Irish Travellers

Irish Travellers, also known as Mincéirs or Pavees, are a moving ethnic group from Ireland. They mainly speak English, but many also speak Shelta, a special language mixing English and Irish. Most Irish Travellers are Roman Catholic, which is the main religion in Ireland.

They have their own unique traditions, like special clothes with beautiful beaded pockets and lively music. Even though some people mistakenly call them Gypsies, Irish Travellers are not related to the Romani people from India. Scientists have found that Irish Travellers are of Irish origin.

Today, Irish Traveller communities live in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

Nomenclature

Travellers call themselves Mincéirí in Shelta, or an lucht siúil ("the walking people") in Irish. This shows how they describe their own identity and way of life.

Origins

There are many ideas about where Irish Travellers come from. Because they did not leave many written records, much of what we know comes from stories passed down by word of mouth.

We have known about Irish Travellers since the 1100s. They were often called "tinkers" because they worked with metal, making things like jewellery and horse harnesses. Some think they might be related to groups who move around a lot, but studies show they have unique roots in Ireland.

Recent studies of their DNA show that Irish Travellers have been separate from other Irish people for about 1,000 years. They have their own genetic makeup, similar to how some groups in Europe are different from each other.

Language

Irish Travellers mainly speak English, but many also use a special language called Shelta. Shelta mixes English and Irish words and has been used since at least the 18th century.

Shelta can be hard for others to understand, which helps keep it special for Travellers. They sometimes change how they speak Shelta when others are around, to keep it private.

The Irish state and Irish Travellers

Before Ireland became its own country in 1922, there were no special rules just for Travellers. Old laws about people moving around were used instead.

In 1959, the government made a group called the "Commission on Itinerancy" to look at issues with Travellers. This group had important people from the government, police, religious groups, and farming groups, but no Travellers themselves. The commission wanted to help Travellers live better lives, but their plan focused on making Travellers stay in one place. Many Travellers felt this did not respect their way of life.

Later, more effort was made to include Travellers in decisions that affect them. In 2019, the Irish parliament made a special committee to focus on issues important to the Traveller community. Reports have talked about problems Travellers face, like unfair treatment and trouble getting good homes, education, and healthcare. Some laws make it hard for Travellers to live as they have in the past, and many still struggle to find proper places to live.

Population

Irish Travellers often have larger families than most people in Ireland. In 2016, many Traveller women aged 40 to 49 had five or more children.

In the Republic of Ireland, the 2016 census counted 30,987 Irish Travellers. Some areas, like Clare, Dublin, Galway, and Limerick, have more Travellers. In the United Kingdom, the 2021 census counted 67,757 Gypsy/Irish Travellers in England and Wales.

In the United States, estimates suggest there are between 10,000 and 40,000 descendants of Irish Travellers. Many live in communities such as Murphy Village near North Augusta, South Carolina. Main article: Irish Traveller Americans

Religion

Most Irish Travellers are Roman Catholics and follow their faith closely. They visit special holy wells and shrines in Ireland for their religious traditions.

In the past, Travellers were not always included in regular parish activities. But now, efforts have been made to change this. In 2022, church leaders asked all parishes in Ireland to warmly welcome Travellers to their communities.

Culture

Irish Travellers have special foods they like to eat. Hedgehogs used to be part of their meals, but this is rare today. In the United States, Irish scones are popular. A common dish might be coddle or potatoes and cabbage served with Irish soda bread.

Education

Many Traveller children have had trouble getting an education. In the past, some schools did not treat them well.

Groups like the Irish Traveller Movement help Traveller children get good chances at school. More Travellers have been able to finish higher education. There have also been court cases to make sure schools treat all children fairly.

Notable people

For a more complete list, please see List of Irish Travellers

Theatre/film

Actor Sir Sean Connery learned in 2005 that his great-grandfather, James Connery, came from the Irish Traveller community.

Sports

Irish Travellers have a long history with bare-knuckle boxing. Being tough and able to fight are important qualities for Traveller men, and they have taken part in both amateur and professional boxing. Irish Traveller Francie Barrett competed for Ireland in the 1996 Olympics. Andy Lee also fought for Ireland in the 2004 Olympics and later became the first Traveller to win a professional boxing world championship in 2014 when he won the WBO middleweight title. Tyson Fury, an Englishman with Irish Traveller heritage, became a unified heavyweight world champion in 2015.

