St Mary’s CBS, Towerhill, Portlaoise

Meitheal is a “Youth Leadership Training Programme” run by the Kildare and Leighlin Diocese.

Robert Norton, Carberry House, Carlow is the diocesan co-ordinator of the Programme and has been a source of great help and inspiration in the setting up of Meitheal at C.B.S Tower hill in September 2000.

The Idea

Meitheal is about gathering a group of 10 senior cycle students who will work to make the school a more caring environment. In this process they take actions on the strongly felt need in their school and learn about their own individual potential.

In most schools the benefits for both staff and student body have been perhaps been most significantly felt in the Meitheal groups response to bullying.

The Kildare and Leighlin Approach

1.To begin the Meitheal Programme there must be full support from the school authorities. This in reality means the principal of the school. At the C.B.S Mr. Oliver Maher was instrumental in promoting the Programme.

2.A teacher “acts as the silent Facilitators in the group” They support and give advice about the workings of the school and maybe informs the staff of the running of Meitheal.

Setting up the Programme 

1.The Programme is advertised by the co-ordination coming into the school and promoting the Programme. Application forms are given out and students have to consciously apply for the Programme.

2.Each student has a 5 to ten minute interview by the co-ordinator. The interviewer assesses their suitability for the Meitheal Programme.