November 11th, 1887
John Martin Hayes (11 November 1887 – 30 January 1957) was an Irish Catholic priest and the founder of Muintir na Tíre, a national rural community development organisation.
John M. Hayes, was born in Murroe, County Limerick, Ireland, on March 26, 1889. Muintir na Tíre, which translates to “People of the Land” in Irish, is a rural organization founded in 1931 with the aim of improving the social, economic, and cultural conditions of rural communities in Ireland.
Father Hayes was dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by rural communities, especially in the aftermath of the Irish War of Independence and the subsequent Civil War.
Hayes came to national prominence with the foundation of Muintir na Tíre in 1931, a rural development organisation which had core principles of neighbourliness, self-help and self-sufficiency.
Muintir na Tíre played a crucial role in promoting community development, cooperative initiatives, and social welfare projects in rural areas.
Father John M. Hayes passed away on July 27, 1955. His legacy lives on through the ongoing work of Muintir na Tíre, which continues to support and empower rural communities in Ireland.
Muintir na Tíre, the national organisation promoting community development in Ireland, was established in 1937 by John M Canon Hayes, the first unit of which was launched in Tipperary town in November of that year. This was the beginning of Canon Hayes’ rural community idea which was to develop and expand into a comprehensive movement designed to raise the standard of living of people in all aspects of Irish rural life. The emphasis was on local improvement – social, economic, cultural and recreational – based on the participation of people themselves in the promotion of the welfare of their community.
