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(Redirected from Travellers)
'Irish Travellers' (sometimes known as '''Tinkers''') are a nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin living in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. It is estimated 25,000 Travellers live in Ireland, 15,000 in Great Britain and 7,000 in the United States [1].
They refer to themselves as 'The Pavees'. Many non-Pavee people (or "Buffers", sometimes "Rooters",) still use the word Knackers, or 'Tinkers' [2] (derogatory, in this sense), from the Irish ''tincéirí'', sg. ''tincéir'' or "tinsmith."
Irish Travellers distinguish themselves from the settled communities of the countries in which they live by their own language and customs. The language is known as Shelta, and there are two dialects of this language, Gammon (or Gamin) and Cant.
Sharon Gmelch describes the Travellers' language as follows [3]:
The historical origins of Travellers as a group has been a subject of great dispute. Some argue that Irish Travellers are descended from another nomadic people called the Tarish. It was once widely believed that Travellers were descended from landowners who were made homeless in Oliver Cromwell's military campaign in Ireland and in the 1840s famine, but Sociologist Sharon Gmelch writes that the truth is far more complex [4]:
Dr. Gmelch states that the Ward Clan is acknowledged by other Travellers as one of the "oldest families on the road." Stating that their name is derived from ''Mac an Bhaird'', or "Son of the Bard," she suggests that perhaps they took to the road as fugitives from English laws against their traditional, musical profession of singing songs and reciting poetry in the Irish language [5].
Travellers are said to frequently live without running water or electricity. Their itinerant lifestyle can sometimes result in apparent poor education, as the children cannot always get a consistent education because of moving around frequently. However, due to longstanding verbal and musical traditions associated with Traveller communities, there is widespread and advanced use of vocabulary and social skills.
Irish Travellers are recognised in English law as an ethnic group [6]. The Republic of Ireland, however, does not recognise them as an ethnic group; rather, their legal status is that of a "social group" [7].
In Ireland and in Britain, Travellers are often referred to (offensively) as ''tinker'' or ''knacker''. These terms refer to services that were traditionally provided by the Travellers: tinkering (or tinsmithing) being the mending of tin ware such as pots and pans, and knackering being the acquisition of dead or old horses for slaughter. Irish Travellers are sometimes referred to as ''Gypsies'' in Ireland and in Britain (the term, arguably offensive, more accurately refers to the Roma people, represented in Britain by the Romanichal and Kale). The derogatory terms ''pikey'' and ''gyppo'' (derived from ''Gypsy'') are also heard in Great Britain whilst the term ''creamer'' is occasionally used in Ireland.
The Traveller lifestyle has often produced friction with local communities, especially in urban areas. Friction between Traveller and local community are typically attributed to allegations of increased crime following Traveller arrival in an area.
A recent report published in Ireland states that over half of travellers do not live past the age of 39 years.
Travellers are often accused of being involved in robbery, cons, violence and other delinquent behaviour. An 11 October 2002 Dateline NBC episode suggested that American Travellers habitually defraud their neighbors, demanding high prices for substandard day labor [8].
A consequent investigation by South Carolina law enforcement resulted in a single conviction for fraud and a handful of truancy violations.
The Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs issued a press release on March 14, 2007 entitled "Irish Travelers Perpetuate a Tradition of Fraud." [9]
Traveller advocates, including the Commission for Racial Equality in the UK, counter that Travellers are a distinct ethnic group with an ancient history, and claim that there is no statistical evidence that Traveller presence raises or lowers the local crime rate.
The struggle for equal rights for these transient people led to the passing of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 that for some time safeguarded their rights, lifestyle and culture in the UK. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, however, repealed part II of the 1968 act, removing the duty on local authorities in the UK to provide sites for Travellers and giving them the power to close down existing sites.
A complaint against Travellers in the United Kingdom is that of unauthorised Traveller sites being established on privately owned land or on council-owned land not designated for that purpose. Designated sites for Travellers' use are provided by the council, and funds are made available to local authorities for the construction of new sites, as well as the maintenance and extension of existing sites, under the Government's "Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant". However, Travellers also frequently make use of other, non-authorised sites, including public "common land" and private plots including large fields. Travellers claim that there is an under-provision of authorised sites — the Gypsy Council estimates an under-provision amounts to insufficient sites for 3,500 people [10] — and that their use of non-authorised sites as an alternative is therefore unavoidable.
