travelling community in ireland

• A Brief History Of Irish...

A Brief History of Irish Travellers, Ireland’s Only Indigenous Minority

After a long battle, Irish Travellers were finally officially recognised as an indigenous ethnic minority by Ireland’s government in early March 2017. Here, Culture Trip takes a look at the origins of the Irish Travelling community and how the historic ruling came about. At the time of the 2011 census , there were around 29,500 Irish Travellers in the Irish Republic , making up 0.6% of the population. The community was found to be unevenly distributed across the country, with the highest number living in County Galway and South Dublin. Although – as the name suggests – Irish Travellers have historically been a nomadic people, the census showed a majority living in private dwellings.

Throughout Irish history, the Travelling community has been markedly separated from the general Irish population, resulting in widespread stereotyping and discrimination. The same year as the census, a survey conducted by Ireland’s Economic and Social Research Institute found that Irish Travellers suffer widespread ostracism; this and other factors have been shown to contribute to high levels of mental health problems among Irish Travellers. Indeed, the 2010 All Ireland Traveller Health Study found their suicide rate to be six times the national average, accounting for a shocking 11% of Traveller deaths.

Through the 2011 census, members of the Travelling community were also found to have poorer general health, higher rates of disability and significantly lower levels of education as compared to the general population, with seven out of 10 Irish Travellers educated only to primary level or lower.

Because of a lack of written history, the exact origins of the Irish Travelling Community have been difficult to clarify. Although it had been hypothesised, until relatively recently, that Irish Travellers may be linked to the Romani people, a genetic study released in February of this year revealed this connection to be false.

The study found that Travellers are of Irish ancestral origin, but split off from the general population sometime around the mid-1600s – much earlier than had been thought previously. In one widely quoted finding, the DNA comparisons conducted in the course of the research found that while Irish Travellers originated in Ireland, they are genetically different from ‘settled’ Irish people, to the same degree as people from Spain.

The results of the study, conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College Dublin, the University of Edinburgh and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, contributed significantly to Irish Travellers being officially designated an ethnic minority, defined as a group within a community with different national or cultural traditions from the main population.

Speaking to RTE on the day of the ruling, former director of the Irish Traveller Movement Brigid Quilligan said, ‘We want every Traveller in Ireland to be proud of who they are and to say that we’re not a failed set of people. We have our own unique identity, and we shouldn’t take on all of the negative aspects of what people think about us. We should be able to be proud and for that to happen our State needed to acknowledge our identity and our ethnicity, and they’re doing that today.’

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Who are the Travelling Community in Ireland?

Learn more about the history, traditions and challenges faced by the Travelling Community

Written by spunout

Fact checked by experts and reviewed by young people.

The Travelling Community is an Irish ethnic minority group. Travellers traditionally lived nomadically, moving from place to place, and followed their family routes around a region in Ireland looking for work and visiting fairs. Over the past few decades Irish Travellers have been forced off the roads due to a number of reasons including government policies,  laws causing shortages of stopping places or halting sites, and fairs ceasing to trade. Traveller families are now less able to travel and many have been moved into halting sites and houses around the country.

Are Irish Travellers an ethnic minority?

A recent study based on DNA testing, by the Royal College of Surgeons and Edinburgh University suggests that Irish Travellers emerged as a distinctive Irish group at least 12 generations or 360 years ago, around the year 1657. Many individual Traveller families will also have their own ‘origin’ theories or family stories as to how they came to travel on the road. 

On the 1st of March 2017, after 25 years of campaigning, Irish Travellers were recognised as an ethnic minority group by the Irish government. Irish Travellers are indigenous Irish people, but are a distinctive group within the general population, and ethnically different due to a shared history, traditions, culture and language, among many other elements. 

Has ethnic recognition helped the Travelling Community?

Ethnic recognition should in theory help Travellers to protect their culture and traditions, and provide extra supports in the areas including education, accommodation and health. But the Travelling Community continue to face discrimination in many aspects of life including accessing employment, healthcare, housing and education. A National Framework for Traveller and Roma Inclusion (NTRIS) is currently in development tackle these issues. So far little has changed but the Travelling Community are keeping pressure on the government to improve the lives of Irish Travellers in Ireland.

What are the traditions of the travelling community?

Trades people.

Traditionally, tin-smithing was widely practised among Travellers, who could hand craft many different kinds of pieces in tin or copper. Mugs, buckets, coal scuttles and churns are only a small selection of the various items that a Traveller could make. Travellers also took up seasonal work for farmers, such as fruit and potato picking. This independent spirit is a strength and source of pride by many people in the community and is carried on to this day in the form of market stalls, gardening businesses, online selling and revamping furniture, to give only a few examples.

Sewing and clothes making

Traveller women would traditionally make something called a ‘ beady pocket ’, which is a kind of handmade handbag worn around the waist, usually under an apron. The pocket would hold money and important items for the family. The flap on the front would be highly decorated with hand-stitching, buttons, beads and other trinkets which were exchanged or gifted between other Traveller women. They could act as a ‘memory box’ for when the women last met, or mark an important occasion. Many Traveller women still enjoy personalising their clothing and accessories, even if they no longer make the beady pockets.

The Travelling Community also have a long tradition of playing music. Uillean pipers Felix and Johnny Doran influenced pipers across the globe on the Irish traditional music scene. Paddy Keenan is another example of this tradition. John Doherty and his family also regularly performed around Donegal, playing a unique blend of fiddle tunes. Finbar Furey also comes from a Traveller family of musicians. Singer and storyteller Thomas McCarthy recently won the Singer of the Year Award at the TG4 Traditional Music Awards. Steo Wall is also one of many up and coming singer/songwriters to have appeared on TV talent shows.

Family and religion

Travellers are usually very family-orientated and often religious. Traveller headstones are often very elaborate to demonstrate how much the person was loved by their family. Travellers may go on religious pilgrimages including Croagh Patrick , the Camino or to visit Knock Shrine to express their faith.

What are the challenges faced by the Travelling Community?

There are many challenges faced by Irish Travellers. The suicide rate in the Traveller community is six times higher than in the general population and seven times higher among young Traveller men. A lack of support, coupled with discrimination and racism are often cited as the main reasons for the high rate.

An All Ireland Traveller Health Study from 2010 , found that the average life expectancy of a Traveller man is 61.7 years, compared to the national average of 76.8. Traveller women have a life expectancy of 70.1 compared to the national average of 81.6. Travellers have a 14.1% infant mortality rate, compared to the settled population at 3.9%. It is often difficult for Travellers to access medical care, antenatal and postnatal care, mental health support and other services settled people use to keep healthy.

A shortage of accommodation is a big issue for Travellers and is also a factor in health problems in the community. With not enough halting sites to live in a traditional manner, Travellers may be forced to accept standard housing, sometimes far away from their family. They may feel isolated and have to hide their identity from their neighbours. Even for Travellers who want to live in houses or apartments, problems arise with landlords discriminating against them. The halting sites which do exist are in need of maintenance, updating, or expansion. Councils have money allocated to them every year to do this, but there is an issue with many councils not drawing down the money, or when they do try to build new halting sites, local residents oppose the development. There is also a disproportionately high ratio of Travellers among homeless people.

Unemployment and Education

Irish Traveller unemployment is currently at above 80% due to discrimination by employers, racism in the workplace and a lack of support in educational achievement and training opportunities. Educational attainment among Travellers is significantly below the levels among the general population. Among Traveller females, just 13.3% were educated to upper secondary level or above, compared with almost 7 in 10 (69.1%) of the general population. Nearly 6 in 10 male Travellers (57.2%) were educated to primary level at most, compared with just 13.6% of the general population. The 167 Travellers with a third-level qualification was almost double the 2011 figure of 89. One notable Irish Traveller, Sindy Joyce , celebrated receiving her PhD in Sociology in 2019, the first Traveller recognised to do so.

