Europe · Rural Ireland · G028

Meitheal Sheaf

Neighbours saving hay and cutting turf together, repaid in help.

Back of Meitheal Sheaf: the Meitheal tradition, how a note would work, and the traits of Noun #23 — Back · the tradition

Security Edition v2

The same note set like a banknote: full engraved portrait of Noun #23, guilloche, watermark, thread, foil stripe and microtext, all printed art. What's on it

Security Edition front of Meitheal Sheaf: a line-engraved portrait of the full actual Noun #23 in a guilloche oval beside a watermark window, thread and holographic-look stripe — Security Edition · front

Security Edition back of Meitheal Sheaf: a color medallion of Noun #23 in a guilloche rosette, with the note's story — Security Edition · back

v2 front SVG ↓ v2 back SVG ↓

The tradition · centuries-old; to mid-20th c.

Meitheal

Meitheal, the Irish work party, saw neighbours join forces to save hay, thresh and cut turf until machinery took over in the mid-20th century; help was repaid with help, not money.

Source: Meitheal: A Study of Co-operative Labour in Rural Ireland (Four Courts Press / Folklore of Ireland Council) ↗

How a note would work

Sheaves are earned by joining a neighbour's heavy seasonal job, such as bringing in a garden or moving house, and spent when you need a crew. They are never bought or cashed out.

Design concept inspired by this tradition, not issued by or for the people who keep it. Not legal tender, not for sale, no cash value, no redemption and no investment rights.

Front SVG ↓ Back SVG ↓ Machine edition

PlaceRural Ireland
Eracenturies-old; to mid-20th c.
RegionEurope
UnitSheaf · Sheaves
Face value8 Sheaves
SerialGB-G028-N0023
NounActual Noun #23 ↗
Why this NounBringing home the harvest was often marked with a house dance, and Ireland has its own bagpipes, the uilleann pipes.
Headbagpipe
Glassessquare guava
Bodydarkbrown
Accessorydinosaur
Seedbg 1 · body 6 · acc 45 · head 4 · glasses 10