The following information about the Travellers is from the Pavee Point
organisation, www.paveepoint.ie Ray's Comments follow in brackets!


Who are the Travellers?
The name “Travellers” refers to a nomadic Irish ethnic group. Irish
Travellers are a people with a separate identity, culture and history,
although they are as fully Irish as the majority population.
[Also known as spongers, knackers, bastards who steal everything that isn't
nailed down]


What does “Pavee” mean?
Pavee is a word used by Travellers to describe themselves.
[Don't call one of them a "pavee" if you want to go home unslashed by a
knife or bottle, they really don't like that term.]



How many Travellers live in Ireland today?
There are estimates of around 30,000 Travellers living in the Republic of
Ireland, with about 1500 more living in Northern Ireland.
[Far too fuckin many!]



Do Travellers speak a separate language?
Travellers do have their own language, called “cant” or “gammon”, which is
sometimes referred to by academics as “shelta”. This is a language mostly
used by Travellers to speak with each other.
[Mostly they speak english, but in a way that you think is "cant" as in I
"Can't make meself understood."]




Who are the Irish Travellers in the United States?
There are around 10,000 Travellers in the United States, with around 2,500
Travellers living in a place called Murphy Village, South Carolina. They are
descendants of Travellers who left Ireland, mostly during the 1845-60. They
have maintained a separate cultural identity, and several Irish Traveller
traditions, including some usage of cant, devout Catholic faith, and strong
communal ties. (source: Dan and Conor Casey, Irish America Magazine,
Sept/October1994)
[?]




Where do Travellers come from?
Travellers are native to Ireland; they have been part of Irish society for
centuries. While Traveller history is largely unrecorded, research dates
their origins to before the twelfth century.
[Travellers I've spoken to tell me they come from Romania and are quiet
proud of that tradition... ]





What kind of occupations do Travellers have today?
Traveller occupations in the past included tinsmithing, seasonal farm
labour, door-to-door sales and recycling. While many of these occupations
have become more difficult, or even obsolete, many Travellers are employed
today in a variety of economic activities, including market trading, scrap
collecting, and antiques dealing. A small number of Travellers are have
their own business, such as shops and garages. Other Travellers are employed
in community enterprises established by Traveller groups, or with voluntary
organisations, and training centres. However, some Traveller families have
become deskilled and are dependent on social welfare for survival.
{Forgot dole fraud, beating up old people for their pension, and the many
other frauds and cons they engage in from day to day... "Need a new carpet
mam"? "That roof is about to fall in sur!" and the ever popular "Can I use
your bathroom"? spring to mind immediately.]




Do Travellers face discrimination?
Racism against Travellers is a problem. Racism at the individual level is
evident when settled people march on or attack Travellers’ sites, when
Travellers are harassed out of housing estates, or refused service in shops
or pubs, when anti-Traveller literature is printed or distributed. Racism at
the institutional level is evident at several levels: the educational system
makes little provision, in either content or structure, for the culture of
Travellers or other minority ethnic groups; the media often reinforces
negative stereotypes; the laws and practices of local authorities actively
discourage nomadism.
[Racism my arse... When Iwas a child going to a CBS, one time our teachers
out of the goodness fo their hearts took in a couple of knackers to our
class... We were all then infested with fleas... ON our way home we were
attacked and our schoolbooks thrown in the puddles... Stones were constantly
fired at cars and at the school... These bastards once stole my dog and
only the Grace of God lead to find him tied to one fo their fuckin
caravans...]



What are the similarities and differences between Travellers, Gypsies and
Roma?
Travellers, Gypsies and Roma have some things in common. They share a
nomadic tradition and its associated lifestyle, culture and values.
Unfortunately, they also share a long history of persecution, rejection and
social ostracism.
[That's completely unjustified of course <chokes in his own sarcasm>]

What say you?

Ray

--
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"Everyone, Republican or otherwise has their own
particular part to play. No part is too great or too
small, no one is too old or too young to do something."
Bobby Sands (1954-1981), on hunger strike in 1981

Email: ray-AT-eirefirst.com
Website: http://www.eirefirst.com (Who's computer is this?)
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