For this year’s Heritage Week UCC Library’s Special Collections and Archives will explore the theme of "Connections, Routes & Networks” by celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Irish Traveller Community. An indigenous minority, Travellers have been a part of Irish society for centuries. With their long-shared history, cultural values, language, and customs, they are a distinct and self-defined group, traditionally nomadic. Travellers make up 1% of Ireland’s population and they were formally recognised as an ethnic group by the Irish State in 2017. Racism and prejudice towards the Traveller community remains a prevalent issue and advocacy groups such as Irish Traveller Movement and Traveller Visibility Group are working towards a shared goal: “Travellers have equal opportunities in life and feel valued in Irish society (including access to justice, employment) with their ethnicity recognised, respected and resourced.”

Please join us for this Heritage Week event in Boole Library where we will bring out stunning photographs and insightful printed materials from the Alen MacWeeney and Bryan MacMahon archives, and the Maura Fennell Collection. 

Attendees must register in advance. Registrations close 17:00 Wednesday 21 August. 

The session is 45-60 minutes long.