Racism affects Travellers throughout their entire lives. It can cause bullying in schools, refusal to enter into shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels and gyms. If a Traveller funeral is held in a town, it is common for shops, restaurants and pubs to close down for the day. Negative and exploitative media representation and social media also creates misinformation and misunderstandings about Travellers. Young Travellers may struggle with their identity and try to conceal it in school or further education. LGBTQI Travellers can find it hard to ‘come out’ to their friends and family, as often this entails revealing two things at once. LGBTQI Travellers have also reported suffering racism from settled LGBTQI people, so life can feel doubly difficult at times.

What services are there for the Travelling Community?

Travellers are expected to access mainstream services and often there is little done to make it easier for them practically, culturally or economically. However, Traveller Development Groups have created their own services to help bridge this gap. Examples of this includes regional Primary Healthcare for Travellers groups , Men’s Sheds , Horse Projects, Pavee Mothers , a Traveller-Specific counselling service and LGBT Pavee . There are also Traveller publications such as Travellers’ Voice magazine here in Ireland, and Travellers’ Times , based in the UK.

Youth groups for Travellers

• Pavee Point
• Foróige  
• Tallaght Travellers  

If there are other Traveller youth groups that are not mention on our list please get in touch by emailing [email protected] and let us know. We will add the information to our services list. 

Photo Credit to Derek Spiers for the Irish Traveller Movement. 

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• PHOTOGRAPHY

Life With the Irish Travellers Reveals a Bygone World

One photographer spent four years gaining unprecedented access to this close-knit community.

When Birte Kaufmann first encountered Irish Travellers, she was on a trip with friends in the Irish countryside and saw a girl and her little brother running toward a roadside camp. The caravans and horses reminded Kaufmannn, who is German, of the Romany camps she had seen elsewhere in Europe, but the people looked intriguingly different.

Who were they, she wondered, and how could she delve deeper into their culture?

"People said, You'll never get an insight into that community—forget about it," Kaufmann recalls of sharing with Irish friends her burgeoning plans to photograph the close-knit Travellers.

An ethnic minority in Ireland , the Travellers have lived on the margins of mainstream Irish society for centuries. Efforts have been made to incorporate the nomadic group into mainstream culture by settling them into government housing and enforcing school attendance. But even living among "settled people," they face ongoing discrimination.

Kaufmann describes theirs as a parallel world, where deeply-rooted gender roles and an itinerant lifestyle have kept them apart from the broader Irish community even as their freedom to roam has become increasingly curtailed.

To gain access to the community, Kaufmann first attempted to engage through human rights groups that work with them—to no avail. So she decided to do it "the hard way," she says. She had heard about a “halting site”—walled areas on the outskirts of large towns that contain houses as well as spaces for caravan parking—and on her next trip to Ireland, she simply showed up.

She was met by barking dogs, one of which bit her. A young woman approached, speaking English with an accent so thick that Kaufmann had trouble comprehending. Undeterred, she decided to lay her cards on the table. "I was really honest. I told [her] I was coming from Germany , where we don't have our own traveling community, [that] I knew who they were and was interested in how [they live]," Kaufmann recalls.

The young woman "was totally surprised, but finally they invited me for a cup of tea. I was sitting in a caravan with her grandfather. I asked them if I could come back and stay with them." Kaufmann says they chortled, as if to say, Yeah, right.

When she next returned from Germany, it was with a camper van of her own, so that she could stay alongside the extended family clan that would become the focus of her project. "I knew it was a high risk," she says, “but I gave them some pictures I had taken in the caravan of the grandfather. And they said, 'Ok. Now you're here. We have the images. One cup of tea. Now go. We are busy.'"

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As a photographer, and especially as a woman, Kaufmann was something of a novelty given the strictly defined gender roles of the Traveller community—men tend to the horses and livestock, women to home and family. Girls marry young and only with the blessing of their parents. Men don’t typically speak to women in public.

She slowly gained their trust to the point that one of the family members—a young mother who took a particular shine to her and was perhaps even amused at her struggle to understand what they were saying—began teaching her Gammon, their unwritten language.

"She tried to teach me words to say if the guys are being rude," she says. "And then the father started telling me what I should say. [They] tried to make me feel more comfortable." Her knowledge of words selectively and seldom shared with outsiders demonstrated to other Travellers that one of their own had trusted her enough to share.

And in turn, understanding how they communicate with each other helped her get past the sense of feeling unwelcome and deepened her appreciation of their differences. "At first [the talk] sounds really rough," she says. "Then there was this point at which I realized it was their language. They don't really call anyone by name. It's 'the woman over there,' 'the man over there,' 'the child,'" she explains. "It's not personal, [but] at first it sounds very rude.”

Kaufmann made multiple visits to the family over the course of four years, eventually living with them. The men gradually accepted her and allowed her to photograph them hunting and trading horses at a fair. She was able to blend into the background and photograph them as an unobtrusive observer of their everyday lives—lives, she says, that are filled with a lot of idle time. As Ireland becomes less agrarian, the Travellers’ traditional work as horse traders, farm laborers, tinsmiths, and entertainers has become more scarce.

"The older generations can't read or write," Kaufmann says, "but they have their own intelligence. On the one hand life was so sad and boring because everything their lives were stemming from wasn't there anymore. On the other hand there was this freedom—they live their lives in their own way."

And then, she says, she found herself taking no photographs at all. "One of the boys who really didn't like to be photographed said, 'Do you know what's really strange with Birte now? She's here and she's not really photographing anymore.'"

And that's when she knew her project was done.

Birte Kaufmann's project on the Travellers is now available as a book . You may also see more of Birte Kaufmann's photographs on her website .

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Welcome to The Irish Traveller Movement

The irish traveller movement ( itm ) is a national membership organisation representing travellers and traveller organisations across ireland since its establishment in 1990. we work collectively to represent the views of travellers and to develop policies, actions, and innovative programmes to bring about change for travellers in ireland. the irish traveller movement holds strongly to the principle of solidarity and is a partnership between travellers and non-travellers committed to seeking full equality for travellers in irish society..

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Hate Speech and Hate Crime Law – December 6th 2023

‘A vast majority of people have no idea who Travellers actually are’

A new initiative aims to preserve and promote the travelling community’s heritage.

At the launch of the Mincéiri Archives at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks, Dublin, were Sebastian Aird, Lily Celic and Danielle Lee (all 12), from Shellybanks Educate Together National School, Sandymount, Dublin. Photograph: Justin Farrelly

A compilation of stories collected from Traveller elders has been published as part of an initiative to preserve and promote the heritage of the Travelling community.

The Mincéirí Archives is an audiovisual project focusing on the lived experiences of the Mincéirí, also known as Irish Travellers, through a compilation of oral histories and narratives.

Because Traveller history is not a compulsory part of the school curriculum in Ireland, the Mincéirí Archives aim to provide an education tool for primary schools, ensuring that future generations of Irish children have opportunity to grow up with a greater understanding and respect for the community.

The project was developed by the National Museum of Ireland in partnership with representatives of Ireland’s Travelling community, a group of historians and advertising agency TBWA Dublin.

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The collection currently consists of 10 videos, with more planned, to highlight the contributions of the Traveller community to Irish art, music and sport, as well as its language and traditions.

If it’s good enough for our children to learn about the settled way of life, it should be good enough for settled people to learn the Travellers’ way of life —   Chrissie Donoghue Ward, Traveller

Only 10 per cent of the Traveller population is over the age of 65, and according to the last census there were only five over the age of 85, according to Oein DeBhairduin, Traveller cultural collections officer at the National Museum of Ireland and a member of the Traveller community.