Recent criticism against Travellers in the UK centres on Travellers who have bought land, built amenities without planning permission, then fought eviction attempts by claiming it would be an abuse of human rights to remove them from their homes. The families applied for retrospective planning permission whilst they were living on their land. This received much media attention during the British 2005 General Election.
The use of retrospective planning permission arose after the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which Michael Howard brought through the Commons, started closing down many of the sites originally provided for the community. Howard advised that Travellers should buy their own land instead and assurances were made that they would be allowed to settle it, despite allegations that Travellers find it difficult to secure planning permission approval.
Irish Travellers have been portrayed on a number of occasions in popular culture.
★ ''The Riches'' is an ongoing FX television series starring Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver as Wayne and Dahlia Malloy; they, along with their family, are Irish Traveller con artists and thieves, part of a community that had lived in the Southern United States for several generations.
★ In Season 2 of '', in Episode 18, “Up the Long Ladder”, which aired on May 22, 1989, the ''Enterprise'' encounters a society, the Bringloidis, (cf ''brionglóid'': meaning dream in the Irish language), that was founded by humans who left Earth centuries earlier to found a colony. They appear to be descended from Irish Travellers, possessing their accented form of the English language and a culture that appears very similar.
★ Season 2, Episode 21 of the NBC television show titled "Graansha" focuses around the murder of a probation officer whose family are Irish Travellers.
★ ''Into the West'' tells the story of two Traveller boys, in Ireland, running away from home.
★ The film ''Snatch'' features Brad Pitt as a stereotypical Traveller who is an undefeatable bareknuckle boxing champion. His clan also defrauds the protagonists of the film by selling them a camper that falls apart the minute they try to tow it from the premises.
★ ''Traveller'' is another film, starring Bill Paxton, Mark Wahlberg, and Julianna Margulies.
★ The 2004 movie ''Man About Dog'' features a group of Irish Traveller characters.
★ The documentary, ''Southpaw: The Francis Barrett Story'', won the Audience Prize at the 1999 New York Irish Film Festival. It followed Galway boxer Francis (Francie) Barrett for three years and showed Francie overcoming discrimination as he progressed up the amateur boxing ranks to eventually carry the Irish flag and box for Ireland at the age of 19 during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Francie turned professional in August 2000 and now fights at light welterweight, out of Wembley, London [11].
★ A documentary-style drama release in 2005, ''Pavee Lackeen'' (Traveller Girl), depicted the life of a young Traveller girl, and featured non-actors in the lead roles. Its director and co-writer, Perry Ogden, won an IFTA Award in the category of Breakthrough Talent.
★ During 2004's "Live at Vicar Street" recorded by newly reformed Irish folk act Planxty, Christy Moore mentions hearing Traveller John Reilly sing for the first time and calls it a "Life Changing" experience, going on to dedicate the song "As I Roved Out" to the memory of John Reilly.
And of course Blackie Connors was a character in the long running RTE "Soap Opera", Glenroe.
★ Pavee Point Organisation
★ Nomad
★ Romani people, Yeniche people
★ Scottish Travellers
1. ''Traveller Health:'' A National Strategy 2002-2005
2. «Tinker is not a derogatory word when used in the right sense. it originally comes from the old Irish name of tincéirí or tinsmiths which was honorably practised by the travelling people in years gone by.» (in ''Boards:'' What culture does this degrade?)
3. Sharon Gmelch, "Nan: The Life of an Irish Travelling Woman," page 234.
4. Sharon Gmelch, op. cit., page 14.
5. Sharon Gmlech, op. cit., pages 235-236.
6. ''Commission for Racial Equality:'' Gypsies and Irish Travellers: The facts
7. ''Irish Travellers Movement:'' Traveller Legal Resource Pack 2 - Traveller Culture
8. ''Inside the world of Irish Travelers:'' Mother caught beating her child on a parking lot surveillance camera is member of mysterious group
9. ''Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs:'' Irish Travelers Perpetuate a Tradition of Fraud
10. ''BBC News:'' Councils 'must find Gypsy sites'
11. ''Imdb:'' Southpaw: The Francis Barrett Story
★ ''Nan: The Life of an Irish Travelling Woman'' (ISBN 0-88133-602-5), by Sharon Gmelch, 1991.
