Is it possible to spot Irish Travellers by their appearance

bayern282 · 12-02-2011 08:47PM #1

Just looking to shed some light on this and this might sound a bit strange to most readers.

Pretty much every time I go out socially in Dublin, to pubs, gigs, and even walking through town, at least once or twice I overhear comments about me that refer to the travelling community ie; ''Traveller'',''Knacker'',''Tinker'' etc.

If I actually was a Traveller and looked like one, it would make a modicum of sense and I'd shrug it off as racism or ignorance, however I have no connection whatsoever with the Traveller Community and have never even spoken to or met a Traveller, which as you can imagine makes the whole thing even more bizarre and bewildering. Some years back I was even refused service in a pub. I'm well dressed and well spoken and find the whole thing absurd.

Has this happened to any other people? Are Traveller related insults merely a part of life in Ireland that I should just ignore ? Is it the case that some Irish people have such a phobia about these people that they have a pre-conceived concept of what they look like ?

pragmatic1 · 12-02-2011 08:48PM

In general, yes I can tell.

strobe · 12-02-2011 08:48PM

Are you from Limerick? The accent is the same. Maybe that's the cause of it.

mikom · 12-02-2011 08:49PM

Just looking to shed some light on this and this might sound a bit strange to most readers.

Pretty much every time I go out socially in Dublin, to pubs, gigs, and even walking through town, at least once or twice I overhear comments about me that refer to the travelling community ie; ''Traveller'',''Knacker'',''Tinker'' etc.

If I actually was a Traveller and looked like one, it would make a modicum of sense and I'd shrug it off as racism or ignorance, however I have no connection whatsoever with the Traveller Community and have never even spoken to or met a Traveller, which as you can imagine makes the whole thing even more bizarre and bewildering. Some years back I was even refused service in a pub. I'm well dressed and well spoken and find the whole thing absurd.

Has this happened to any other people? Are Traveller related insults merely a part of life in Ireland that I should just ignore ? Is it the case that some Irish people have such a phobia about these people that they have a pre-conceived concept of what they look like ?

signed
Blackie Connors.

rebel10 · 12-02-2011 08:50PM

Pics? We will give you our honest opinion

hondasam · 12-02-2011 08:50PM

strobe wrote: »

Are you from Limerick? The accent is the same. Maybe that's the cause of it.

A bit unfair to all limerick people. The don't all sound the same.

senorwipesalot · 12-02-2011 08:51PM

Do you have a face like a slapped arse?

ejmaztec · 12-02-2011 08:51PM

In before the boulder.

Snakeblood · 12-02-2011 08:52PM

To be honest I'd think I'd be able to tell *some* faces as travellerish. When I worked in a McD's as a kid there was a settled travelling community and there was a commonality of features there among a large section of that community that frequented the McDs.

That said maybe I would just be able to pick out a certain sort of traveller face from a certain clan, I certainly wouldn't be able to enter a competition for it nationwide.

it's a bit weird to be honest, and doesn't make me comfortable to say it.

hondasam · 12-02-2011 08:53PM

most people will pick out an Irish person in another country.

UglyBolloxFace · 12-02-2011 08:54PM

bayern282 wrote: »

If I actually was a Traveller and looked like one, it would make a modicum of sense....?

You used, and appeared to comprehend the word 'modicum', therefore you are not a traveller.

bayern282 · 12-02-2011 08:55PM

I know there'll be banter on this being an Irish board, as regards appearance, look pretty much like the IT that I am and accent-wise neutral Dublin, neither tracksuity or D4.

UglyBolloxFace · 12-02-2011 08:56PM

Snakeblood wrote: »

That said maybe I would just be able to pick out a certain sort of traveller face from a certain clan, I certainly wouldn't be able to enter a competition for it

I can picture it now...The Knack Factor

wixfjord · 12-02-2011 08:56PM

As a Wexfordian, I say the following with 100% certainty: Yes, absolutely.

Micky Dolenz · 12-02-2011 08:59PM

Game over.

Insert 50 cent and try again.

Is it possible to spot Irish Travellers by their appearance

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