October News
Hot off the presses, check out our October Newsletter, full of inspiration and support for our community.
Celebrating Traveller Pride: A Journey Through Heritage and History in County Clare
In journalism, we learn that timeliness is key to telling your story. But it’s equally important to reflect on meaningful stories, as they continue to impact people all around us. This is one such story.
Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) is a community organization and charity dedicated to supporting marginalised communities, including the Traveller community in Clare. This article highlights Traveller Pride, and its significance for Irish history, our lives today, and future generations to come.
In May 2024, the Clare Traveller Community Development Project (CDP) hosted an unforgettable Traveller Pride event in Lee’s Road, celebrating the rich culture and heritage of the Traveller community. The event, which attracted over 200 attendees, showcased a Living History Exhibition that transported visitors back to the 1950s, offering a rare and immersive glimpse into Traveller life during that era.
The centrepiece of the exhibition was a fully restored Barrel Top Wagon, a traditional tent, and a flat cart, all set against the backdrop of a campfire, reminiscent of a bygone era. Visitors were treated to live demonstrations of tinsmithing, storytelling by Traveller women, and an authentic camp scene that highlighted the traditions and lifestyle of Travellers from decades past.
Bridgie Casey, Coordinator of Clare Traveller CDP, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “This is an amazing opportunity to get an insight into Traveller heritage and history, and the contribution of Travellers to Irish history for our community and the settled community.”
The day was filled with entertainment for all ages, including live music, performances, and a family-friendly barbecue that brought the community together.
The event provided a platform for both Travellers and the settled community to engage, learn, and appreciate the rich cultural tapestry of the Traveller community. Martin McDonagh, the men’s development worker with the CDP, highlighted the importance of such events, saying, “All are welcome on the day to share the celebration of our culture and learn about our identity. It is important that our history is passed down through the generations.”
Reflecting on the event, Maja Syncerz, a community development worker with the CDP, expressed the importance of having a day to simply celebrate and be proud. “As the Traveller CDP, we advocate a lot, we challenge discrimination, run programmes, and the community engage with our services and do absolutely fantastic work. And It’s just nice to do something positive, with Traveller Pride. Often the stuff that Travellers are dealing with on a daily basis is discrimination, fighting and loss. Having a chance to just be together and celebrate, it’s no small thing. That day is really, really important, to just come there, enjoy and be proud.”
“Having a chance to just be together and celebrate, it’s no small thing. That day is really, really important, to just come there, enjoy and be proud.”
Culture & Identity is a core tenant of the Traveller CDP’s work, and this event was a great opportunity to build connection and raise awareness. “It’s amazing to see Traveller Pride being celebrated every year, and the culture and heritage being recognized,” Maja added. Not only was it attended by members of the Traveller community, but there was a lot of interest from the settled community too. There’s a real lack of recognition of Traveller history and culture, and it’s nice to bring that back and highlight their contribution to Irish history.“
One of the most poignant moments of the day came from the older generation of Travellers, who became emotional as they reminisced about their past. “Some of the older generation of Travellers actually got a bit emotional, reflecting on family members that had passed on, and their experiences of childhood,” said Maja. “It sparked conversations about identity and what life was like, making it more than just an exhibition—it was a connection to their roots.”
The event also provided an opportunity for parents and grandparents to educate the younger generation about their heritage. As children explored the exhibition, they were guided by their elders, who shared stories of their own experiences. “Having that physical representation really increased that connection for everyone. It wasn’t just a story, it was an actual experience,” Bridgie added.
This year’s Traveller Pride event marked the third annual celebration by Clare Traveller CDP, and it was the largest yet. The interactive nature of the Living History Exhibition was a result of community feedback from previous years, where attendees expressed a desire for a more hands-on experience. “Traveller Pride will always be centred around the community, and led by the community. The success of the event highlighted the importance of cultural identity and the need to celebrate Traveller heritage.”
Ciara Griffin, on behalf of CLDC, echoed this sentiment, saying, “It’s a really positive showcase for the community, of the culture and identity of Travellers. It’s wonderful when organizations can come together and help support Travellers to celebrate their own ethnicity.” She emphasized the importance of such events in counteracting negative stereotypes and media portrayals, showcasing the positive aspects of Traveller life.
The day was a true celebration of Traveller culture and history, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended. As Maja put it, “Traveller culture made a massive, massive contribution to Irish history. All of our differences should be celebrated, explored with curiosity, and supported, rather than outcasted.”
Traveller Pride 2024 was a day of unity, reflection, and celebration—a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving and honouring the rich heritage of the Traveller community.
Successful group of “Start Your Own Business” trainees get support with their ideas
As part of the SICAP Enterprise Supports we offer here at CLDC we regularly run Start Your Own Business Courses.
These courses are available to anyone who is registered with us and cover all aspects of starting a business in Ireland.
