Traveller Pride Week celebrated in Fingal

LAST Monday week (June 18) saw the launch of Traveller Pride Week 2012 nationwide, a celebration of Traveller culture across the cities and counties of Ireland.

Local Traveller community organisations across Fingal organised a number of events including a book launch, a photographic exhibition and a theatre performance.

Children at Ladyswell National School launched a book telling the story of JJ, a Traveller child and his horse, at Blanchardstown Library, hosted by the Blanchardstown Traveller Support Group.

An exhibition of historic Traveller photographs was launched at Matt Lane Resource Centre, Balbriggan, and hosted by the North Fingal Traveller Organisation; and

‘Magpies on the Pylon’ by Martin Collins, exploring the issue of suicide among young Travellers was staged at the AXIS theatre in Ballymun.

It is hoped that the photo collection will be lodged with Fingal County Archives to preserve this valuable collection for future generations.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Gerry McGuire acknowledged the special programme of events,

“During my term as Mayor of Fingal, I have attended many events hosted by and in support of many communities and groups across the county, and I have noticed that everyone shows pride in where they live or in what they have achieved as a community,

? he said.

“What I have seen and heard from the Travellers I have met this week is a remarkable demonstration of their right to be proud.

“There is a perception amongst the settled community of what life of a Traveller consists of, and this is fed by vastly exaggerated media portrayals such as TV programmes about Traveller weddings.

“Across all cultures, family occasions including weddings are celebrated in a variety of ways, according to the individuals and their families’ preferences, and in that, both settled and Traveller communities are more similar than they are different.

?

For more information on Traveller Pride and similar initiatives contact Ciaran Staunton on 01-8905399.