Traveller Pride event is a celebration of a unique culture and heritage
Enjoying the Traveller Pride Day at St Catherine’s Community Services Centre, Carlow were members of the Travellers' Creative Writing Group with staff from St Catherine’s Photos: michaelorourkephotography.ie
A CELEBRATION of Traveller heritage, culture and achievement was enjoyed in St Catherine’s Community Services Centre recently as the centre held its annual Carlow Traveller Pride event.
This year’s theme was 'Beautiful Minds, Strong Hearts'. The event showcased a vibrant array of creative arts developed over the year, featuring artwork from Travellers across the county. Notable contributions came from teenagers at Tyndall College, supported by SETU, Tullow Family Resource Centre and various ongoing projects within St Catherine’s Traveller Programmes.
St Catherine’s has launched multiple initiatives over the past 24 months, which led to a culmination of all work displayed for Pride, including the Along the Hedgerow project, the Crush On and Start Singing Choir, and the creative writing and pottery groups. These initiatives were supported by artists Jules Michael, Clifton Redmond, Clara Hutchinson, Fiach Moriarty and Trish Reilly, along with the dedicated passion of the participants.
The Meath Traveller Workshop’s Living History Exhibition was also a major highlight, featuring a recreated scene of Traveller life in the 1950s.
“It’s an annual event and it’s getting bigger and bigger every year,” said Shane Hamilton, Traveller programme manager at St Catherine’s. It’s a celebration of Traveller culture and heritage and a large part of that is in the interactive living history display from Meath Travellers Workshops, which has a beautiful barrel-top wagon, a tinsmith display, storytelling and craft display.”