“At the moment, there’s no direct initiative to incorporate our history among the history of the island,” he says., “We have a shared history, so if we’re not part of the history that’s being taught, we’re being taught an erroneous thing.

[  Songlines review: Traveller singer Thomas McCarthy explores a painful history through song  ]

“We’re being taught a remodelling of the history ... and a vast majority of people have no idea who Travellers actually are. They know about issues and trauma and isolation, mental health, accommodation – but what do people know about our culture?”

DeBhairduin says extra effort must be made to teach people about Traveller history and culture, and that the Mincéirí Archives will give teachers and parents tools to teach children.

Traveller elder Paddy Quilligan, from Newcastle West, Co Limerick, at the launch of the Mincéiri Archives at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks Dublin. Photograph: Justin Farrelly

Another factor DeBhairduin was conscious of during the process was that when Travellers are looked up online, “you’d probably find all the negativity, you don’t actually see us”.

“When we were looking at the Mincéirí Archive, it’s just a start, and I thought, what a wonderful way to start it, to ensure our elder voices were the first thing that were on it, and I think that’ll really anchor it and give people that exposure, that richness, and also the younger community members [the chance] to reconnect,” DeBhairduin says.

Chrissie Donoghue Ward, one of the elders who took part in the video series, says often passed history she learned from her mother down to her own children, and that this tradition is very important to her.

“It should be spread in schools and high places, even for the Government – [the Mincéirí Archives] should even be in there for training them,” she says.

“Travellers aren’t even taught their own culture in the schools, and they’re reading settled-people books, and they’re reading about settled people, but the Travellers are not even reading about themselves; now the settled people are not reading about Traveller children in school either.

[  Traveller culture is set to join the school curriculum. What could lessons look like?  ]

“So if it’s good enough for our children to learn about the settled way of life, it should be good enough for settled people to learn the Travellers’ way of life,” Donoghue Ward says.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that members of the Travelling community are probably the most disadvantaged minority in our country today, if we look at things as simple as life expectancy and access to education,” says Niall Callan, of Shellybanks Educate Together National School in Dublin’s Sandymount, who has been involved in the project.

Childrenat Shellybanks learn about the history of ethnic discrimination against the Travelling community, he says. “But the really important consideration here, and it’s something that teachers really need to think about and look at, is that the children are learning about the Traveller experience as a negative one, it’s all through the lens of discrimination and I suppose the deprivations that members of that community have faced,” Callan says.

It means that if teachers want to teach about Traveller culture, they have somewhere to go, they have really good, thought-provoking resources —   Niall Callan, Shellybanks Educate Together National School, on the Mincéirí Archives

“Often when you’re learning about equality and discrimination, whichever minority group you’re talking about, there does tend to be the focus on the negative, it’s on the struggle, the difficulties that group has faced rather than a celebration of their uniqueness and culture.

“I think that’s something that the Mincéirí Archives is trying to do ...,Traveller culture is not all about discrimination, the Travelling people have a rich and unique cultural perspective to offer us, and here it is children, now you get to listen to it, to experience it,” he says.

At the launch of the Mincéiri Archives at the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks Dublin were Lynn Scarff (director, National Musuem of Ireland) and Martin Ward (creator, Mincéiri Archives). Photograph: Justin Farrelly

Callan adds that, to date, he has not come across any history textbooks which reference Travellers.

“The problem is, if it’s not in the history book, it’s up to you to go and find that resource, and where are those resources about the Travelling community? You’ll get a few on the National Museum’s website, and obviously the Traveller organisations like Pavee Point that you can go to, but there’s not a lot out there,” he says.

“So that’s why a resource like this, the Mincéirí Archives, is brilliant, because there it is, and it means that if teachers want to teach about Traveller culture, they have somewhere to go, they have really good, thought-provoking resources.”

Dr Hannagh McGinley, the third Traveller to be awarded a PhD in the history of the State, and who works as an education officer at the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment on adding Traveller history and culture to school curriculums, also welcomes the archives.

[  ‘I became a role model’: Mother completes the third-level journey only 1.4% of her community makes  ]

“I think it’s a really good idea, I suppose one of my greatest regrets as a Traveller myself was not capturing some of the stories from my own grandmother and grandparents, and they’re gone, and so it’s too late,” Dr McGinley says.

“Even stuff like their use of the language was amazing ... at the time, as a child, I didn’t even know it was a language, I just thought we were speaking gibberish, so I wish I had known to capture all of those things.

“I think it’s such – once it’s gone, it’s gone, and given the oral nature and the oral tradition of the community, I think capturing those stories is really, really important.”

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Census 2022 Profile 5 - Diversity, Migration, Ethnicity, Irish Travellers & Religion

• Irish Travellers

Census 2022 Results

This publication is part of a  series of results  from Census 2022. More thematic publications will be published throughout 2023 as outlined in the Census 2022  Publication Schedule .

The number of Irish Travellers living in the State and counted in Census 2022 was 32,949, an increase of 6% from 30,987 in the 2016 census. Irish Travellers make up less than 1% of the population so, for comparison purposes, it can be helpful to use rates per 1,000 of the population. This shows that in Census 2022, six out of 1,000 people in the State were Irish Travellers. The proportion of Irish Travellers in the population varied from county to county.

In Galway City, 21 out of every 1,000 people were Irish Travellers, in Longford, the rate was 20 per 1,000 of the population and in Offaly, it was 14 per 1,000.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown had the lowest number of Irish Travellers per 1,000 of the population with just under two Irish Travellers for every 1,000 people.

In Kildare and Dublin City, there were just under four Irish Travellers for every 1,000 people.

The Irish Traveller population increased in most counties, the largest rise being recorded in Offaly, up 30% to 1,174.

The Traveller population also increased by more than 200 in Cork (up 11% to 2,376), Fingal (up 17% to 1,545) and Tipperary (up 17% to 1,434).

There were drops in the number of Irish Travellers in some counties; the largest were recorded in Longford (down 13% to 913) and South Dublin (down 12% to 1,943).

Note: The analysis of Irish travellers is based on the usually resident population. The corresponding de facto figures in 2022 and 2016 were 33,033 and 31,075, respectively.

The figure for Irish Travellers has a pyramid shape as opposed to the hourglass shape of the figure for the total population. This reflects higher fertility rates and lower average life expectancy among the Irish Traveller population than in the overall population.

Children under the age of 15 made up 36% of Irish Travellers compared with 20% of the total population. At a national level, 15% of the total population was aged 65 years and over while for Irish Travellers, the equivalent figure was just 5%.

Marital Status of Irish Travellers

Overall, 45% of Irish Travellers aged 15 years and over were single, up from 40% in 2016. The proportion of married Travellers dropped from 49% in 2016 to 44% in 2022.

Irish Traveller men were more likely to be either single (47%) or married (46%) than Irish Traveller women (42% single and 42% married).

Around 10% of Irish Traveller women were separated or divorced compared with 5% of Irish Traveller men.

Irish Traveller women were also more likely to be widowed (5%) than Irish Traveller men (2%).

Over 85% of Irish Travellers aged 15 to 24 years were single while 13% were married.

The proportion that were married increased to 49% for 25 to 34 year olds.

Among Irish Travellers aged 55 to 64 years, 14% were separated or divorced compared with 8% of Travellers aged 65 and over.

Overall, 25% of Irish Travellers aged 65 and over were widowed; the figure for Traveller women aged 65 and over was 35% and 15% for Traveller men.

Long-Lasting Conditions and Difficulties

There were 8,577 Irish Travellers who reported experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to any extent, accounting for 26% of the Traveller population. In comparison, 22% of the total population living in the State reported experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to any extent.

Breaking this down further, 15% of Irish Travellers (4,952 people) reported experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent or a lot compared with 8% of all people living in Ireland.

Another 11% of Irish Travellers (3,625 people) reported experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to some extent or a little while the comparable figure for the total population was 14%.

