I'm a settled traveller (ask me anything)

scopper · 18-06-2013 12:52AM

emo72 wrote: »

Do you go out with settled girls? Or is that frowned upon? Why do the girls never go out with settled lads? And finally do you know piebald Luke from Wexford?

Frowned upon, but not strongly. Sort of like your racist da wanting you to see a white girl. But he won't go made if you see a black one really. My gf is a fellow settled traveller that I met when I was 17. So that would maybe be a very traveller thing. But it was mostly cos we fit.

I know Luke :P

emo72 · 18-06-2013 12:52AM

scopper wrote: »

There is usually uproar about this in the community where one or two family is wrecking the area. Keep in mind most people do not want to live in it. If you see a cleanup up close you'll notice the rubbish builds up around where only a few caravans were. Most families hate that this is associated with travellers.

Great thread. Stick around scooper. Places like labre park are a mess. Gets cleaned up, then its a mess again.

I am pie · 18-06-2013 12:52AM

Watching various documentaries we are given the impression that fighting, i.e. organised bare knuckle matches, is an acceptable form of dispute resolution.

Is it hyped up for good viewing or quite prevalent?

What is the travellers perception of the environment, do they fel compelled to protect it?

Fair play for sticking your head up here!

meoklmrk91 · 18-06-2013 12:54AM

What do you think of the work of Pavee Point?

Recent enough statistics have shown that 85% of the adult travelling community are on social welfare benefits, what do you think can be done to change this? Is getting work as a traveller as hard as those who do try say it is?

scopper · 18-06-2013 12:54AM

I am pie wrote: »

Watching various documentaries we are given the impression that fighting, i.e. organised bare knuckle matches, is an acceptable form of dispute resolution.

Is it hyped up for good viewing or quite prevalent?

What is the travellers perception of the environment, do they fel compelled to protect it?

Fair play for sticking your head up here!

Organized bare knuckle fighting would be a sort of traditional thing for certain families. They do seem to sort disputes that way, but it's not common in my own circles.

The environment...hmm, it's maybe a more old school view of practical use of the land and not being too 'city' or urban.

Cody Pomeray · 18-06-2013 12:55AM

scopper wrote: »

Until today I'd managed to avoid most of the traveller threads. I see them, sort of know what to expect, and avoid them. However, given the speed that the recent one seemed to generate responses I got curious.

I know from my local experience of some travellers who seem to have turned their back on their identity altogether, Is this common in your opinion?

How do you, or other travellers, feel about travellers, or their descendants, who deny or hide their traveller identity?

And what do you think is the future for travellers? Will they be around in 100 years?

Meangadh · 18-06-2013 12:56AM

Hey OP,

Fair play to you for starting the thread. Just wondering, are you male or female? I ask because I'm a secondary school teacher and it breaks my heart to see the level of education amongst the traveller students in my school. I teach all girls and most of them have left school after the Junior Cert, barely able to read and write (their attendance is awful) and pretty soon after they've left school, they're married- and next comes the kids.

Is it just assumed that this is the way it is for traveller girls? How was it that you managed to continue in education? I'd love to find a way to encourage these girls to stay in school, but I know they are under pressure from their families too to leave. Are the girls and women very much made to do what they are told?

emo72 · 18-06-2013 12:58AM

scopper wrote: »

Frowned upon, but not strongly. Sort of like your racist da wanting you to see a white girl. But he won't go made if you see a black one really. My gf is a fellow settled traveller that I met when I was 17. So that would maybe be a very traveller thing. But it was mostly cos we fit.

I know Luke :P

I think everyone knows Luke! Do a bit of dealing with him myself. Is there a higher concentration of travellers from Wexford? Maybe it's the weather that attracts them, and they are all Connors!

Calhoun · 18-06-2013 01:00AM

I'm not going to sugar coat it I haven't got allot of respect for your people, due to experience and observations in the past , I've seen to much of negative things happen to believe its a minority and feel there are allot of educated travellers who spend allot of time playing the racial line to excuse bahior.

However I want to believe my mind can be changed and not just write off a whole sub culture within Ireland . What do you think can be done to bridge the divide between both settle non- travellers and travellers of all kind .

scopper · 18-06-2013 01:00AM

Meangadh wrote: »

Is it just assumed that this is the way it is for traveller girls? How was it that you managed to continue in education? I'd love to find a way to encourage these girls to stay in school, but I know they are under pressure from their families too to leave. Are the girls and women very much made to do what they are told?