★ ''The Irish Tinkers: The Urbanization of an Itinerant People'' (ISBN 0-88133-158-9), by George Gmelch, 1997, 2nd ed. 1985.
★ ''The Road to God Knows Where'' (ISBN 1-85390-314-0), by Sean Maher, Talbot Press, Dublin 1972, republished by Veritas 1998.
★ ''Becoming Conspicuous: Irish Travellers, Society and the State 1922-70'' (ISBN 1-904558-61-5), by Aoife Bhreatnach, University College Dublin Press 2006
★ Traveller Heritage and Photo Site from Navan Travellers Workshops
★ Irish Travellers' Movement
★ Pavee Point Travellers Centre
★ Bibliography of Irish Travellers sources - University of Liverpool
★ Irish Medical Journal article ''"Traveller Health: A National Strategy 2002-2005"''
★ Francie Barrett boxing profile
★ Official site for movie - Pavee Lackeen: The Traveller Girl
★ The Travellers: Ireland’s Ethnic Minority
★ Interview with local expert on Dale Farm
★ Travellers' Rest: Fact And Fiction About Irish Travellers in the U.S.A.
'Irish Travellers' (sometimes known as '''Tinkers''') are a nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin living in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. It is estimated 25,000 Travellers live in Ireland, 15,000 in Great Britain and 7,000 in the United States [1].
They refer to themselves as 'The Pavees'. Many non-Pavee people (or "Buffers", sometimes "Rooters",) still use the word Knackers, or 'Tinkers' [2] (derogatory, in this sense), from the Irish ''tincéirí'', sg. ''tincéir'' or "tinsmith."
Language and customs
Irish Travellers distinguish themselves from the settled communities of the countries in which they live by their own language and customs. The language is known as Shelta, and there are two dialects of this language, Gammon (or Gamin) and Cant.
Sharon Gmelch describes the Travellers' language as follows [3]:
Irish Travellers use a secret argot or cant known as Gammon. It is used primarily to conceal meaning from outsiders, especially during business transactions and in the presence of police. Most Gammon utterances are terse and spoken so quickly that a non-Traveller might conclude the words merely had been garbled. Most Gammon words were formed from Irish Gaelic by applying four techniques: reversal, metathesis, affixing, and substitution. In the first, an Irish word is reversed to form a Gammon one - ''mac'', or son, in Irish became ''kam'' in Gammon. In the second, consonants or consonant clusters were transposed. Thirdly, a sound or cluster of sounds were either prefixed or suffixed to an Irish word. Some of the more frequently prefixed sounds were ''s'', ''gr'', and ''g''. For example, ''Obair'', work or job, became ''gruber'' in Gammon. Lastly, many Gammon words were formed by substituting an arbitrary consonant or consonant cluster in an Irish word. In recent years, modern slang and Romani (the language of the gypsies) words have been incorporated. The grammar and syntax are English. The first vocabulary collected from Irish Travellers was published in 1808, indicating that Gammon dates at least back to the 1700s. But many early Celtic scholars who studied it, including the eminent Kuno Meyer, concluded it was much older.
Origins
The historical origins of Travellers as a group has been a subject of great dispute. Some argue that Irish Travellers are descended from another nomadic people called the Tarish. It was once widely believed that Travellers were descended from landowners who were made homeless in Oliver Cromwell's military campaign in Ireland and in the 1840s famine, but Sociologist Sharon Gmelch writes that the truth is far more complex [4]:
Unfortunately, the early history of Ireland's Travelling People is obscure. Being illiterate, they left no written records of their own. Being poor, they have largely been ignored in the literature of 'The Great Tradition.' Only one thing is certain, not all families originated at the same time or in the same way. Some Travelling families date back centuries, others have adopted an itinerant lifestyle in modern times. Some undoubtedly began as itinerant craftsmen and specialists who traveled because the limited demand for work in any one place. Others were originally peasants and laborers who voluntarily went on the road to look for work or else were forced onto it by eviction or some personal reason - a problem with drink, the birth of an illegitimate child, marriage to a 'tinker'.
Dr. Gmelch states that the Ward Clan is acknowledged by other Travellers as one of the "oldest families on the road." Stating that their name is derived from ''Mac an Bhaird'', or "Son of the Bard," she suggests that perhaps they took to the road as fugitives from English laws against their traditional, musical profession of singing songs and reciting poetry in the Irish language [5].
