The talent and perseverance of Galway's Traveller community were put on proud display at the 'Misleór Changemakers, Celebrating Galway Artists and Activists' organised by Galway Traveller Movement on Friday, July 14 at the Taibhdhearc Theatre.
The well attended event saw more than 50 attendees enjoy performances and speeches from documentary film makers, photographers, poets, authors and musicians, to highlight to all that creativity is not tied to ethnicity or community.
Nominee of the 'Bingham Ray Rising Star Award', and winner of 'Best Short Documentary' at this year's Galway Film Fleadh Awards for, 'Being Put Back Together', which looks at the topic of the ever worsening mental health endemic in the Traveller community, filmmaker David McDonagh, said the event highlighted the need to normalise and promote creativity within the community.
"It is fantastic to see Travellers on a platform like this, we don't normally get it. It is a complete contradiction to what you would normally see or associate with Travellers," said McDonagh, adding, "Even though the arts are not generally associated with the Travelling community, there is an awful lot of creativity, so this is fantastic and I think it will only do good and normalise it for the wider community and for our community as well.
"It is normal to aspire to do stuff like this, to make films, to produce art, to play music or to write songs, whatever it is - that is normal and we should all be aspiring to do it. Especially when you have the perspective we have. It is so rare to be able to create work through a perspective that no one else can expose."
Also featured at the event was poet, activist, community worker and children's author, Julia Sweeney, who bases her books on Traveller culture and traditions, and documentary film maker, photographer and musician, PJ Mongan.
Inspired by the lack of books available where Traveller children can relate to the main characters, Sweeney first started writing for her own children. "I have been working for many years, as an activist, and a community worker and I wrote my books for children, because there are very few books where Traveller children can see a reflection of themselves."
Both McDonagh and Mongan have been consecutive winners of the 'The Misleór Short Documentary Grant' for 2021 and 2022, and Mongan says the support the grant has given him has been invaluable. “Winning the Misleór Bursary has opened so many doors for me and has helped built my confidence as a film maker and added to the growth of my career.”
"Creativity does not discriminate," said one of the co-artistic directors of Misleór, Nora Corcoran, adding, "We have to go that little step further to be heard, and events like this breaks down barriers and gives a space and a podium to discuss important topics like creativity.
“Misleór brings so many nomadic communities together, through shared cultural artistic actions and activism, which expresses itself across the class divisions”
Nomadic cultures celebrated
As well as celebrating creativity, last week's event saw the official launch of artwork for the upcoming 'Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures 2023' which takes place from September 28, until October 1. The unique festival celebrates nomadic cultures from around the world including; Roma, Sámi, Australian Aboriginal, Romany Gypsy and Mongolian traditions.
At the event, Corcoran and her fellow co-artistic director of the Misleór Festival, Alice McDowell, showcased a preview of this year’s programme, with a schedule of talented nomadic artists.
"Events like Misleór, bring people of all backgrounds into a space to share and learn. When it comes to the issues faced by the community it is important to highlight and educate as much as possible and to change how people think by opening their mind. Though Travellers face discrimination, we understand that not everyone from the wider community will have the same opinions and we are just asking for the same courtesy.
"If you are interested in learning about Traveller culture and have that open mind then come to the Misleór Festival."
Misleór acknowledge the support of the National Traveller Pride organising committee and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for funding the national and local events.
