Irish Traveller Movement
Founded1990
TypeNon-governmental organisation
PurposeAdvocacy,social justice, human rights and education with a focus on the Travelling Community
Location
FieldsIrish Travellers
Key people
Bernard Joyce
Websiteitmtrav.ie

The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) is a national organisation for members of the Travelling community and Traveller organisations in Ireland.

History

The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) was founded in 1990 and incorporated in 1998,[1] with Catherine Joyce as the founding chairperson.[2][3] The organisation represents forty local and national Traveller groups from the island of Ireland.[4]

Core Activities

The ITM collects and publishes data and reports relating to living conditions, educational prospects, and other aspects of the lives of Irish Travellers. It advocates for equality for Travellers in all aspects of life, promotes pride in the culture and identity of the Travelling community and promotes and produces evidence based solutions for all issues affecting the Travelling community.[4]

The organisation has partnered with organisations such as St Stephen's Green Trust on programmes such as the Travellers in Prison Initiative.[5] It has held initiatives such as Traveller Focus Week from 2004.[6] ITM was one of the groups which submitted recommendations to a Seanad Committee on the inclusion of Travellers in Irish public life.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ITM highlighted the difficulty the Travelling communities have relating to access to clean water, toilets, and the cramped sites on which many families live.[8]

Free legal aid

ITM is one of a number of not-for-profit organisations in Ireland which provide free legal advice to travellers, alongside Mercy Law Resource Centre, Ballymun Community Law Centre, the Immigrant Council of Ireland, the Irish Refugee Council, the Free Legal Advice Centres, and Northside Community Law Centre.[9]

Roma community

The organisation has also been one of the groups, alongside Pavee Point, who have partnered with organisations and indiviudals advocating for the Roma community.[10]

Traveller Pride Week

The ITM is the coordinator of the Traveller Pride Week, which hosts the Traveller Pride Awards. It established the awards in 2009.[11] Awards are given out across 7 fields: community, enterprise and employment, sport, education, intersectionality, youth, arts and culture, and music. Past winners have included Laura Angela Collins and Oein DeBhairduin.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bannon Ward, Shaun (2019-12-02). "An Irish Traveller's path to higher education". Trinity News. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  2. ^ "Irish Traveller Movement Company Limited By Guarantee". www.vision-net.ie. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  3. ^ Kenrick, Donald (2007). The A to Z of the Gypsies (Romanies). Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 130. ISBN 1-283-63920-3. OCLC 817820579.
  4. ^ a b "What is ITM?". Irish Travellers Movement. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  5. ^ "TPI Background". St Stephens Green Trust. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  6. ^ O'Rourke, Aisling (4 December 2007). "Social inclusion the focus of Travellers' Week | Magill". magill.ie. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  7. ^ Barry, Aoife. "A permanent seat in the Seanad should be reserved for Travellers, says new Seanad report". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  8. ^ Holland, Kitty (25 May 2020). "Traveller realities amid the pandemic: 'I thought I'd never see a sup from a tap again'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. ^ Blackwell, Noeline; Donnelly, Larry (14 November 2011). "Negative stereotype overshadows good work of many lawyers". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  10. ^ Hennessy, Mark (15 November 2013). "Irish Travellers' leader warns of a direct action campaign to come". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  11. ^ "Traveller Pride". Irish Travellers Movement. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  12. ^ "Inspiring Winners of 9th Traveller Pride Awards Pavee Point". Retrieved 2020-06-11.
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