Muintir na Tíre, the national voluntary organisation promoting community development in Ireland, was establihed in 1937 by John M. Canon Hayes.Through its core principles of neighbourliness, self-help and self-reliance, Muintir na Tíre has promoted and supported the concept of active community participation and championed the idea of community development in both Ireland and Europe.
From the early 60's, the organisation adopted the United Nations definition of the Community Development process, which states that it is "a process designed to create conditions of economic and social progress for the whole community with the fullest possible reliance upon the communities own initiative." This definition reflects Muintir na Tíre's approach to this process which is based around "the whole community" as a unit of organisation through which social, economic, culural and environmental development can take place.
The framework developed and adopted by Muintir na Tíre to promote this holistic approach to community development is the representative Muintir Community Council. Through this framework, Muintir na Tíre has suceeded in building a national network of community groups dedicated to promoting and supporting local development within their communities. At present there are over 1500 groups in the organisation's national network.
Its basic structure is the democratically elected representative Community Council and it endeavours to represent the interests of local communities at the different levels of policy-making. It has a national network of over 1500 Community Councils, Community Alert groups and associated development groups.
Muintir na Tíre has undergone some dramatic changes since its foundation in the late 30's. It has seen Ireland undergo similar dramatic changes, and has been party to many of them. The ability of the organistion to adapt in the face of these changes has been one of its greatest strenghts. This strength can be accredited to the underlying principles and philosophy of the organisation which are as applicable in today's world as they were in the past.
Muintir na Tíre today is a CompanyCompany Limited by Guarantee, governed by a voluntary Board of Directors who are elected by its affiliated units. There are currently 9 full-time staff and 2 part-time staff employed by the Board. The organisation has 5 Community Alert Development Officers based at various locations throughout the country with the remaining personnel working from the Head Office in Tipperary.