Male. I would say many traveller girls buy into a traditionalist lifestyle and whilst they are not discouraged to stop their education the assumption is that they won't continue on. So it's a soft pressure from all sides; not just families, but friends (who have left and are 'free') and that would be for me the bad part of the traditionalism. I would not say they are told to do this and that. In the end as a traveller you can always do what you want in the end. It's just that everyone will be disappointed with you and you might find it hard to keep up your reputation. In my case as a man it was easier and so the pressure is not so strong. Most of the guys would not have been interested in education though.

scopper · 18-06-2013 01:02AM

Calhoun wrote: »

However I want to believe my mind can be changed and not just write off a whole sub culture within Ireland . What do you think can be done to bridge the divide between both settle non- travellers and travellers of all kind .

I honestly don't know. There is suspicious on both sides in that settled people fear travellers - based soundly on the criminal element - and the decent travellers fear being percieved as criminals so won't mix too much. It's a catch 22.

AlekSmart · 18-06-2013 01:03AM

scopper wrote: »

(1) Maybe a little higher than usual (being honest), but I'd say 3/4 decent, 1/4 not so decent. But I would say that since the communities are small the influence of the quarter is high. You will often get families under the thumb/influence or just scared of the headcases.

(2) Domestic violence is maybe a little higher. I didn't see it so much, but indirectly you would (as in through chatter). Abuse of animals; amongst the scum element very high. Amongst everyone else non-existent.

This is my own particular area of interest Scopper.

This "Headcase" element,is I suggest expanding rapidly within Traveller culture,where unlike in the outside world,the forces of Law and Order have virtually no ability to gain intelligence on it.

The Gardai,for all of their detractors,manage to keep quite tight tabs on the activities of organized criminal gangs,but lack the same ability to infiltrate the Traveller gangs.

The relative success of Garda anti-gang operations has allowed Traveller based gangs to prosper and fill the vacuum's left by the many high profile success in recent times.

Would you consider that these elements actually present a greater threat to the fabric of Traveller Society itself as well as to the outside world ?

darlett · 18-06-2013 01:04AM

(a) Is there such a thing as Traveller cuisine? I suppose supply and demand dictate a need to conform to the standard fare of other Irish people, but is there such a thing as traditional grub in the community?

I guess what Im asking is do ye eat much in the way of nettle soup...

(b) Do you consider yourself Irish Traveller, or Traveller? Do you find a connect with sporting events/political issues of the day? Did you sit around with a few beers cheering watching Katie Taylor beat up another chick as a lot of us did?

(c) Only a handful of Travellers per year have made it through the education system to your level. Did you attend a normalised secondary school? If so were you able to make friends outside your community or did you feel there was a stigma on visiting friends or them visiting you.

(d) Do you feel employers give you a fair shot? Do you feel you have to mask your Traveller background to get around this?

(e) Fair play to you! And in AH of all places

HurtLocker · 18-06-2013 01:05AM

How do travellers make money?

I don't know where but apparently there's a town where they have their summer houses which are huge. You wouldn't know where? I think its around its Roscommon not sure.

Fr_Dougal · 18-06-2013 01:06AM

Have you ever been in trouble with the law?

I am pie · 18-06-2013 01:07AM

Do travellers identify with being from a particular county? Would you have any feeling for being from wicklow or wexford? Is there any kind of leadership figures who would unite travellers in Ireland & England or are loyalties only with extended families?

Calhoun · 18-06-2013 01:07AM

scopper wrote: »

I honestly don't know. There is suspicious on both sides in that settled people fear travellers - based soundly on the criminal element - and the decent travellers fear being percieved as criminals so won't mix too much. It's a catch 22.

There is a perception that travellers close ranks when in trouble even the supposedly non criminal types , like that famous race on the pony and trap things down in cork and Kerry on a busy road. Pavee point nearly went as far as excusing it as tradition .

Do travellers believe in the rule of law in Ireland ? If so would it not be better for the traveller groups to be more vocal in condemnation.

scopper · 18-06-2013 01:07AM

AlekSmart wrote: »

Would you consider that these elements actually present a greater threat to the fabric of Traveller Society itself as well as to the outside world ?

Very much so. I always like to say it's just like if you lived in a small town but there was a new generation of hardcore scumbags. Everyone then says the town is awful, the guards won't help, and so what happens...well you are at the mercy of these guys. I mean it's the basic idea that the majority of people, travellers included, want a decent life. But sometimes it is hard to get out of a vicious circle especially when education, etc. is below bar. (this is not to blame society, just the facts).

emo72 · 18-06-2013 01:08AM

**** me. He'll be up all night with this thread!

woodoo · 18-06-2013 01:08AM

scopper wrote: »

Not really. They wouldn't come in to contact much. I would say settled travellers look down a little on non settled and non settled think settled ones soft.

Do you ever see a day when all travellers would settle

Meangadh · 18-06-2013 01:09AM

scopper wrote: »

It's just that everyone will be disappointed with you and you might find it hard to keep up your reputation. In my case as a man it was easier and so the pressure is not so strong.

