Limerick Travellers Get to the Art of the Matter - Ireland

From Dunphy Public Relations

An art project exploring the theme of identity amongst members of the Travelling community in County Limerick will culminate in an exhibition of print and art works at the Abbeyfeale Branch Library next week.

Limerick County Council, in conjunction with the Limerick County Interagency Traveller Group, is hosting the exhibition which forms part of Traveller Pride Week from 18-26 June.

More than 20 members of the Travelling community in Abbeyfeale have participated in a Print and Art project in recent weeks. An exhibition of artworks will be launched on Wednesday next (20 June).

Group Chairperson and Director of Services with Limerick County Council, Josephine-Cotter Coughlan commented: “This initiative is aimed at promoting Traveller culture and we are delighted that the finished art works will be exhibited in Abbeyfeale during Traveller Pride Week. A similar project was completed by Travellers in Rathkeale earlier this year and the exhibition was officially launched by Minister Jimmy Deenihan.”

According to Limerick-based artist and project tutor Richard Hannafin: “This art project explored the theme of identity for the upcoming Traveller Pride Week. Although not all the participants involved are from the Travelling community, they all have spent a significant amount of time in the centre together. Working collaboratively all the students completed a mosaic and a mixed media piece which relates to the identity theme. “

“As the centre closed its doors for the last time on Friday (15/6/12) it is hoped that this project brings to the fore the important work completed by students and tutors alike over the years. Limerick County Council has been pivotal in the funding of this project and will be exhibiting student work in the Library in Abbeyfeale,” Mr Hannafin concluded.

Traveller Pride Week runs from 18th to 26th June. The aim of the week – which is planned by a number of national organisations including Pavee Point Travellers Centre and The Irish Traveller Movement – is to celebrate the contribution Travellers make both within their own communities and to Irish society as a whole, through their culture, enterprise, sporting excellence, professional expertise across every area and unique history and tradition.

National and local events around the country will innovatively focus on the theme of pride in the Traveller Community. For more visit www.travellerprideweek.ie.