Conference tallis::celt

    Jos�,
    
    Like most residents of Western Europe, I can't tell you much about the
    culture and history of Gypsies, in Ireland or anywhere else. Their
    social status reflects this ignorance.
    
    Whenever a permenant site is discussed for Gypsies to use, the local
    residents object. Little girls tend to dream of fairys, rather than
    Gypsies, living at the botton of the garden. 
    
    The main contact between Gypsies and their neighbours is when said
    neighbours need second hand spare parts for the car.
    
    Very few serious social climbers live in caravans.
    
    John.   

    Jose,
    
    Many fine Americans descended from those travelling people!
    
    Actually, many gypsies/tinkers were originally metal smiths - people who
    would make pots, pans, spoons, etc. out of tin and other materials. 
    They would travel around the country and sell their wares.
    
    -George

    Here in Ireland the Travellers (A.K.A  Itinerants) are a separate
    culture and sub-division of the Irish people.
    From birth,both sides of the divide are brought up to,at best,distrust
    each other,and at worst to hate each other.
    Many generalisations concerning the Travellers abound,that they are
    lazy,fight a lot,can't hold their drink and have a large number of
    children.
    The same generalisations were put about by the British about the
    Irish in general when the British ruled Ireland.
    The truth is that the Travellers,like all nomadic people,are at
    a distinct disadvantage educationally because they rarely stayed long
    enough in school.
    The roadside life didn't help them get a permanent job....the passport
    to greater earning power here in Ireland.
    Their future is not as bleak now because many settled people,through
    unemployment etc. find themselves in the same boat,broke and homeless
    and better education means the travellers can now better express 
    themselves to the settled community for better understanding.
    The social problems that exist today such as begging,unauthorised
    camp-sites and public drunkeness will take years to solve but they 
    have their counterparts in most other countries in the worl
    

    
    
    	I read recently that there is a new shoppe that has opened in 
        Galway City called "Bargains", located almost opposite Roches
        Stores, it's owned by a Micheal Mongon, the first member of the
    	travelling people to set up in "The City of the Tribes" ...
    
	So, How's Business ???
    
    
    
	keVin
    

    Jose,
    
    More thoughts concerning gypsies...
    
    The gypsies/travellers/itinerants/tinkers in Ireland are not
    Romany-gypsies that are found in continental Europe.
    (Romany-gypsies are dark skinned people that are thought to be
    of Rumanian or Indian background).
    
    The gypsies in Ireland are native Irish.  Although these are my
    own generalizations, the Irish gypsies I've seen tend to be small,
    maybe due to poor diet.  They also have bony, accentuated facial
    features.
    
    George

    George,
             What you call travellers,itinerants and tinkers,what i call
    gypsies.These words are new to me. I don't understand what you mean
    they (gypsies) are native. The gypsies immigrate to Europe then settle
    in Ireland. Unless they were the first to settle in Ireland then they
    native.
     

    George,
                Part II When did the gypsies settle in Ireland ?
      What is the population of gypsies in Ireland ? now..
     
    Jos