Tipperary women's traveller group honoured at local municipal district awards

The annual Nenagh Municipal District Awards Evening was held on Thursday 20th November 2025 at the Civic Offices, Nenagh. Awards were presented by Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District, Cllr. Phyll Bugler, on behalf of the members of Nenagh MD to 21 recipients across seven different categories.

The awards seek to recognise the efforts of groups and individuals who make a significant contribution to the Nenagh District through what they do and through their achievements. The awards span the works of voluntary committees in areas as such as Tidy Towns, Residential Estates, Heritage Groups and Burial Grounds. They also include particular achievements in the area of sports and a number of individuals who are involved in fund-raising and community working quietly in the background.

The Nenagh Women’s Traveller Group were awarded "in recognition of their efforts to promote and honour the identity, traditions, stories and culture of Traveller women and to ensure its preservation for future generations."

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The Nenagh Traveller Women’s Quilt Project is a culturally rich adult learning initiative developed through Family Learning Adult Literacy sessions facilitated by Tipperary ETB in collaboration with North Tipperary Development Company. Beginning in September 2024, the project brought together 13 Traveller women who sought to express their identity, heritage, culture, and lived experiences through a collaborative art piece, a quilt. Each week, the group met to sew, share stories, and reflect on their culture, culminating in a vibrant, interactive quilt featuring themed pockets representing Faith, Hope, Remembrance, Style & Beauty, Music & Stories, and Crafts & Traditions.

The initiative empowered participants to reclaim their narrative, celebrate their community, and foster pride in their Traveller identity. It was supported by tutors, ETB staff, and community partners and showcased the transformative power of adult learning rooted in cultural expression. The Quilt is on display on the walls of the concourse in the Civic Offices on the Limerick Road in Nenagh and can be viewed during working hours, Monday to Friday.