The overall proportion of Irish Travellers experiencing a long-lasting condition or difficulty to any extent was slightly higher for men (27%) than women (25%). Looking at the total population, women (22%) were more likely to experience a long-lasting condition or difficulty to any extent than men (21%).

Of all children under the age of 15 living in the State, 4% reported experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent compared with 7% of Traveller children.

The proportion of 15 to 29 year old Irish Travellers experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent (13%) was more than twice that of all people in the same age cohort (6%).

Between the ages of 30 and 59, the proportion of the population experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent was over three times higher for Irish Travellers (21%) than the total population (6%).

Among the older age cohorts, the differences were less pronounced, and Irish Travellers over the age of 80 were slightly less likely to experience a long-lasting condition or difficulty to any extent than would be expected in the overall population.

General Health

The question on general health shows that 22,050 Irish Travellers reported their general health as being good or very good (67%) while a further 3,899 Irish Travellers reported fair health status (12%).

There were 1,350 Irish Travellers reporting their health as bad or very bad, 4% of the Traveller population. This is twice as high as the proportion of the total population who reported their health as bad or very bad (2%).

The level of non-response in this question was quite high for Irish Travellers, at 17%, compared with 7% for the total population.

In the overall population, the proportion of people with good or very good health decreased slowly with age, up until the age of 70 when the decrease rate started to accelerate.

In the Irish Traveller population, the proportion of people with good or very good health decreased steadily with age up until the age of 70 at which point, the rate of decrease slowed down.

There were 5,427 Irish Travellers who were daily smokers in Census 2022, or 16% of the Traveller population compared with 9% of the total population.

Just under half of Irish Travellers had never smoked compared with 60% of the total population.

Some 9% of Travellers had given up smoking, compared with 19% for the total population.

Looking at smoking by age shows that one in three Irish Travellers between the ages of 25 and 54 were daily smokers.

Irish Traveller Households

There were 29,900 Irish Travellers living in private households in Census 2022. The majority were living in permanent housing, while 2,286 people were living in temporary housing units such as caravans and mobile homes.

The proportion of Irish Travellers living in private households who were living in caravans, mobile homes or other temporary accommodation was 8% in 2022, down from 12% in 2016.

In Fingal, 18% of Travellers were living in temporary accommodation, the highest proportion in the country in Census 2022.

In Dublin City, Kilkenny and Tipperary, 14% of Irish Travellers were living in temporary housing.

Household Size

There were 9,448 private households containing Irish Travellers. These households had an average size of 4 persons per household compared to an average size of 2.7 for the total population.

Irish Traveller households were largest in Leitrim, Roscommon and Kildare with an average size of 4.6 persons, followed by Clare with 4.5 persons per household.

The counties where the average size of Irish Traveller households was smallest were Dublin City with 3.5 persons per household and Louth, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Donegal (all with 3.6 persons per household).

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Hidden World Of Girls

For traveller women in ireland, life is changing.

The Kitchen Sisters

Second of a yearlong series

Helen Connors (right), who is part of a Traveller family, says she started school when she was 4 years old. But the community didn't take Traveller girls very seriously — and she says she was called a "knacker" and a "pikey." Nikki Silva hide caption

Helen Connors (right), who is part of a Traveller family, says she started school when she was 4 years old. But the community didn't take Traveller girls very seriously — and she says she was called a "knacker" and a "pikey."

Travellers, "the people of walking," are often referred to as the Gypsies of Ireland. Mistrusted for the most part, their traditions and lifestyle are not well understood within the larger culture. Historically, they were nomads who moved in caravans and lived in encampments on the side of the road. Their tradition as "tinkers" or tinsmiths, and as the breeders and traders of some of Ireland's best horses, goes back hundreds of years.

As times change in Ireland and the notions of private and public space change and contract, the culture no longer accepts the Travellers on public and private lands and has begun to create "halts" where they can settle.

Helen Connors, 21, lives in Hazel Hill, a new government experiment in Traveller housing on the lower slopes of Dublin Mountain, with her husband and two children.

"Travellers got their name because they're so fond of traveling around the world in a caravan," she says. "They'd have their wagons and their horses. You'd see them along the roadside. You could be in Dublin today; you could be in Cork tomorrow. That's how Travellers got their name. We call you 'settled people.' "

"Travelling girls don't really mix much with settled girls," says Shirley Martin, a 23-year-old mother of three. "The way of living, caravans, by the side of the road. A come and go thing. My family is a Travelling family."

Life In School Hard For Travellers

There are similarities between Traveller and Romany Gypsy culture, but Travellers do not define themselves as Romany, says Mary Burke, associate professor of Irish literature at the University of Connecticut.

For many generations, Travellers -- the nomadic, indigenous Irish minority -- provided services to an Ireland that was predominantly agricultural: seasonal farm labor, tinsmithing, horse-trading, hawking, music and entertainment.

The Irish government is experimenting with housing for Travellers — the Gypsies of Ireland — on the lower slopes of Dublin Mountain. The houses are called "halts." Today, the majority of Travellers either live in houses permanently or live in houses at certain times of the year. Gerry O'Leary hide caption

The Irish government is experimenting with housing for Travellers — the Gypsies of Ireland — on the lower slopes of Dublin Mountain. The houses are called "halts." Today, the majority of Travellers either live in houses permanently or live in houses at certain times of the year.

In the early days Travellers moved from place to place with horses and carts. British Romany introduced Travellers to wagons. The wagons were overtaken by caravans, and the caravans were overtaken by mobile homes. But today the majority of Travellers either live in houses permanently or live in houses at certain times of the year.

"But that doesn't mean that prejudice or identity disappear when they settle in houses," Burke says.

Connors started school when she was about 4 years old. She says the community didn't take educating Traveller girls very seriously.

"I didn't learn very much in school because I was bullied a lot," Connors says. "You were a 'knacker' or a 'pikey.' That's all you'd hear every day. You'd be in trouble nearly every day for fighting. If I said to the teacher, 'I can't do that; can I have some help?' she'd say, 'Here's paper; just go down to the back of the class and draw whatever you want.' I had one teacher that said to me, 'Well, a Traveller won't do nothing with their life. Why would you want to know how to read and write? You're going to go off and marry young and have loads of children.' So I was just put down to the end of the class and everyone else was up on top."

Because school in Ireland is set up for kids who live in a house year-round, Burke says, a cultural attitude developed toward Traveller kids who moved around a lot for not being capable of -- or interested in -- learning.

"And that carries over into today," Burke says.

Traveller Girls Marry Young

Traveller families are especially strict with girls, according to Martin.

"Some mothers and fathers is too strict where you wouldn't be allowed to go anywhere," she says. "This is why most Travelling girls get married young, because they want to get away from that. Travelling girls, most of them today would be 16, 17, 18, which will want marriage."

Tell Us Your Stories

This year, NPR and The Kitchen Sisters will bring you stories of girls and the women they become. You can follow them on Twitter by going to @kitchensisters. You can send suggestions to our listener comment line at (202) 408-9576.

We want to hear from you — Click Here For Instructions

The girls travel in a pack, promenading.

"They look very glamorous," Burke says. "Lot's of makeup and heels and long hair."

Terry McCarthy, 16, was recently married.

"When I was 13, I met my husband at a festival," she says. "And the minute I met him, I knew I was in love. I got engaged when I was 15. I had a big do for that. I had a big engagement party. Just went from there then. I got married last month. I had a lovely big huge white dress."

"Whatever you want on your wedding day you have to get," Connors says. "When I got married, I got to design my own wedding dress -- my dream dress. It had a 50-foot train. It was all diamonds and lace. Travellers, too, they have a mini-bride. That's a girl you just dress up to look just like yourself for the day. Your mini-bride has to look like you."

