FAQ
This page contains some frequently asked questions about our organisation and the Traveller Community. If you have a question, why not E-mail us and if you're lucky it'll be posted on this page.

Who or what is Exchange House Travellers Service?
We are group of Travellers and Settled people working together to provide social work, family support, youth services and education programmes to Travellers in the greater Dublin Area of Ireland.

How long has Social Services been provided for Travellers?
The first ever Social Worker to work with Travellers was employed in 1967, this person was employed by the Dublin Committee for Travelling People (DCTP) (the organisation that Exchange House Travellers Service and Travellers' Youth Service were born out of).

How long have Youth Services been provided for Travellers?
Again, the first ever Youth Worker to work with Travellers was Victor Foley who worked tirelessly with the DCTP and Travellers' Youth Service from 1971 to 1997.

Where is the oldest Traveller site in Dublin?
Labre Park, Ballyfermot is the oldest Traveller site in Dublin, it was opened in 1968 and a Youth Service operated by ourselves has operated there ever since.

Are Traveller organisations involved in International networking?
Yes, at a National level both Pavee Point and the Irish Traveller Movement are involved with international exchanges and programmes. We in Exchange House Travellers Service are involved in several international programmes, a few years ago we hosted a Youth for Europe short study visit for Youth Workers under the theme "Youth Work with Travellers". We have also organized a number of visits from Traveller organizations in England to our programmes. Some of our young people are involved in Youth for Europe Exchange programmes as well as work programmes in Lourdes, France and foreign expeditions to Barcelona in Spain, Táize in France, London in England and Finland. Recently, we have been involved with the Leonardo da Vinci funded Horsemen Project, through the NCU for Traveller Training Centres. We are currently part of the Development Partnership of the Equal Youth Project funded by the EU and coordinated by the Ballymun Job Centre.

Who are the Travellers?
Travellers (spelt with a capital "T") are a nomadic ethnic minority in Ireland. Irish Travellers have a separate culture and identity to the settled community in Ireland, however they are all Irish.

Where do Travellers come from?
Travellers are native to Ireland, they have been part of Irish society for centuries. Traveller History, in large has gone unrecorded.

How many Travellers live in Ireland today?
According to the last National Census, there are estimated to be in excess of 25,000 Travellers in the Republic of Ireland There are estimated to be some 1,500 more living in Northern Ireland.

Do Travellers speak a separate language?
Travellers do have their own language, there are three variants of this language; Cant, Gammon and Shelta. The language is only spoken by members of the Traveller community. There are some regional dialects of this language around the country.

Do Travellers face racism and discrimination?
Yes, racism in Ireland towards minorities is a problem. Racism is evident at many levels, from attacks on Travellers' sites, to lack of adequate provision for the nomadic lifestyle of the Travellers in the education system The media reinforces negative stereotypes and do very little to show the good work which Travellers are doing.

What kind of occupations do Travellers have?
Traveller occupations in the past included tinsmithing, farm labour, door-to-door sales and recycling. Many Travellers today are employed in a variety of activities from market trading and scrap collecting to antiques dealing. Quite a few Travellers are employed in community groups, youth groups, voluntary organisations, and Training Centres to help better the situation for Travellers in Ireland.

Are there any similarities between Travellers and other Nomadic groups such as Gypsies and Roma?
Yes, they are somewhat alike in that they share a nomadic lifestyle and culture. Unfortunately, this brings with it a long history of persecution and rejection. Gypsies and Roma are both from different origins in different countries.

What is the Traveller Culture?
A whole web site could be dedicated to this, but in brief, Travellers' distinctive way of life, values, culture and traditions manifest themselves in Traveller nomadism, the importance of the extended family, the Traveller language and the organisation of the Traveller economy. Their story-telling, singing and music tradition are distinctive.