Press Release August 2006
A Traveller's Ireland goes to Kilkenny
August 11-31, Comhairle, 4 The Parade Kilkenny
Photographs capturing the everyday life of Travellers in Ireland will be exhibited as part of Kilkenny Arts Festival from 11th August 31st August in Comhairle, 4 The Parade, Kilkenny.
The 25 photographs comprise the winning entries and short-listed works from Pavee Point Traveller's Centre's National Photography Competition "A Traveller's Ireland" which was funded through the National Action Plan Against Racism.
The photographs capture the everyday lives of Travellers in Ireland and the competition was judged by a panel comprising photo journalist Derek Speirs, Pete Smith from the Gallery of Photography, Arts Development Officer Emer Maguire from An Munia Tober (Belfast Travellers Support Group), Julie Keenan, Information Worker, Pavee Point and John Paul Collins, Community Development Worker, Pavee Point.
The winner, from over 150 entrants from all over Ireland, the UK, Europe and US was Jackie Hehir from Limerick whose photo 'Reflections' of Traveller child Chloe O'Reilly was taken at Cahirmee Horse Fair. Runner up Julien Behal's work 'Father's Embrace' was taken in Dublin while second runner up Bo Gort's photo was taken at Ballinasloe Horse Fair. The children's winner Annie Mongan's photo was taken on the Monagh By Pass in Belfast.
"Other than negative newspaper pictures Travellers are often overlooked by way of photography. Indeed the great artist Louis le Brocquy painted several paintings of Travellers in the 1940s which gives an indication of the importance of Travellers being part of the canvas of Irish artistic history. This exhibition was open to Travellers and settled people which created a moment where it was about photography and the beauty of Traveller aesthetic and ethnicity."
"Some of the photographs capture the spirit of traditional Traveller meeting places such as Cahirmee Horse Fair while others expose the sensitive relationship between a Traveller man and his daughter such as Bo Gort's photo taken at Ballinasloe of a father and daughter - this photo exudes love. This competition provided an opportunity for Travellers to have fun with the camera to tell our stories with a vision while at the same time it provided an opportunity for settled people to explore photography with a non prejudicial or racist agenda. It was about a competition, it was about participating, and yes for one or two people it was about winning, but for the rest of us it was about enjoying, seeing photos of our people being celebrated," says Traveller Playwright and Violence Against Women Programme Coordinator Pavee Point, Rosaleen Mc Donagh.
A selection of the photograpy competition wining entries can be viewed here
Further details from Ian Coulter 056 776 51 76/ Terry Battles 01 8780255