The aim of the Irish Traveller collection is to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Irish Travellers and to develop respect for and appreciation for their rich cultural diversity. Throughout the collection, there are tasks for students to complete which will help them to acquire the big picture of the past.
Links to Specification: JC CSPE Short Course: 1.1, 1.2, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 1.11, 2.1, 3.9, 3.11 JC History: 1.1, 1.2, 1.7, and 2.12.
Irish Travellers are Irelands only indigenous ethnic minority. They have a value system, language, customs and traditions, which make them an identifiable group both to themselves and to others. Their distinctive lifestyle and culture, based on a nomadic tradition, sets them apart from the general population. According to the Central Statistics Office, there are 30,987 Irish Travellers living in Ireland in 2016.
Date for your Diary: Traveller Pride Week is a celebration of the contribution Travellers make to both their own communities and to Irish society as a whole.
Task: Challenge your class to some of the recurring myths and misinformation about Irish Travellers in Ireland using this leaflet. Afterwards, examine the real data about Irish Travellers by viewing the CSO infographic below.
In March 2017, the Irish government released a statement on the recognition of Travellers as an ethic group. The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said he was honoured to make the announcement and that it was a proud day for Travellers and a proud day for Ireland.
There was a sustained applause and a standing ovation as Mr Kenny formally recognised, in both Irish and English, the community's ethnic status.
Does ethnic recognition give Travellers more entitlements/new rights?
A leaflet from Pavee Point explores these questions and provides sample answers.
Traditions, Customs and Folklore
The customs and traditions of Travellers are traditionally largely related to nomadism. The nomadic way of life involves travelling from place to place. Nomadism alone does not define Travellers' culture. Traveller culture has its own traditions, values, language, arts, crafts, and music. Their culture has been passed on from one generation to the next.
The majority of Irish Travellers are Roman Catholics. Religion still plays a significant part in Irish Traveller life and lots of Traveller families still practise their faith and believe in cures and healing.
Read More about the Trades and Crafts.
Traditionally, Traveller occupation in the past included tin-smithing, construction work, farm labour, trading animals, storytelling, fortune-telling, door to door sales and recycling.
According to the National Museum of Ireland website, the role of craft workers was reduced in the mid 20th Century, with the increasing availability of mass-produced goods, distributed nationally and internationally by new transport methods and networks. As the tractor replaced the horse, the work of the local blacksmith and harness maker was reduced.
During the 1960s, the Irish economy began to develop as policies of protectionism were abandoned and the country was open to international trade and industry. The new economic policies encouraged exports and gave tax concessions to attract more industry to set up in Ireland. More and more international companies came to Ireland. As a result, employment rose and the majority of people were better off. Task:
Investigate how the economic and social changes of the 1960s impacted the way of life of Travellers.
'Cant is Cool Summer School' Project by Navan Travellers Workshop
Music
DCTV - Irish Travellers Contribution to Music
Songs
Music and Songs - Meath Travellers Workshop
Stories from the 1930s
Dúchas.ie - Travelling Folklore compiled by schoolchildren, 1930s
Religion
Parish Records of Surnames, Meath Travellers Workshops.
Stories for Students
The following books are part of a series developed and produced by the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain. The series aims to produce interesting reading material for adult early readers from Gypsy and Traveller backgrounds.
The Fight, The Irish Chaplaincy in Britain
We Are Travellers, The Irish Chaplaincy in Britain
A Traveller's Home, The Irish Chaplaincy in Britain
Below you will find links to some of the Government policies and strategies that have impacted the Traveller community since 1963. These polices and strategies were created by the Irish Government and most have had a detrimental effect on the Traveller community.
The use of language in this report is problematic as Travellers are called itinerants and seen as the problem. Itinerants is an offensive term to Travellers. This report focuses on the idea of assimilation of the Traveller community into the majority population.
This is the most recent strategy for Travellers and Roma in Ireland. There are 149 targeted actions with the aim of Supporting Travellers and Roma in all aspects of life in Ireland. The strategy was developed in conjunction with Traveller and Roma communities and organisations.
'The approach and recommendations found in the 1963 Report remain deeply offensive to Travellers and are largely rejected by modern day Ireland.'Houses of the Oireachtas, 2014, pg9
Task:
Define the terms racism, discrimination, prejudice, anti-Traveller sentiment, stereotyping, and human dignity.
Perform an analyse of the language used in the 1963 report and explain why Travellers as an ethnic group would find the report offensive.
Examine newspaper articles from the past that covered the release of government polices on Irish Travellers. Suggest how some articles from the past had a detrimental effect on the Traveller community.
Schools in Ireland now have access to the Irish Newspaper Archive through the Schools Broadband Network. The archive gives teachers and students unrivaled access to primary source documents through national and local newspapers covering hundreds of years of Irish history.
RTÉ Archives, Traveller Rights Groups Protest Against Discrimination, 1985
During the 1980s, Travellers and their supporters marched on Dáil Éireann. By holding these marches and protests, the Travelling community called to the government to end discrimination and provide proper accommodation, health care and education to their community.
In 1982, Nan Joyce became the first member of the Traveller Community to stand for election in the history of the state. Nan used her time canvassing to educate voters about the Traveller way of life in the hope of developing a greater understanding between Travellers and the Settled people.
In 1983, Minceir Misli was established. Minceir Misli was Irelands' first Traveller rights organisation.
Organisations Supporting the Traveller Community
Many organisations such as Pavee Point and the Irish Traveller Movement have campaigned strongly on behalf of Travellers. They have worked hard with the community to improve living conditions, promote health and education and access to services.
Task:
Watch the RTÉ Archives video clip and discuss the history of Irish Travellers' struggle for ethnic recognition.
A human rights activist is a person who acts to promote or protect human rights. Research and share stories of people who inspire you because of their work for human rights.
What legislation protects members of the Travelling Community from racism and discrimination?
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