New sign shares Traveller heritage

Cork city’s first Traveller heritage sign has been launched to celebrate the rich heritage of the indigenous ethnic group.

The sign was launched at the weekend at Tramore Valley Park by Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan.

The Black Ash Traveller Heritage project documents the stories of Travellers who lived traditionally in barreltop wagons in the Black Ash, Tramore Valley Park, and Kinsale Road Roundabout areas in times past.

The project was created by Cork Traveller Women’s Network (CTWN), a grass roots Traveller led community development project, working for Traveller rights in Cork.

Opening the launch were singers Margaret Meehan and Rosie McCarthy who performed some traditional songs for those attending.

Original art and traditional copper craft and handmade paper flowers were also on display at the event.

Mags O’Sullivan, Community development worker with CTWN, said: “This project is about recording our history to build Traveller pride for our community, to celebrate our roots and to share it with our young people.

“It’s also about sharing our story so that people from outside our community can learn more about us.”

Mags added: “The Black Ash area was a very important traditional camping area for nomadic Travellers in the 1960s, 1970s and earlier.

“If you ask any older Traveller throughout Ireland where they stopped when they travelled to Cork, its likely they would mention the Black Ash area.”

CTWN is appealing to the public to contact them on Facebook or Twitter if they have any photos of Travellers in the Black Ash area from the 1960s/70s.