Irish Travellers

Irish Travellers, also known as Mincéirs or Pavees, are a traditionally 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 that has become an important part of Irish culture. 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 and separated from settled Irish people around the 1600s.

Today, Irish Traveller communities live in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. In 2016, there were about 32,300 Travellers in Ireland, making up about 0.7% of the country's population. The total number of people with Traveller ancestry is hard to know because many do not always say they are Travellers.

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. Some health conditions are more common among them, which researchers are still studying.

Language

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

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. Instead, old laws about vagrancy were used. In 1959, the government created a group called the "Commission on Itinerancy" to look into issues with Travellers. This group included important people from the government, police, religious groups, and farming organizations, but no Travellers themselves. The commission wanted to help Travellers live better lives and join the wider community, but their plan focused on making Travellers settle in one place, which many felt did not respect their way of life.

Over time, more attention was paid to include Travellers in decisions affecting them. In 2019, the Irish parliament created a special committee to focus on issues important to the Traveller community. Reports have highlighted problems Travellers face, such as unfair treatment and difficulties getting good homes, education, and healthcare. Some laws make it hard for Travellers to live the way they traditionally have, and many still struggle to find proper places to live.

Population

Irish Travellers often have larger families compared to the general Irish population. In 2016, about 44.5% of Traveller women aged 40 to 49 had five or more children, while only 4.2% of all women in this age group did. This difference has become smaller over time.

In the Republic of Ireland, the 2016 census counted 30,987 Irish Travellers, up from 29,495 in 2011. In 2006, the number was 22,369. Some areas, like Clare, Dublin, Galway, and Limerick, have more Travellers. In 2016, County Longford had the highest percentage of young Travellers aged 0 to 24, at 5%, followed by County Galway at 3%.

In the United Kingdom, the 2011 census included the category “Irish Traveller” for the first time. In 2021, the Gypsy/Irish Traveller community in England and Wales numbered 67,757, or 0.1% of the population. Areas like Harrow and Brent in London have notable Irish Traveller communities.

In the United States, estimates suggest there are between 10,000 and 40,000 descendants of Irish Travellers. Main article: Irish Traveller Americans Many live in communities such as Murphy Village near North Augusta, South Carolina. They often work in construction jobs and speak English and Shelta, a special form of language mixed with English and Irish.

Religion

Most Irish Travellers are Roman Catholics and follow their faith closely, including practices like faith healing. They often visit special holy wells and shrines in Ireland for their religious traditions.

In the past, Travellers were not always included in regular parish activities. However, efforts have been made to change this, such as initiatives by people like Richard O'Brien. In 2022, church leaders asked all parishes in Ireland to warmly welcome Travellers to their communities.

Culture

Irish Travellers have traditional foods they enjoy. Hedgehogs were once part of their meals, though this is less common now. In the United States, Irish scones are popular among them. A usual dish might be coddle or spuds and cabbage served with Irish soda bread.

Education

Many Traveller children have faced challenges in getting an education. In 2017, it was found that 28% of Traveller children left school by age 13, which is younger than most children. This is partly because of how the community has been treated in schools in the past.

Groups like the Irish Traveller Movement work to help Traveller children get the same chances at school. In 2016, more Travellers than before were able to finish higher education. There have also been important court cases about making sure schools treat all children fairly, including those from the Traveller community.

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 the unified heavyweight world champion in 2015 after defeating Wladimir Klitschko.

In the Traveller community, bare-knuckle boxing is sometimes used to settle disagreements and protect family pride, as shown in the 2011 documentary Knuckle. This can sometimes cause injuries.

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. Studies have shown that many Irish Travellers do not live as long as the average person. For example, in 2007, a report said that over half of Irish Travellers did not live past 39 years, while the average life expectancy in Ireland at that time was 79.6 years.

Irish Travellers also have higher rates of some health problems, like accidents, certain illnesses they are born with, and other major causes of death. 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. In fact, a large number of Travellers under twenty-five are already married.

Traditionally, Irish Travellers marry other Travellers. Some marriages are arranged to ensure safety and care for young people. While most marriages are agreed upon, it can sometimes be hard to know when a marriage might not be 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 and unfair views make it hard for Travellers to fit into everyday life.

A study in 2011 showed that many people in Ireland still treat Travellers unfairly. This can hurt Travellers' chances for the future because they need support from others to succeed. Because Travellers are a small group, they especially need kind and helpful relationships with people who are not Travellers.

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, and they sometimes hear hurtful words from others.

Views about Traveller women and men differ a lot. Many programs to help Travellers learn new skills often only include women and children, thinking men might not be trusted. 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 and hurtful beliefs.

Work and income

In 2016, many Travellers were not able to find jobs. Most of those who had jobs often lost them or decided to stop working. Many Travellers work for themselves or take jobs that pay by the hour, so how much money they have can change a lot from family to family. Some Travellers breed dogs, trade horses, or deal with scrap metal, which can be a big part of their work.

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, where Travellers said there were not enough official places for them to live.

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 appeared in films, TV shows, and other media. Some of these shows look at 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 explores 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 adapting to a settled life.
• 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 horror 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.