Social issues
Travellers are said to frequently live without running water or electricity. Their itinerant lifestyle can sometimes result in apparent poor education, as the children cannot always get a consistent education because of moving around frequently. However, due to longstanding verbal and musical traditions associated with Traveller communities, there is widespread and advanced use of vocabulary and social skills.
Cultural suspicion and conflict
Irish Travellers are recognised in English law as an ethnic group [6]. The Republic of Ireland, however, does not recognise them as an ethnic group; rather, their legal status is that of a "social group" [7].
In Ireland and in Britain, Travellers are often referred to (offensively) as ''tinker'' or ''knacker''. These terms refer to services that were traditionally provided by the Travellers: tinkering (or tinsmithing) being the mending of tin ware such as pots and pans, and knackering being the acquisition of dead or old horses for slaughter. Irish Travellers are sometimes referred to as ''Gypsies'' in Ireland and in Britain (the term, arguably offensive, more accurately refers to the Roma people, represented in Britain by the Romanichal and Kale). The derogatory terms ''pikey'' and ''gyppo'' (derived from ''Gypsy'') are also heard in Great Britain whilst the term ''creamer'' is occasionally used in Ireland.
The Traveller lifestyle has often produced friction with local communities, especially in urban areas. Friction between Traveller and local community are typically attributed to allegations of increased crime following Traveller arrival in an area.
A recent report published in Ireland states that over half of travellers do not live past the age of 39 years.
Criminal activities
Travellers are often accused of being involved in robbery, cons, violence and other delinquent behaviour. An 11 October 2002 Dateline NBC episode suggested that American Travellers habitually defraud their neighbors, demanding high prices for substandard day labor [8].
A consequent investigation by South Carolina law enforcement resulted in a single conviction for fraud and a handful of truancy violations.
The Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs issued a press release on March 14, 2007 entitled "Irish Travelers Perpetuate a Tradition of Fraud." [9]
Traveller advocates, including the Commission for Racial Equality in the UK, counter that Travellers are a distinct ethnic group with an ancient history, and claim that there is no statistical evidence that Traveller presence raises or lowers the local crime rate.
The struggle for equal rights for these transient people led to the passing of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 that for some time safeguarded their rights, lifestyle and culture in the UK. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, however, repealed part II of the 1968 act, removing the duty on local authorities in the UK to provide sites for Travellers and giving them the power to close down existing sites.
Disputes over land use
A complaint against Travellers in the United Kingdom is that of unauthorised Traveller sites being established on privately owned land or on council-owned land not designated for that purpose. Designated sites for Travellers' use are provided by the council, and funds are made available to local authorities for the construction of new sites, as well as the maintenance and extension of existing sites, under the Government's "Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant". However, Travellers also frequently make use of other, non-authorised sites, including public "common land" and private plots including large fields. Travellers claim that there is an under-provision of authorised sites — the Gypsy Council estimates an under-provision amounts to insufficient sites for 3,500 people [10] — and that their use of non-authorised sites as an alternative is therefore unavoidable.
Planning issues in the UK
Recent criticism against Travellers in the UK centres on Travellers who have bought land, built amenities without planning permission, then fought eviction attempts by claiming it would be an abuse of human rights to remove them from their homes. The families applied for retrospective planning permission whilst they were living on their land. This received much media attention during the British 2005 General Election.
The use of retrospective planning permission arose after the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which Michael Howard brought through the Commons, started closing down many of the sites originally provided for the community. Howard advised that Travellers should buy their own land instead and assurances were made that they would be allowed to settle it, despite allegations that Travellers find it difficult to secure planning permission approval.
Irish Travellers in popular culture
Irish Travellers have been portrayed on a number of occasions in popular culture.
★ ''The Riches'' is an ongoing FX television series starring Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver as Wayne and Dahlia Malloy; they, along with their family, are Irish Traveller con artists and thieves, part of a community that had lived in the Southern United States for several generations.
★ In Season 2 of '', in Episode 18, “Up the Long Ladder”, which aired on May 22, 1989, the ''Enterprise'' encounters a society, the Bringloidis, (cf ''brionglóid'': meaning dream in the Irish language), that was founded by humans who left Earth centuries earlier to found a colony. They appear to be descended from Irish Travellers, possessing their accented form of the English language and a culture that appears very similar.
