Galway Traveller Movement - Press Release
Galway Traveller Movement - Press Release December 2006
TRAVELLER FOCUS WEEK 2006
Traveller identity strong and vibrant in Galway City
Nearly all Travellers in Galway City have experienced racism or discrimination
A new report to be launched by Galway Traveller Movement (GTM) on December 4th in the Ardilaun Hotel shows that Traveller identity is strong and vibrant amongst the Traveller community in Galway City. The report, the first baseline research report on Travellers in Galway City, carried out extensive research with the Traveller community and found that people were very proud to be Travellers. Even where the most obvious aspects of culture, such as nomadism, are not practised people value them highly and view them as intrinsic parts of themselves. The research showed that people were proud to be known as Travellers.
However, the research also shows that there are times when people are forced to deny their identity as members of the Traveller community. These are times when people believe that they may be discriminated against because of their identity. Discrimination and racism are themes that run through the entire report and the research shows that almost all Travellers in Galway City have experienced discrimination and racism and these incidents regularly occur in all aspects of their lives. For example, it is common for Travellers in Galway City to be followed around shops or to be subject to racist abuse, both verbal and in some cases physical.
The report also analysed the results of the 2002 National Census of Population and according to the author of the report Ann Irwin, who also wrote Towards a City of Equals: Galway City Anti-Racism Strategy, the results were stark. That results show:
- The unemployment rate for the Traveller community is 77%, compared to an overall population figure of 10%.
- 60% of the Traveller population finished school with no education or primary education only, compared to an overall population figure of 12.6%.
- 49% of the Traveller population in Galway City is made up of children between the ages of 0-14 years, compared to 16% in the overall population
- Only 1% of the Traveller population is made up of people 65 years or over, compared to 8% in the overall population, strongly indicating that Travellers die at a younger age than their settled counterparts.
The report adds its voice to that of the national Traveller organisations, the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission to call for the conferring of ethnic status on the Traveller community. This is regarded by the report as a necessary starting point in the acknowledgement that, as the National Plan Against Racism points out, one size does not fit all and services must begin to acknowledge that Travellers, in common with other minority groups, can experience services differently and rise to the challenge that this poses.
Kathleen Sweeney, Chairperson of Galway Traveller Movement stated that “the report poses challenges to us all and we in the Galway Traveller Movement sincerely hope that the Government and service providers will take this report as intended – as a constructive analysis of Travellers’ lives in Galway City with recommendations that have the potential to ensure continuous development and bring about positive social change”.
The report will be launched at 11am on Monday 4th of December by the Mayor of Galway Councillor Niall Ó Brollcháin. Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will also address the launch and the keynote speech will be delivered by Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority. As part of the launch Michael Collins will perform an extract from his one-man play “It’s a cultural thing! Or is it?” He will perform the entire play on Monday evening in the Town Hall Theatre and tickets are on sale to the public. Anyone interested should contact Hannagh at the GTM – 091 765390.
Photo opportunity at the Ardilaun Hotel on Monday 4th of December at 1.15pm
Further information and copies of the report from:
Ann Irwin (author of the report)
Margaret Ó Riada, Co-Ordinator of the Galway Traveller Movement – 091 765390
Background Information
Established in 1994, the Galway Traveller Movement is a partnership organisation of Travellers and settled people working together to achieve equality and self-determination for the Traveller community in Galway City. The vision of the GTM is achieve full equality for Travellers and to accomplish full participation of Travellers in social, economic, political and cultural life as well as the broader enhancement of social justice.
Further background information from Margaret Ó Riada, Co-Ordinator of GTM –
091 765390