Theresa Hughes and daughter Jennifer have been sewing wedding dresses for Traveller girls for more than 10 years.

"The Travelling community, they come over to us to get their outfits made for going to weddings -- even the mothers and grannies want bling," Theresa says. "Thick pink satin, sequins, beads, glitter. They go all out."

Jennifer shows off a white miniskirt with beads on it.

"I just go all out; I go for extremes," she says. "I kind of used Elvis as an inspiration -- Elvis' white Lycra suit, the flared one that he wears to his last concert."

There is a lot of money involved in Traveller weddings, both in terms of substantial dowry payments and in terms of putting on a good show.

Traveller Women Gain Power

As women age in Traveller culture, they gain power. They often outlive the men. They can become matriarchs in the culture, particularly if they have a large family. And there's prestige attached to being the mother of many.

Shirley Martin, 23, a resident at Hazel Hill, says that Traveller families are especially strict with girls — and that's why they marry young. Nikki Silva hide caption

Shirley Martin, 23, a resident at Hazel Hill, says that Traveller families are especially strict with girls — and that's why they marry young.

"When I was a kid, the Travellers, they used to come around our houses making pots and pans and doing odd jobs," says Paul Connelly, the caretaker of the Hazel Hill halting site. "And in return for that, they may get milk and bread and potatoes. People will not tolerate Travellers living on the side of the roads now. It's dangerous for themselves. The country's trying to get them settled. Set up halting sites and trying to get them to live in them."

Traveller life has changed, Helen Connors says.

"My mother and father had 17 children -- nine boys and eight girls," she says. "Myself, I left school when I was 11, but then I started a trainer course where I learned how to read and write. Then I did a child care course, and I passed all my exams. Now I can read and write what I never learned in school. I learned it by myself. Travellers are speaking up for themselves and being heard."

Produced by The Kitchen Sisters (Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva) in collaboration with Dublin producer, Nuala Macklin; mixed by Jim McKee

Web Resources

• National Social Inclusion Office
• Intercultural Health
• Travellers and Roma
• Domestic Violence

Irish Travellers

Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced formal recognition for Travellers as a distinct ethnic group within the State on 1st March 2017, thus giving formal recognition to Travellers unique heritage, culture and identity.

Travellers are particularly disadvantaged in terms of health status and access to health services. Further information and resources can be found below:

Traveller Projects and Resources

The National Traveller Mental Health Service

Health Inequality

The health inequalities that lead to such poor health status are highlighted in the findings of the All Ireland Traveller Health Study (2010) . These include:

• Traveller women live on average 11.5 years less than women in the general population;
• Traveller men live on average 15 years less; and
• the number of deaths among Traveller infants is estimated at 14.1 for every 1,000 live births compared to 3.9 for every 1,000 live births among the general population;
• The study also showed that deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and suicides increased in Travellers compared to the general population. 

The strategic direction of Traveller health care is outlined in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy .                                              

Primary Health Care Projects

We provide support to a range of primary care projects and other initiatives for Travellers. This includes the ongoing work of the HSE Traveller Health Units. The Traveller Health Units work to:

• enhance Traveller health status;
• improve the capacity of mainstream health services to respond to Traveller needs; and
• respond to the social determinants that impact Traveller health.

Primary Health Care for Travellers Projects (PHCTPs) established a model for how Travellers could take part in developing health services. Travellers work as community health workers, and this allows primary health care to be developed based on the Traveller community’s own values and perceptions. This helps to achieve positive outcomes with long-term effects.

For information about the National Social Inclusion Office call: 01 778 5168, or Email: [email protected].

• Reader view

Joint Committee on Key Issues facing the Traveller Community publishes final report

2 dec 2021, 10:50.

The Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community has published its final report into inequalities faced by the Traveller Community, today Thursday December 02.

The report examines the stark inequalities of opportunity and outcome faced by the Traveller Community in the areas of health, education, employment and accommodation and recommends policy directions to mitigate the effects on the Traveller Community.

The Committee met with a large number of stakeholders including Ministers and Government department officials, state agencies, NGOs and advocacy groups and most importantly, representatives from Traveller organisations, both national and local.  

It is the Committee’s view that Traveller voices must be central in any examination of the issues faced by them, and that no solutions will be found for the serious inequalities faced by Travellers without the engagement and collaboration of the Traveller community themselves.

Launching the report, Committee Chairperson Senator Eileen Flynn said: “It gives me great pleasure, as someone who comes from Labre Park, to be able to chair this committee and open up those opportunities to many more Travellers. Travellers are one of the most studied groups in society. Over the years there have been numerous reports and studies produced which have highlighted the extreme difficulties and challenges faced by the Traveller community. Unfortunately, it is clear that these have not succeeded in improving conditions in Travellers’ lives.”

 “The Committee visited several Traveller accommodation sites around the country, to allow members to see for themselves the conditions Travellers are forced to endure, and to meet with residents and hear their experiences first-hand. Following the publication of the landmark No End in Site report into the Spring Lane halting site in Co Cork by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office – it is clear that such living conditions for Travellers can no longer endure.”

“Deficient and substandard living conditions precarious accommodation and homelessness have severely detrimental effects on both mental and physical health, and brutally impact Traveller children’s ability to thrive in education. Lower educational outcomes have a damaging impact on employment opportunities. Chronic unemployment causes stress and has negative consequences for mental health. These issues will not be solved in isolation and must be tackled through a whole of Government and a whole of society approach.” 

“Despite the dire conditions on the sites we visited, the Committee was particularly struck by the pride and care taken in the homes on site. The Committee offers a special thanks to the residents for welcoming them into their homes and sharing their stories and experiences.”  

“Travellers were particularly impacted by the pandemic due to their unsuitable living conditions. Living in overcrowded conditions prevented many Travellers from self-isolating when required to do so by public health guidelines. The lack of access to running water also made it difficult to comply with guidelines on hand hygiene. It took Covid-19 for some families to get water and portable toilets as a temporary emergency measure. There should be an immediate report prepared in relation to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Traveller community, and appropriate actions should be taken to address all concerns raised in this report.”

“I can’t stress this enough, the recommendations must be implemented. It is no exaggeration when I say that if these recommendations are implemented, they would create opportunities for Travellers that were not there before. This report will mean nothing if the recommendations are not implemented. Most importantly, it would mean a loss of hope for many Travellers who need those actions to be implemented as soon as possible.”

  The full report and its recommendations is available to read on the Committee’s webpage.  

Media enquiries

Áine McMahon Houses of the Oireachtas Communications Unit Leinster House Dublin 2

+353 (0) 1 618 3437 +353 (0) 85 800 7312

[email protected] [email protected] Twitter: @OireachtasNews

Services & Membership of the Traveller Community

• Discrimination

What's covered?

What's not covered, case studies, services & membership of the traveller community discrimination.

Discrimination on the ‘Traveller community ground’ occurs where one person is treated less favourably than another because one is a member of the Traveller community and the other is not.

‘Member of the Traveller community’ means a member of a community of people who are commonly called Travellers and who are identified (both by themselves and others) as people with a shared history, culture and traditions including historically, a nomadic way of life on the island of Ireland.

People cannot discriminate on the grounds of membership of the Traveller community:

• when they are providing goods and services to the public generally or, a section of the public;
• whether these are free or where the goods and services are sold, hired or rented or exchanged; or
• when providing access to and the use of any place or or facility.

What is meant by services and goods?

The Equal Status Acts  aim to make sure that people are treated equally when they access goods and services.

You are using a service when a person or organisation does something for you, or supplies you with something.

Goods are any moveable property. For example, goods are items that can be bought or sold.

