Irish Traveller Movement

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Irish Traveller Movement
Founded1990
Location
  • 4-5 Eustace Street, Dublin
FieldsIrish Travellers
Key people
Bernard Joyce
Websiteitmtrav.ie

The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) is a national organisation for members of the Travelling community and Traveller organisations in Ireland.

History[]

The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) was founded in 1990,[1] with the chairperson Catherine Joyce.[2] They represent 40 local and national Traveller groups from the island of Ireland.[3]

Core Activities[]

The ITM collects and publishes data and reports relating to living conditions, educational prospects, and other aspects of the lives of Irish Travellers. They advocate for:

  • They campaign for equality for Travellers in all aspects of life
  • They promote pride in the culture and identity of the Travelling community
  • They promote and produce evidence based solutions for all issues affecting the Travelling community[3]

The Movement has been one of the groups, alongside Pavee Point, who have partnered with groups advocating for the Roma community.[4] They have partnered with organisations such as St Stephen's Green Trust on programmes such as Travellers in Prison Initiative.[5] They have held initiatives such as Traveller Focus Week from 2004.[6] ITM was one of the groups which submitted recommendations to a Seanad Committee on the inclusion of Travellers in Irish public life.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ITM highlighted the difficulty the Travelling communities have relating to access to clean water, toilets, and the cramped sites on which many families live.[8] In response to the protests and demonstrations after the murder of George Floyd, ITM joined with other Traveller groups in calling for an "end to racism".[9]

ITM is one of 7 not-for-profit organisations in Ireland which provide free legal advice, alongside , Ballymun Community Law Centre, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, the Irish Refugee Council, the Free Legal Advice Centres, and Northside Community Law Centre.[10]

Traveller Pride Week[]

The ITM is the coordinator of the Traveller Pride Week, which hosts the Traveller Pride Awards. They established the awards in 2009.[11] Awards are given out across 7 fields: community, enterprise and employment, sport, education, intersectionality, youth, arts/culture, and music. Past winners have included Laura Angela Collins and Oein DeBhairduin.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ Bannon Ward, Shaun (2019-12-02). "An Irish Traveller's path to higher education". Trinity News. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  2. ^ Kenrick, Donald (2007). The A to Z of the Gypsies (Romanies). Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 130. ISBN 1-283-63920-3. OCLC 817820579.
  3. ^ a b "What is ITM?". Irish Travellers Movement. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  4. ^ Hennessy, Mark (15 November 2013). "Irish Travellers' leader warns of a direct action campaign to come". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  5. ^ "TPI Background". St Stephens Green Trust. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  6. ^ O'Rourke, Aisling (4 December 2007). "Social inclusion the focus of Travellers' Week | Magill". magill.ie. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  7. ^ Barry, Aoife. "A permanent seat in the Seanad should be reserved for Travellers, says new Seanad report". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  8. ^ Holl, Kitty; Correspondence, Social Affairs (25 May 2020). "Traveller realities amid the pandemic: 'I thought I'd never see a sup from a tap again'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. ^ O'Brien, Tim (9 June 2020). "Travellers urge end to racism as George Floyd buried". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  10. ^ Blackwell, Noeline; Donnelly, Larry (14 November 2011). "Negative stereotype overshadows good work of many lawyers". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Traveller Pride". Irish Travellers Movement. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  12. ^ "Inspiring Winners of 9th Traveller Pride Awards Pavee Point". Retrieved 2020-06-11.
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