Photos jbs
A powerful celebration of Traveller culture and community development was officially launched at the Mayfair Library to mark this year’s Traveller Pride Week. Hosted by the Kilkenny Traveller Community Movement (KTCM), the event combined a stunning arts and crafts exhibition with a showcase of local frontline community projects.
Centred around the national theme, “Looking Back, Moving Forward,” the event highlighted the deep history and future resilience of Kilkenny’s Traveller community. The public exhibition aim is to help bridge generational divides, featuring traditional crafts like tin smithing, woodwork, and embroidery alongside modern custom designed denim jackets created by younger community members.
Star Stokes, Community Development Worker with KTCM, opened the exhibition by highlighting how crucial creative spaces are for local representation
“Arts and crafts hold a sacred place in our history, carrying skills and memories across generations. Today is more than an exhibition of talent; it is an expression of lived experience, identity, and pride. When Traveller voices are heard and given the space to be creative, it builds genuine understanding, respect, and connection”,said Star.
The launch also spotlighted the essential health and advocacy work happening across the county. Hannah Kirwan, Chairperson for KTCM and Traveller Peer Team Leader with the Traveller Primary Health Care Project , spoke on the day about the critical pillars supporting local families spanning health and well being, family advocacy, mental health resilience, and education.
Reflecting on the core values of the project, Hannah stated: “At the centre of everything we do is relationship building, trust, and walking alongside people through both challenges and positive change. Today is about pride in our culture, our identity, and our resilience, as we continue looking back with respect and moving forward with hope”, said Hannah.
The event underscored the strength of local cross-agency collaboration. KTCM extended its sincere gratitude to its vital partners, including the Mayfair Library, Kilkenny County Council, Kilkenny Leader Partnership, Kilkenny and Carlow ETB, Healthy Ireland, The Heritage Council, Kilkenny Employment for Youth, and Kilkenny City Vocational School.
The celebrations continued into last week with two major events taking place at O’Loughlin Court (R95 NW28)on Tuesday, May 26th. ‘TraVision’ presented a compelling talk titled ‘Unheard Histories’ Traveller, Truth and Resistance’. This was immediately followed by a dedicated Traveller Women’s panel discussion, ‘Proud Roots, Strong Futures’ Traveller Women Today’, which explored the evolution, journey, and progress of Traveller women while honouring the past and empowering the present. The morning’s events concluded with a community lunch.