You are protected if you are using a facility or, service of any nature, including facilities for:

• banking, insurance, grants, loans, credit or financing;
• entertainment, recreation or refreshment;
• cultural activities;
• transport or travel;
• a service or facility provided by a club (which is available to the public or a section of the public);
• a professional trade or service, such as plumbers or financial advisors; and
• educational services; and
• public services provided by the State (for example HSE, local authorities).

This list is not a full list. The Equal Status Acts take a broad view of what a service is.

What is discrimination in public services?

Public services provided by the State, such as government departments and agencies, the health service, social welfare or local authorities are all covered by equality law. This includes things like tax, grant and pension assessments.

While there may be exemptions linked to certain protected grounds, you are entitled to be treated equally in seeking to avail of a range of public services and benefits.

What about financial services?

Financial services such banks and insurers are covered by equality law on services and goods.

Example An insurer refuses to cover you because of you are a member of the Traveller community.

Risk exemption for financial services 

Not all differences in treatment by financial services are unlawful.

Specifically, section 5(2)(d) of the Equal Status Acts allows for difference in the treatment of persons, in relation to annuities, pensions, insurance policies or any other matters relating to the assessment of risk , where the treatment is effected by reference to:

• actuarial and statistical data obtained from a source on which it is reasonable to reply, or other relevant underwriting or commercial factors, and;
• is reasonable having regard to the data or other relevant factors.

Any decision to treat a person applying for an insurance policy less favourably under any of the nine protected grounds, or not to provide a service at all, must be based on reasonable evidence, and relevant underwriting or commercial factors .

If you are refused insurance or quoted a higher premium, you are entitled to the reason(s) for this.

It is also important to note that this exemption does not apply to the gender ground, meaning no difference in treatment by a financial service can be justified on the basis of gender.

Also, although this has not been determined by the Courts, it is worth noting that difference in treatment on the basis of race may also be unlawful.

Refused insurance complaints

If you have been refused insurance cover, you are entitled to go to the Declined Cases Committee of Insurance Ireland, who will obtain an insurance quotation on your behalf.

In order for the Committee to consider your case, you must first have sought and been refused quotations, in writing, from at least three insurers.

The Equal Status Acts 2000–2018:

• promote equality;
• prohibit certain kinds of discrimination (with some exemptions) across a number of specified grounds (Age, Civil Status, Disability, Family Status, Gender, Membership of the Traveller Community, Race, Religion, Sexual Orientation);
• prohibit sexual harassment and harassment across a number of specified grounds;
• prohibit victimisation;
• require reasonable accommodation of people with disabilities;
• allow a broad range of positive action measures.

The Equal Status Acts also implement the following two EU Directives – the Race Directive and the Gender Goods and Services Directive.

How do I know if I’m being unfavourably treated?

Different types of discrimination are prohibited under the Equal Status Acts, these include:

Direct discrimination

This is defined as the treatment of a person in a less favourable way than another person who is in a comparable situation, because they differ on any of the nine grounds described above. This is a difference which:

• existed but no longer exists;
• may exist in the future; or
• is imputed to the person concerned (this occurs where a person is labelled as differing under the specified grounds even though this is not the case).

Discrimination by association

This occurs when a person who associates with another person is treated less favourably because that other person differs under any of the specified grounds.

Indirect discrimination

This happens where an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice which appears unproblematic at first sight, puts a person who differs under any of the specified grounds at a particular disadvantage, compared with another person. This provision, criterion or practice will not amount to discrimination where it is demonstrated that:

• the provision, criterion or practice is objectively justified by a legitimate aim; and
• the means of achieving that aim are appropriate; and
• the means of achieving that aim are necessary.

Procuring discrimination

It is an offence under the Equal Status Acts to procure or attempt to procure another person to engage in discrimination, harassment or sexual harassment.

What responsibilities do service providers have?

Positive action

The Equal Status Acts allow for taking of positive measures (or preferential treatment) which are legitimately intended to:

• promote equality of opportunity for disadvantaged persons;
• cater for the special needs of persons, or a category of persons who because of their circumstances, may require facilities, arrangements, services or assistance.

In addition, the Equal Status Acts allow for the imposition of a reasonable preferential fee, charge or rate in respect of anything offered or provided in respect of families, married couples, older or younger persons, or persons with a disability.

Vicarious liability

Employers are liable for discriminatory acts of an employee in the course of his or her employment.

It is not a defence if the act was done without the employer’s knowledge or approval unless they can prove that they took reasonably practicable steps to prevent the conduct.

It is a defence if an employer can show that reasonable practicable steps were taken to prevent the employee from doing the act, or acts of that description.

Anything done by a person as agent for another person, with the authority (whether express or implied) of that other person shall be treated as if it was done by that other person.

What can I do if I’m being harassed or sexually harassed?

Harassment and sexual harassment

Sexual harassment and harassment in the provision of goods and services is prohibited. A person (‘the harasser’) shall not harass or sexually harass another person (‘the victim’) who seeks to use goods or services provided by the harasser.

What is harassment and sexual harassment?

Harassment is any form of unwanted conduct related to any of the specified grounds. Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

In both cases, it is conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person.

In both cases, the unwanted conduct may include acts, requests, spoken words, gestures or the production, display or circulation of written words, emails and social media, text messages, pictures, or other material.

A person’s rejection of, or submission to, sexual or other harassment may not be used by any other person as a basis for a decision affecting that person.

Who is a responsible person?

A person who is responsible for the operation of any place where goods, facilities or services are offered to the public is defined as a ‘responsible person’.

The ‘responsible person’ must ensure that any person who has a right to be there, is not sexually harassed or harassed. It shall be a defence for the responsible person to prove that he or she took steps as are ‘reasonably practicable’ to prevent the sexual harassment or harassment for occurring.

What if I am retaliated against for making a complaint?

Victimisation

It is victimisation if a person is threatened or treated badly because they make a complaint about discrimination in relation to the provision of goods and services. Victimisation is against the law.

For example, it is victimisation if you are threatened or treated badly because:

• you make a complaint of discrimination against a service provider;
• you have been involved in a discrimination case at the Workplace Relations Commission;
• you helped someone else to make a claim;
• you were involved as a witness in a discrimination case at the Workplace Relations Commission;
• you have taken a discrimination claim to court;
• you have told a service provider that you intend to do any of the things mentioned in this list.

There are several significant exemptions in the Equal Status Acts that apply to the provision of goods and services. The Equal Status Acts allow for people to be treated differently in certain circumstances.

These exemptions should be read restrictively and should not be allowed to restrict unduly the general prohibition on discrimination.

Financial services - risk exemptions on all grounds, except gender

Difference in treatment on any of the grounds, except for the gender ground, in relation to the provision of annuities, pensions, insurance policies or any other matters related to the assessment of risk , is permitted if the difference in treatment is effected by reference to:

• actuarial or statistical data, or other relevant underwriting or commercial factors; and
• is reasonable having regard to the data or, other relevant factors.

Exemptions on all grounds

Wills/gifts

The Equal Status Acts do not apply to the disposal of goods by will or by gift.

Specialised need

The Equal Status Acts permit difference in treatment where the goods or service could reasonably be regarded as being suitable only to the needs of certain persons.

General exemptions

Action required by or under law

A general exemption provides that nothing in the Equal Status Acts shall prohibit the taking of any action that is required under:

• statutory provision or court order;
•  any act done or measure adopted by the EU; or
• any international treaty which imposes an obligation on the State.

Only actions that are mandatory are covered. Where the measure leaves some discretion the anti-discriminationn provisions do apply.

Certain nationals of other countries

Public authorities can treat certain nationals of other countries differently, on the basis of their nationality, who are outside the State or unlawfully present in it (for the purposes of the Immigration Act 2004) or in accordance with any provision or condition made by or under any enactment, and arising from his or her entry to or residence in the State.

