Discrimination against Travellers is ‘worst in Ireland’

July 1995

DISCRIMINATION against members of the travelling community in Tralee is the worst in Ireland according to a member of the Tralee Travellers’

Training Project.

In an edition of Women’s Talk written by members of the Tralee Travelers’ Training Project run through Tralee Youth Resource Centre, Bridget McCarthy writes:

“When we got traveling during the summer in some places we would be treated alright and at other places we are only dirt. In all the places I have been, I have never experienced discrimination as bad as is is here in Tralee for me, for my family and other Travellers.”

In the article she says that it is very hard for her to live as a Traveller in Kerry.

“If I go down town people will be looking at me. If go into a shop today, I might be left in, but in the same shop, tomorrow I might be put out.,” she said.

“If we want to out to a pub or a disco we would have to pay a lot. of money and go a long road — for instance Tipperary or Mallow and after all that we might not be left in anywhere,” she adds.