Anyone who is interested in applying for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance will be required to do this course to ensure they have strong Business idea and Plan.
In the latest group to take our course in July (pictured here with Evelyn Cormican, Business Trainer) we had some interesting business ideas including Children’s mindfulness classes, Artists, Nail Technicians, Food producer, Tourism Business, Therapy, Fitness, Future Financial planner and a Furniture maker.
Each have completed the course and are ready to take the next steps in their new businesses. We wish them all the Best!
For more information on Start Your Own Business Courses, or any Enterprise supports, contact Siobhan (spurcell@cldc.ie).
Click here to learn more about SICAP (Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme).
Transition Year Students complete exciting peer-led pilot project!
Poetry shows us what is possible
The poem you see here was written by Daniel Meehan, a participant in our “Stepping Stones” programme. Stepping Stones is a personal development programme that supports people to develop both personally and professionally. Daniel shows us poetically the impact that this programme can have. Thanks to Geraldine Lyons of Breaking Beyond for her fab facilitation!
Describing the programme, Geraldine says,
“I love to watch participants as they cultivate awareness of themselves. Appreciating how their beliefs can influence their behaviours, helps them to realise that change is possible and make a difference in their own lives. Add some action into the mix and this is where the magic happens! My heart soars as I witness them taking responsibility for the steps that are required, and the weekly sessions offer a safe space to explore challenges and successes that they encounter along the way. The only downside is that the time passes by so quickly! I am so grateful for the trust that both CLDC and especially the participants place in me to support them on their journeys. Only one question remains… When is the next one starting?!”
Stepping Stones is offered to folks through our Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in CLDC. We are proud to be your community organisation and to support folks in this way!
Find out more about Geraldine’s work by clicking here: Geraldine Lyons on LinkedIn
See more of our positive community impact stories here:
Transforming Lives Through Horses: A Clare Social Enterprise delivers positive change
In the tranquil Clare countryside, Niamh and Máire are providing an innovative approach to personal development and mental health support, with the help of some unlikely partners – horses.
Combining Niamh Harney’s expertise as an equine professional with Máire Kennedy’s background in mental health, their collaborative efforts are yielding profound transformations for individuals and groups alike.
Equine Centred Services is a Social Enterprise, which is a business whose objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact, rather that maximising profits. They work with a lot of teenagers as well as children and adults, and they also provide sessions for groups like staff teams, community groups and mental health services.
Central to their method is the concept of “experiential learning.” As Máire explains, “It’s not talk therapy; it’s experiential. We learn about ourselves through the experience of interacting with the horses.” There is no riding involved – clients are on the ground in a large arena with Niamh, Máire and the horses. The arena acts as the story board, and the client steps in and becomes part of it. The horses might become characters; like ‘dad’, or ‘fear’, or maybe ‘the calm one.’ “The client sees what the client sees,” says Máire. “It’s amazing what they see.”
Niamh adds, “We believe that the client has the solutions. We don’t have anyone else’s solutions. We help them find their own solutions.”
The presence of horses, with their innate ability to remain present in the moment, serves as a catalyst for self-discovery and mindfulness. “Change can happen so fast,” observes Máire. Clients often find themselves experiencing profound insights without the need for verbal communication. “People really experience themselves in their body,” says Niamh. “As they calm, the horses calm. The actual experience of what’s going on, that’s what brings change.”
“It can be easy for us as humans to be fixated on our stories,” Máire adds, “of what has happened, what was happening or what might happen. But here, we are focused on the present moment, what is actually happening right now. Clients come out of the arena knowing, ‘This is what I’m really feeling. This is what is really going on for me.’ And if you come to that – that realization and acceptance – that’s when you can start to change.”
Niamh started Equine Centred Services herself in 2016, and says that she received crucial support along the way from Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) in navigating the challenges of starting a social enterprise.
Niamh wants to encourage anyone with a passion project to understand how important it is to seek support early on. “This business was from my heart,” she said. “I thought it would all be easy because I loved the work. But there’s times where you’re stuck, filling out forms or doing accounts or giving a presentation or those things that aren’t your strong points, and you can’t move forward. If I hadn’t had someone to reach out to for a bit of support when I hit those blocks, this business never would have happened.”
In addition to training programmes and support networks, Niamh also got one-to-one mentoring. “You can’t measure the importance of these things. If I could give one piece of advice, I would say: Reach out for support sooner! I never even knew I needed the support, and now I wish I had reached out sooner.”
Clare Local Development Company is a community organization that supports individuals and communities to overcome obstacles and build resilience in their own lives and communities. They operate a Social Enterprise Network which supports people like Niamh to contribute to a better world. As Niamh’s own Equine Centred Services continues to touch lives and inspire change, it stands as a testament to the power of social enterprises in Clare in creating a brighter, more compassionate future for all.