Risk of criminal or disorderly conduct

A provider of goods or services, or a person providing accommodation or related services, can refuse a service or accommodation to a person if a reasonable individual, having the knowledge and experience of the provider, would form the belief that the provision of service or accommodation to

the customer would produce a substantial risk of criminal or disorderly conduct or behaviour, or damage to property in or around the area where the service or accommodation is provided.

Clinical judgment

Treating a person differently does not constitute discrimination where a person is treated differently solely in the exercise of a clinical judgement in connection with a diagnosis of illness or her/his medical treatment.

Capacity to enter into a contract

Treating a person differently does not constitute discrimination if a person is incapable of entering into an enforceable contract or, is incapable of giving informed consent and for that reason the treatment is reasonable.

Refused bar service as a Member of the Traveller Community

Denied service in a pub and membership of the traveller community, search database for more case studies, what's next, make a complaint to the workplace relations commission.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is the body that hears discrimination complaints under Ireland’s equality laws. The WRC deals with both employment and service/goods related claims. There is no fee to bring a case to the WRC and complaints can be made online.

Learn more about the WRC process

We, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, have a statutory role to fight discrimination and provide information on equality and human rights in Ireland. Please note however that we are not a court and we do not decide on discrimination claims.

Learn more about how to contact us

• Contact another organisation

You may find that another organisation could better help you with your issue.

Employment rights / Equal treatment in services

Workplace relations commission.

Phone: 059 9178990 | Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90 * (09.30 - 17.00, Monday to Friday)

Web: https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/contact_us/contact-details/

Social welfare information

Department of employment affairs and social protection.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 071 919 3302

Web: https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/

Social welfare appeals

Social welfare appeals office.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1890 74 74 34 01

Web: www.socialwelfareappeals.ie/

Legal advice for Travellers

Traveller legal service - flac.

Web: https://www.flac.ie/

Traveller and Roma rights

Pavee point traveller and roma centre.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01-8780255

Web: https://www.paveepoint.ie/

Traveller Community rights

Irish traveller movement (itm).

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01 6796577

Web: www.itmtrav.ie

Anti-racism

Inar (the irish network against racism).

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01 889 7110

Web: https://inar.ie/

Unfair treatment by a public body

Office of the ombudsman.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1890 223 030

Web: https://www.ombudsman.ie

Rights and welfare of children

Ombudsman for children’s office.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: LoCall 1890 654654 or (01) 865 6800

Web: www.oco.ie

Child protection

Tusla child and family agency.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01 7718500

Web: http://www.tusla.ie/

Standards in health and social care services

The health information and quality authority (hiqa).

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.hiqa.ie/

Practices by a GP

Medical council.

Phone: +353 1 4983100

Web: https://www.medicalcouncil.ie/Public-Information/Making-a-Complaint-/Making-a-Complaint.html

Fax: +353 1 4983102

Consumer and competition rights

Competition and consumer protection commission.

Phone: 1890 432 432

Web: https://www.ccpc.ie

Declined insurance

Declined insurance cases of insurance ireland.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (01) 676 1820

The Legal Aid Board

Citizen's information centres, citizen's information.

Phone: 0761 07 4000

Web: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/

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Membership of the Traveller Community

In this section.

• Different kinds of discrimination in the workplace
• What categories of people are covered by the Employment Equality Acts
• General exemptions to the law on discrimination in the workplace
• Exemptions which apply to one, or more, of the nine grounds
• Exemptions which apply to particular kinds of employment
• Before you make a complaint under the Employment Equality Acts
• What happens when you make a complaint under the Employment Equality Acts
• What happens if you succeed or, fail in the Workplace Relations Commission?
• Different kinds of discrimination in relation to services
• What categories of people are covered by the law on discrimination in relation to services?
• General exemptions to the law on discrimination in relation to services
• Specific exemptions which apply to goods and services
• What happens when you make a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission under the Equal Status Acts
• What happens if you succeed or fail in the Workplace Relations Commission
• Human Rights Law in Ireland

"I feel better in myself after talking to the counsellor"

The Traveller Community in Ireland

Mental health training.

The launch of the Mincéir Mental Health training programme took place on 15th December 2021.  View the launch here ; view the evaluation report here .

Course participants can log into the training page here .

For more information please contact [email protected].

Conference 2019

In April 2019 The Traveller Counselling Service in conjuction with the Traveller Mediation Service and Exchange House Ireland ran a Conference exploring The Impact Of Inter-family Conflict on Traveller Mental Health.

A conference report will available in the coming weeks

Landline: 01 868 5761 Mobile: 086 308 1476 Email: [email protected]

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“As manager of the organisation, I have seen the impact since the local counselling service was set up some years now. The taboo that Travellers always had in relation to counselling is no longer there.”

“Our clients have said that they do feel the benefit of using the service for a number of reasons. Before they did not understand counselling or what it was for, and to be able to talk to someone about their problems and issues, whether it be drug related or not, in a "safe and confidential environment" is key.”

(Jim O’Brien, Manager, Bray Traveller’s Community Development Group Ltd.)

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Cutting-edge food, traditional pubs and incredible Titanic history take Belfast to the next level – welcome to one of Ireland's most exciting cities.

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Belfast: Home of the Titanic

It's got natural beauty. It's got tons of history. And it's got super-friendly locals who know how to have a good time. No wonder Belfast is one of the hottest destinations in Europe to visit. Quick to charm and packed with brilliant attractions, including the world-class Titanic Belfast, this is a city that's bursting with creativity. You'll see it in the boundary-pushing art galleries of the Cathedral Quarter, in the super-cool pop-up restaurants that spring up around the city, and in the bustle of St George's Market, where artisan food producers rub shoulders with craftspeople (Fri-Sun). Dig a little deeper, and you'll uncover the layers of history that make Belfast such a compelling place, from its Bronze Age origins to its prosperous shipbuilding past.

Belfast City Hall

Adventures await

Set on the shores of Belfast Lough and framed by towering Cave Hill, Belfast is the gateway to the exceptional Causeway Coastal Route. But you don't have to go very far from the city centre to enjoy a bit of outdoor adventure. Head to Belfast Castle for a heart-pumping hike up Cave Hill and a stunning bird's-eye view of the city. See the sights from Belfast Lough in a 12-seater rib with Belfast Sea Safari. Or check out the real-life locations from HBO's Game of Thrones® on a day-tour from Belfast. More than just a city, Belfast is the experience of a lifetime.

• Neighbourhood

Established Belfast

“Belfast has earned a reputation for its amazing coffee, with fantastic little independent coffee shops around every corner.” – Outsider.ie

Cathedral Quarter

The Cathedral Quarter is a rejuvenated trade and warehousing district that today claims the best bars, restaurants and galleries in the city.” – National Geographic Traveller

The White Room

“It’s a small city and the people who throw the parties and play the music and own the labels are more like an extended friendship group than a ‘scene’.” – Mixmag

“A sculpted ridge of basalt silhouetted against the sky, its resemblance to the face of a sleeping giant supposedly gave Jonathan Swift the idea for his Gulliver.” – The Guardian

The Muddler's Club

“Take a wander around Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital city, and you’ll find yourself in a hub of first-class food.” – Time Out

Titanic Boat Tour

“The famous Titanic Boat Tour is the fastest way to see the docks and surrounding area, in a two-hour sail around the maritime harbour.” – The Culture Trip

Discover Belfast with the locals

Belfast man Brian Heuston explains what makes this UNESCO City of Music such a vibrant hub.

“Belfast has a core, it has a heart to it, so I think it’s one of the most inspiring cities in the world” Brian Heuston

Uncover the best of Belfast

Hear the tunes

Discover Titanic Belfast

A perfect Belfast day

Top 10 things

Explore more in and around belfast.

