The Traveller community in Galway city and county is proudly celebrating its rich culture, heritage, and contributions to Irish society with two special events this week as part of the national and local Traveller Pride celebrations.
Galway Traveller Movement (GTM ) is hosting an event this Thursday, May 29, from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at Athenry Heritage Centre and Park.
GTM invites everyone to join in this cultural experience featuring traditional Traveller crafts and workshops, including paper flower making, beaded pocket making, tinsmithing demonstrations, and griddle bread making. An open mic session with PJ Mongan and Kathleen Keenan will showcase the voices of the community. Children’s activities will also be available, including the ever-popular ice cream van.
Nora Mongan and Nora Corcoran will lead a special Cherra session—”cherra” being the Cant word for “fire.” The fire has long been a place of connection, storytelling, and creativity in Traveller culture. This session will bring together poets and storytellers for a shared space of memory and imagination.
These celebrations also mark 30 years of advocacy and equality work by the Galway Traveller Movement. As an independent Traveller organisation, GTM has been a steadfast voice in calling for the realisation of human rights for the Traveller community.
“The need to respect and protect Traveller culture and heritage is essential for future generations of young Travellers,” says Nora Corcoran. “Our children are being denied their human rights and experience discrimination daily. The Traveller community will never give up the call for justice and social change.”
A follow-up event marking GTM’s 30th anniversary will be held on Thursday, June 19, at The Cube, University of Galway. This event, hosted in collaboration with the Irish Centre for Human Rights, will feature guest speaker Aoife Nolan, Professor of International Human Rights Law and President of the Council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights.
