Press Release December 2005
Traveller Focus Week and A Traveller's Ireland Photography Competition Launch
Sunday 5pm Filmbase Templebar
Traveller Focus Week commences this Sunday, 4th December with an official launch in Templebar. The theme of the week is RECOGNITION reflecting one of the key objectives of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NPAR) under which auspices the week is being funded.
"It is particularly timely that this week is occurring now" said Ms. Ronnie Fay, Director of Pavee Point Travellers Centre "Given all the negative media coverage in the days following the sentencing of Padraig Nally it is important that Travellers are seen and recognised as Irish citizens who make a positive contribution to society. We hope the events of this week will help to build relations between Travellers and the majority population" she continued.
The week will formally be launched by Ms. Lucy Gaffney, Chairperson of the Steering Committee overseeing the implementation of the NPAR.
The official prizegiving in the national photo competition A Traveller's Ireland will also take place marking the start of the week. The competition aimed to capture the everyday lives of Travellers in Ireland and was judged by a panel comprising photo journalist Derek Speirs, Pete Smith from the Gallery of Photography, Arts Development Officer Emer Maguire from An Munia Tober (Belfast Travellers Support Group), Julie Keenan Information Worker Pavee Point and John Paul Collins Community Development Worker Pavee Point.
The winner Jacki Hehir from Limerick's photo 'Reflections' of Traveller child Chloe O' Reilly was taken at Cahirmee Horse Fair, Runner up Julien Behal's work 'Father's Embrace' was taken in Dublin while Dutch finalist Bo Gort's photo was taken at Ballinasloe Horse Fair and children's winner Annie Mongan's photo was taken on the Mona By Pass Belfast.
There will be 25 photos on display, shortlisted from over 140 that came from all over Ireland, Europe and the United States. The exhibition will run for the duration of Traveller Focus Week.
Rosaleen Mc Donagh's play John and Josie (Dealing with issues of Traveller identity and sexuality) will première at 8.00pm in the Project Arts Theatre, for more information contact the Project on 01 881 9613/14
- Click here for further details on Traveller Focus Week
- Click here for photography competition results
For further information/ copies of winners photographs please contact Terry Battles Information Officer Pavee Point Travellers' Centre 01 8780255 Ext 103.