Traveller Pride is an annual celebration that takes place locally and nationally with Traveller organisations, partners and stakeholders coming together to celebrate Traveller ethnicity, identity and culture.
Cork Traveller Pride recently ran from the 18th -25th July with events and activities across the city. This year’s theme was “Embracing a modern Traveller culture, with creativity in our roots” with the hope of uniting both Travellers and the settled community in a celebration of Traveller culture and heritage. It was a call to action to settled allies and partners to unite with Travellers to promote Traveller rights and be part of real positive change in Travellers lived experience in Ireland.
This year the week had a number of highlights including a celebration of the 24 fantastic Traveller women who graduated from UCC’s Leadership in the Community course. Over the last 2 years these women juggled family life and work to return to education and complete third level qualification in the face of challenges presented by the Covid 19 pandemic.
Cork Traveller Pride 2022 had an eclectic programme which had something for everyone over the week including the flag-raising event at Cork City Hall to begin the week, the Flagship event, a Family Fun D
ay in Fitzgerald’s Park, the Launch of the hazel tree film with Frameworks Films, (now available on YouTube), a Rap and Cant workshop for young people with Rachel Coffey and Raphael Olympio, and a talk by Dr Fergus Shanahan of UCC, on the the microbiome and the impacts of enforced lifestyle changes on the health of Travellers.
A huge congratulations to all involved in this fantastic week including CESCA members the Cork Traveller Visibility Group. A week such as this is vital in not only raising awareness of the need for change for Travellers in Ireland but is also a timely reminder to us all that Traveller rights are human rights.