★ Season 2, Episode 21 of the NBC television show titled "Graansha" focuses around the murder of a probation officer whose family are Irish Travellers.
★ ''Into the West'' tells the story of two Traveller boys, in Ireland, running away from home.
★ The film ''Snatch'' features Brad Pitt as a stereotypical Traveller who is an undefeatable bareknuckle boxing champion. His clan also defrauds the protagonists of the film by selling them a camper that falls apart the minute they try to tow it from the premises.
★ ''Traveller'' is another film, starring Bill Paxton, Mark Wahlberg, and Julianna Margulies.
★ The 2004 movie ''Man About Dog'' features a group of Irish Traveller characters.
★ The documentary, ''Southpaw: The Francis Barrett Story'', won the Audience Prize at the 1999 New York Irish Film Festival. It followed Galway boxer Francis (Francie) Barrett for three years and showed Francie overcoming discrimination as he progressed up the amateur boxing ranks to eventually carry the Irish flag and box for Ireland at the age of 19 during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Francie turned professional in August 2000 and now fights at light welterweight, out of Wembley, London [11].
★ A documentary-style drama release in 2005, ''Pavee Lackeen'' (Traveller Girl), depicted the life of a young Traveller girl, and featured non-actors in the lead roles. Its director and co-writer, Perry Ogden, won an IFTA Award in the category of Breakthrough Talent.
★ During 2004's "Live at Vicar Street" recorded by newly reformed Irish folk act Planxty, Christy Moore mentions hearing Traveller John Reilly sing for the first time and calls it a "Life Changing" experience, going on to dedicate the song "As I Roved Out" to the memory of John Reilly.
And of course Blackie Connors was a character in the long running RTE "Soap Opera", Glenroe.
See also
★ Pavee Point Organisation
★ Nomad
★ Romani people, Yeniche people
★ Scottish Travellers
References
1. ''Traveller Health:'' A National Strategy 2002-2005
2. «Tinker is not a derogatory word when used in the right sense. it originally comes from the old Irish name of tincéirí or tinsmiths which was honorably practised by the travelling people in years gone by.» (in ''Boards:'' What culture does this degrade?)
3. Sharon Gmelch, "Nan: The Life of an Irish Travelling Woman," page 234.
4. Sharon Gmelch, op. cit., page 14.
5. Sharon Gmlech, op. cit., pages 235-236.
6. ''Commission for Racial Equality:'' Gypsies and Irish Travellers: The facts
7. ''Irish Travellers Movement:'' Traveller Legal Resource Pack 2 - Traveller Culture
8. ''Inside the world of Irish Travelers:'' Mother caught beating her child on a parking lot surveillance camera is member of mysterious group
9. ''Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs:'' Irish Travelers Perpetuate a Tradition of Fraud
10. ''BBC News:'' Councils 'must find Gypsy sites'
11. ''Imdb:'' Southpaw: The Francis Barrett Story
Resources
★ ''Nan: The Life of an Irish Travelling Woman'' (ISBN 0-88133-602-5), by Sharon Gmelch, 1991.
★ ''The Irish Tinkers: The Urbanization of an Itinerant People'' (ISBN 0-88133-158-9), by George Gmelch, 1997, 2nd ed. 1985.
★ ''The Road to God Knows Where'' (ISBN 1-85390-314-0), by Sean Maher, Talbot Press, Dublin 1972, republished by Veritas 1998.
★ ''Becoming Conspicuous: Irish Travellers, Society and the State 1922-70'' (ISBN 1-904558-61-5), by Aoife Bhreatnach, University College Dublin Press 2006
External links
★ Traveller Heritage and Photo Site from Navan Travellers Workshops
★ Irish Travellers' Movement
★ Pavee Point Travellers Centre
★ Bibliography of Irish Travellers sources - University of Liverpool
★ Irish Medical Journal article ''"Traveller Health: A National Strategy 2002-2005"''
★ Francie Barrett boxing profile
★ Official site for movie - Pavee Lackeen: The Traveller Girl
★ The Travellers: Ireland’s Ethnic Minority
★ Interview with local expert on Dale Farm
★ Travellers' Rest: Fact And Fiction About Irish Travellers in the U.S.A.
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