Traveller culture takes centre stage in Carrick-on-Shannon

Traveller culture was celebrated in the heart of Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday, September 4, as people from across Ireland gathered for a day of music, craft and tradition. The Traveller Heritage and Culture Day, organised through Leitrim Traveller Project and Leitrim Development Company, returned for a second year following the success of its inaugural event in 2025.

This year, organisers expanded the celebration beyond the daytime event at the Market Yard, with an evening concert at the Landmark Hotel bringing Traveller and settled performers together. Chris Stokes, Traveller Community Development Worker with Leitrim Traveller Project through Leitrim Development Company, said last year's event had proved a major success.

“We had a great success last year. There was great interest after it and people really enjoyed the day,” he said. He said the event was about celebrating Traveller identity while also recognising the traditions shared across communities.

“It’s just about spreading the positives about Traveller culture and then looking also at the shared culture between Travellers and settled people, and looking at music as being a form that we all share.” The Market Yard was transformed for the day, with traditional Traveller crafts, live music, activities and a bow-top wagon attracting visitors.

Among those showcasing traditional skills was Maureen Ward, who demonstrated the making of beady pockets, traditionally worn with skirts and decorated with buttons and intricate threaded designs. Blankets made by women involved with the Leitrim Traveller Project were also displayed, while a copper artist worked with children to create pieces they could frame and take home.

Live music was a major part of the celebration, with singer Stephen Dunne returning following a hugely popular appearance at last year's event. Barbara Sweeney, Leitrim Traveller Project Coordinator, said there had been strong demand to bring him back.

“Stephen was here at our event again last year and there was such a big demand for Stephen. We brought Stephen back again this year,” she said. “He was delighted to come back, and we were delighted to get him back.”

Irish folk and country singers Lily Riley and Francis Ward were also among the performers, alongside Fionnuala Maxwell and Edwina Guckian, with musicians and dancers from Traveller and settled backgrounds taking part.

The event attracted Traveller organisations and communities from across Ireland, with visitors travelling from Dublin, Galway, Donegal, Roscommon, Sligo, Kilkenny and Waterford. Among those attending was Jesse Collins David, creator of the Traveller ethnicity flag.

Barbara said bringing Traveller groups together from different parts of Ireland was an important element of the celebration. “A lot of the older generations that would have camped with one another or known one another growing up would be in different places through marriage and through moving around,” she said.

“It’s really important to do collaborative projects with different groups across the country, for other Traveller groups to have allies, to work together and to forge friendships.” More than 100 people attended last year's inaugural event at the Market Yard, giving organisers the confidence to expand it this year.

Barbara said the idea was initially to start small and see whether there was an appetite for a dedicated Traveller heritage celebration in Leitrim.

“We decided we'd run small and see how it went for the first year, and if it took off, we'd work it,” she said. “We had a great footfall last year. We knew there were over 100 people in and around here.”

The celebration continued on Friday evening at the Landmark Hotel with a free concert bringing together music, song and dance from Traveller and settled traditions. Organisers hope the event will continue to grow, with Chris describing it as an important opportunity for Traveller communities from across the country to come together while sharing their culture with the wider community.