Besides boxing, Irish Travellers, including women, also enjoy sports like football (soccer) and Gaelic handball.

Health

The health of Irish Travellers is not as good as that of most people in Ireland. Many Irish Travellers do not live as long as the average person. For example, a report said that many Irish Travellers did not live past 39 years, while the average life expectancy in Ireland was 79.6 years.

Irish Travellers also have higher rates of some health problems, like accidents and certain illnesses. Women in the Traveller community have especially higher health risks compared to women who are not Travellers.

There have been studies to better understand the health of Irish Travellers, and more attention is being paid to improve their health and well-being.

Marriage

Marriage among Irish Travellers often happens when they are in their late teens. Many young Travellers are married by their early twenties.

Traditionally, Irish Travellers marry other Travellers. Some marriages are arranged to ensure safety and care for young people. While most marriages are agreed upon, sometimes it can be hard to know if a marriage is fully voluntary.

Social conflict

Discrimination and prejudice

Travellers often face unfair treatment and unfair views from others. Some politicians have been elected by promising to stop Traveller housing in their areas, and some people refuse to serve Travellers in pubs, shops, and hotels. These misunderstandings make it hard for Travellers to fit into everyday life.

Unfair views about Travellers make it difficult for the government to help them join Irish society. Travellers, being a smaller group in Ireland and the United Kingdom, have always faced unfair treatment because of who they are. They find it harder to get an education, to buy things in shops, or to stay in hotels.

Views about Traveller women and men differ a lot. Many programs to help Travellers learn new skills often only include women and children. This makes women the main link between Traveller communities and others. Even though women are seen better than men, they still face the same unfair ideas.

Work and income

Many Travellers work for themselves or take jobs that pay by the hour. Some Travellers breed dogs, trade horses, or deal with scrap metal.

Social identity

Irish Travellers are officially recognized in British and Irish law as an ethnic group. This means they share a common identity, culture, and history, and are seen as different from other groups.

Travellers' sites in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, laws have been made to help Travellers have places to live. However, some of these laws have changed, making it harder for local governments to provide these places. As a result, Travellers sometimes use land that is not officially set aside for them, leading to disagreements. One well-known example was the use of land at Dale Farm in 2010.

List of Travellers' organisations

Here are some groups that represent Travellers, formed since the 1960s:

• Cork Traveller Visibility Group Ltd. (founded early 1990's)
• Exchange House Ireland (1980)
• Friends, Families and Travellers
• Irish Traveller Community (1960s)
• Irish Traveller Movement (founded in 1990)
• Itinerant Settlement Committee (1960s–1980s)
• Justice 4 All Women & Children (founded in 2015)
• Minceir Misli (1983–1985)
• Minceirs Whiden Ireland, the all-Traveller Forum
• National Traveller Money Advice & Budgeting Service (2005)
• National Traveller Women's Forum
• The Traveller Movement
• Travellers' Rights Committee (1981–1983)
• Travellers' Education and Development Group (founded in 1984)
• Pavee Point (founded 1985)
• Bru Bhríde (founded early 1980s)

Depictions and documentaries

Further information: List of Irish Traveller-related depictions and documentaries

Irish Travellers have been shown in films, TV shows, and other media. Some of these shows treat their lives with care, while others do not always show them in the best way.

• The Riches (2007–2008) is an American TV series with Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver that looks at the Traveller lifestyle.
• The Big Fat Gypsy Weddings series (2010, 2011, and 2012) was popular in the United Kingdom and showed real Traveller weddings.
• A 1997 American film called Traveller, starring Bill Paxton and Mark Wahlberg, looked at Travellers in America.
• The 1993 documentary Rules of the Road by German filmmaker Oliver Herbrich showed Travellers in Ireland and the UK.
• The Irish sitcom Derry Girls had an episode in March 2019 where characters met a group of Travellers.
• Actor Brad Pitt played a Traveller boxer in the movie Snatch.
• The 2005 Irish film Isolation included Traveller characters.
• Peaky Blinders includes several Irish Traveller families, such as the Lee Family, the Gray Family, and the Shelby Family. A character named Johnny Doggs is often seen with these families.