Online events see Travellers celebrate diversity within the community

Thomas Lyons

Monday marked the beginning of two weeks of Traveller Pride with the official launch hosted by newly appointed Senator Eileen Flynn, the first female Traveller in the Oireachtas.

The two-week celebrations of Traveller culture and Mincéir heritage was launched in a live streamed event, followed by a panel discussion. The theme of this year’s pride week is: Recognising diversity and pride within the Traveller community.

Chrissie O'Sullivan with the Cavan Traveller Movement outlined what is in store for the week: “Every evening there will be different events hosted online and they can be viewed on the Traveller Pride Facebook page. There was a conference online on Monday celebrating the diversity of the community. There was 53,000 tuned into the conference.”

Traveller Pride week runs until July 24 with a number of events celebrating Traveller culture including panel discussions, live music and traditional storytelling. The movement to bring events online was a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The upside to the Covid-19 restrictions,” Chrissie says, “is that it's reaching a much wider audience online, but it does take away from the events we would normally be hosting ourselves here in Cavan.”

Celebrate

In recent years the week has been extended to a fortnight to accommodate the wide range of events.

“This allowed local Traveller projects to be part of the celebrations without taking away from the main national events,” Chrissie explained.

This year's Traveller Pride Week has a broad theme.

“We will be supporting and promoting Traveller diversity and Travellers' contribution to every aspect of Irish life. We need to acknowledge that we are all different in age, appearance, disability, abilities, values, beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, religion, autism, colour and ethnicity. It is important to celebrate our differences as a community.”

Chrissie is calling on as many people as possible to support this online campaign, and encouraging the community to put together short messages or video clips addressing diversity.

Courage

The settled community too are asked to support the events.

“We know it takes courage to put up a post and share it on social media. If people can write a positive message of encouragement and support for those sharing stories.

“People within the settled community, can use their status and position within society as musicians, sportspeople, politicians and campaigners, as friends, and share a personal message of support on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,” she said.

Traveller Pride Week 2020 is an opportunity for all us to work together to highlight and amplify our message to the wider society. Through our online campaign, we will highlight and promote the richness of Traveller diversity and celebrate this together throughout Traveller Pride Week 2020.

Show your support and join the National Traveller Pride Week Campaign by using the hashtag #diversitywithin.