and recovering materials that might otherwise become waste, An Mheitheal Rothar is putting circular economy principles into practice at a local level.

More than a bike shop

Today, An Mheitheal Rothar offers much more than bicycle sales and repairs.

Its Siopa Rothar on the University of Galway campus provides bicycle services and refurbished bikes, while its community workshop gives people the opportunity to learn how to maintain and repair their own bicycles.

Its education programme has also expanded, with classes and courses for bike enthusiasts, schools, businesses and anyone looking to develop practical bicycle maintenance skills.

The organisation provides school workshops, corporate programmes and community activities, alongside its regular DIY workshops.

Its work helps make cycling more accessible while giving people practical skills that they can use throughout their lives.

A University of Galway success story

An Mheitheal Rothar remains closely connected to University of Galway, where its story began.

The University Innovation Office and Business Innovation Centre have supported the organisation as it developed from a student-led environmental initiative into an established social enterprise.

That support has included helping the organisation develop its business model, structure its proposition and build confidence in communicating its social enterprise approach.

The relationship continues today. In 2026, An Mheitheal Rothar co-founder and representative Cathy Coote joined the judging panel for University of Galway's Start With Us student incubator awards, helping a new generation of student innovators develop their own commercial and social enterprise ideas.

The connection between the University and An Mheitheal Rothar therefore comes full circle: a social enterprise born from a University student idea is now helping inspire and support the next generation of University innovators.

"It’s been a long journey from a start-up to a thriving, sustainable social enterprise. The work we do with the community goes far beyond selling second-hand bikes. With the support of the University of Galway Innovation Office, we offer training and employment opportunities, reshape the circular economy by shifting public mindsets away from traditional modes of transport, and reduce waste before it enters carbon-intensive processing channels, helping to create a low-carbon city while flying the flag for the circular economy.

We also collaborate closely with the University of Galway, from hosting student hackathons to guest lecturing business students on social enterprise. Together, we’re promoting more sustainable travel and are proud to be helping shape a more sustainable future."

Cathy Cotes, CEO, An Mheitheal Rothar

Looking ahead

More than a decade after the original idea was conceived, the principles behind An Mheitheal Rothar remain the same.

Bring people together. Share skills. Repair rather than replace. Keep resources in use. Make cycling more accessible.

As the organisation continues to develop its repair, refurbishment, training and education programmes, An Mheitheal Rothar is demonstrating how a small student idea can grow into a social enterprise with a lasting impact on people, place and the environment.