Yeah I suspected those two things alright. I have heard a few of them talking about what dresses they would like and things like that too though, so I do think that whilst Big Fat Gypsy Wedding is probably a bit OTT, I do think that occasions like weddings and having a big deal made of them on the day does appeal to them, particularly as a teenager.

It's a shame because with so many travellers living on social welfare, education is the only thing that will change that. I mean even for example OP, you've really good spelling and grammar (that's not to sound condescending, just to point out that education is clear here and he seems to be doing well in life). My traveller girls can just about string the most basic of sentences together on paper. We have the odd few who stay on to do LCA for Leaving Cert which is great, but the majority leave at around 15. Without education, these girls will probably never be able to fend for themselves. And as for the men, without education, most of them will only ever live off welfare payments. I just find that to be such a waste.

scopper · 18-06-2013 01:10AM

darlett wrote: »

(b) Do you consider yourself Irish Traveller, or Traveller? Do you find a connect with sporting events/political issues of the day? Did you sit around with a few beers cheering watching Katie Taylor beat up another chick as a lot of us did?

(c) Only a handful of Travellers per year have made it through the education system to your level. Did you attend a normalised secondary school? If so were you able to make friends outside your community or did you feel there was a stigma on visiting friends or them visiting you.

(d) Do you feel employers give you a fair shot? Do you feel you have to mask your Traveller background to get around this?

(e) Fair play to you! And in AH of all places

Irish for sure. Maybe traveller when with travellers mates like when you are more Irish when abroad, etc. I went to St. Marks in Tallaght. I found it OK after a while. Nobody properly slagged me for being a traveller although it was always a joke that could be used. Same as any other term of abuse. I would consider my education fortunate and not the norm so I don't know whether that would be true everywhere.

Hmm, employment is awkward in that in interviews it's obvious I'm a traveller and noone wants to say it and I always felt they would check to make sure I had the qualifications. But I'm not the type to dwell. I'd say they just didn't know much beyond the bad apples so had to be sure.

scopper · 18-06-2013 01:11AM

woodoo wrote: »

Do you ever see a day when all travellers would settle

It's very unlikely. I would far more expect them to dwindle to low numbers as the younger ones move to settle. So they might die out. (which of course many people would love :P)

I am pie · 18-06-2013 01:11AM

emo72 wrote: »

**** me. He'll be up all night with this thread!

Fair play, get the questions in now before the madness starts I say. Scopper, you are brave man and I hope this stays sane for a while yet.

General General · 18-06-2013 01:11AM

Is it true that drugs have become a big problem in the Traveller community over the past ten or so years, particularly amongst young men? Is it true that prior to that, Travellers generally steered well clear of the things? If the answer to the first question is 'partly yes' or 'yes', can you tell us a little about the impact that it has had in your experience?

Ihatecuddles-old · 18-06-2013 01:12AM

emo72 wrote: »

**** me. He'll be up all night with this thread!

We'll call him Linda so! :P

Dick phelan · 18-06-2013 01:12AM

In your expierence do you think other travellers feel they need to contribute to the wider society or just stick to their community, how do most travellers view the authorities Gardi, Government ect

bgrizzley · 18-06-2013 01:12AM

scopper wrote: »

Very much so. I always like to say it's just like if you lived in a small town but there was a new generation of hardcore scumbags. Everyone then says the town is awful, the guards won't help, and so what happens...well you are at the mercy of these guys. I mean it's the basic idea that the majority of people, travellers included, want a decent life. But sometimes it is hard to get out of a vicious circle especially when education, etc. is below bar. (this is not to blame society, just the facts).

Dont have a question Scopper, but just wanted to say fair dues for posting. Best traveller thread i've seen on AH.

blindside88 · 18-06-2013 01:13AM

HurtLocker wrote: »

How do travellers make money?

I don't know where but apparently there's a town where they have their summer houses which are huge. You wouldn't know where? I think its around its Roscommon not sure.

I imagine your talking about rathkeale (co. limerick), a large number of wealthy travellers have houses there. BTW I'm not a traveller but have family that live not too far from there

scopper · 18-06-2013 01:13AM

Meangadh wrote: »

It's a shame because with so many travellers living on social welfare, education is the only thing that will change that. I mean even for example OP, you've really good spelling and grammar. My traveller girls can just about string the most basic of sentences together on paper. We have the odd few who stay on to do LCA for Leaving Cert which is great, but the majority leave at around 15. Without education, these girls will probably never be able to fend for themselves. And as for the men, without education, most of them will only ever live off welfare payments. I just find that to be such a waste.

Sure. Though my grammar/spelling is very much acquired outside the community i.e. down to good teachers and a college experience (I think I might even over-compensate). And yes, it is an absolute waste. It's a cultural cycle that is almost impossible to break. The best that can happen is people trickling off into education and it having an influence. I see some of the younger members I do know who see what it has given me and might just take it seriously. Though I'd never bank on that.

I'm a settled traveller (ask me anything)

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