Top tunes, Titanic tales and the best of Belfast food

Belfast: top 9 attractions

Belfast in 72 hours

5 reasons Belfast tastes amazing

Music in Belfast

Titanic Belfast

Game of Thrones® experiences

10 top Northern Ireland experiences

Northern Ireland

Charming towns of the Causeway Coastal Route

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival

5 Titanic tales

Causeway Coastal Route

C'mere till i tell you....

• #FillYourHeartWithIreland

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Belfast highlights

Great things to see and do in the city

Crumlin Road Gaol

Step off the Belfast city streets, and be transported into 150 years of history…

Let's Go Hydro Resort & Spa

Grand Opera House

Accommodation

The Grand Central Hotel

HMS Caroline

Cave Hill Country Park

Belfast Music Walking Tour

Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge

Sway with the wind as you cross the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and take in the stunning views of the Causeway Coastal Route

Lyric Theatre

Belfast Cathedral - The Cathedral Church of St. Anne

Divis and the Black Mountain

Belfast Traditional Music Trail

Ulster Hall

Waterman House Cookery School

Belfast Botanic Gardens and Palm House

Airtastic Entertainment Centre Craigavon

Belfast Waterfront

Titanic Distillers at Thompson Dock

Hillsborough Castle

A hidden gem at the heart of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough Castle provides both historical and natural wonders in abundance

Royal Hillsborough

Lagan Valley Regional Park

The Oh Yeah Music Centre

Prison Island

North Down Museum

Clifton House - The Belfast Poor House

James Connolly Visitor Centre | Áras Uí Chonghaile

Giant's Causeway

Take it to the edge at this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site along Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route

The Belfast Empire

The Lost City Adventure Golf

Banana Block

Hinch Distillery Tours

Ballynahinch

Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum

Antrim Castle Gardens and Clotworthy House

Duke of York

The Jungle NI

Craft NI Gallery

Ulster Museum

Forest Fitness NI

Carrickfergus

Belfast Exposed

Belfast Food Tour

Ulster Transport Museum

Rowallane Garden - Woodland Walk

The Dirty Onion

Surf Belfast

ArtisAnn Gallery

Ulster Folk Museum

Crawfordsburn Country Park

Helen's Bay

Naughton Gallery at Queen's

Ulster American Folk Park

Mount Stewart

Newtownards

Bert's Jazz Bar

Limitless Adventure Centre

Bangor Castle Walled Garden

Belfast’s state-of-the-art museum tells the compelling story of HMS Titanic, from the triumph of her construction to the tragedy of her maiden voyage

Splash Outdoor Water Park

The Bradley Gallery

The Merchant Hotel

Europa Hotel

Ballyholme Beach

Scott's Jazz Club

Step off the Belfast city streets, and be transported into 150 years of history…

If you enjoy water-based fun, then Let’s Go Hydro is a must visit. The impressive outdoor attraction, including an inflatable floating obstacle course, provides fun for all. The course features an XXL Tower, slides, climbing wall, hurdles, wiggle disks, ramp, podiums and a floating trampoline.

Since opening its doors on 23 December 1895, the Grand Opera House has delivered an unrivalled programme of entertainment, playing host to some of the greatest names in theatre and music.

The Grand Central is more than a hotel. It’s an ode to a city. Standing tall in Bedford Street, this impressive jewel combines glamour and grandeur with a uniquely Belfast spirit. Head to the 23rd floor to discover The Observatory Bar, an awe-inspiring cocktail lounge with spectacular views of Belfast and beyond.

The World War One warship HMS Caroline is the last surviving ship from the 1916 Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the conflict. Now a floating museum, it invites its visitors to experience the highs and lows of life at sea. By stepping onto its marvellous original deck, you are stepping back in time. Enjoy exploring real parts of the ship on your visit, like the Captain's cabins, the ward room and deck areas. Or try your hand at code breaking!

A challenging route, over unsurfaced paths, past the caves to McArt’s Fort, and crossing moorland, heath and meadows. You will discover much of what the park has to offer from archaeological sites and wildlife to panoramic views.

Belfast has a rich, storied tradition in both music-making and playing, and was designated a UNESCO City of Music in 2021. Your guide around this musical city is Dolores Vischer of Creative Tours Belfast, who will accompany you to sites of musical significance across this compact city.

As the only full-time producing theatre in Northern Ireland, the Lyric offers high quality professional entertainment throughout the year.

Belfast Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of St. Anne, has stood for over 100 years as a place of Christian worship in the heart of Belfast.

With spectacular panoramic views over Belfast, Divis and the Black Mountain is a haven for those seeking the wild countryside experience. On a clear day there are views of Strangford Lough, the Mournes and the Sperrins, as well as Scotland...

Belfast Traditional Music Trail is a unique way to experience Irish music. With two musicians as your guides, at each stop you will be treated to a performance of traditional tunes, songs and stories which make up your own personal ‘session’.

Colin Glen is Ireland’s leading adventure park - a land of storytelling and a state of the art sports park with world class attractions. From Alpine coasteering to laser tag, golfing to the Gruffalo Trail, Colin Glen has adventure for everyone.

Built in 1862, the Ulster Hall has been entertaining the citizens of Belfast for more than 150 years. Fondly known as Belfast's 'home of music' the venue was completely restored in 2009.

Waterman House Cookery school is one of Irelands leading cooking schools, offering a range of day and evening classes for all ages and abilities. We aim to enable you to prepare delicious dishes to be enjoyed with family and friends at home.

First established in 1828, the gardens have been enjoyed as a public park by the people of Belfast since 1895. There is an extensive rose garden and long herbaceous borders and the tree enthusiast can seek out the rare oaks planted in the 1880s.

Bounce down to Airtastic Craigavon for some fantastic fun! Check out our Trampoline & Ninja Park, Bowling Alley, Mini Golf Course, Soft Play Centre and Amusement Arcade! Feeling Hungry? We also have delicious food at our American Style NY Kitchen.

Belfast Waterfront is an award-winning, purpose-built conference, arts and entertainment centre offering a variety of facilities. The venue offers a varied events programme, ranging from classical music, opera and ballet to comedy and rock music.

This is the city's first working distillery in almost 90 years. Explore the site where Titanic last rested on dry ground, before her maiden voyage. Visitors to Thompson Dock and Pumphouse will clock in, as workers did a century ago, and experience first-hand a working distillery, before listening to the story of Belfast’s whiskey tradition; why it disappeared and how it has returned to the home of Titanic Distillers.

Lagan Valley Regional Park is a tranquil piece of the countryside on Belfast’s doorstep.

Oh Yeah Music Centre is a converted warehouse in the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. In a short space of time it has become a focus for music making and music enterprise in Northern Ireland.

Inspired by the ‘Crystal Maze’ Prison Island has 25 different prison-themed challenge cells.

Visit North Down Museum to explore the fascinating saga of the North Down area from the Bronze Age to the present day. The Museum takes you on a journey through Early Christian heritage and the Vikings to Scottish Settlers and the Victorians.

The history of Belfast begins at Clifton House. From the moment you step through our door you will be transported back in time to the Belfast Poor House – opened in 1774 – which provided sanctuary to thousands of people, from the young and old, to local citizens and passing sailors, throughout the years. At the heart of this impressive Georgian building is the interpretive Centre, where the past is brought to life through guided tours, talks and exhibitions, as well as augmented reality, helping to tell the stories of the Poor House and of the lives of those who sought sanctuary here.

Áras Uí Chonghaile | The James Connolly Visitor is an award-winning modern, inspirational, visitor centre located only yards from where James Connolly, a leading Trade Unionist, Socialist and Republican and an iconic figure in Irish history, lived on the Falls Road.

The Belfast Empire is the heartbeat of Belfast’s live music scene.

Start your epic adventure at The Lost City Adventure Golf, Northern Ireland’s first indoor adventure golf course.

A space for celebrating eccentric histories and creating incredible futures.  We have no Bananas but. we have a Record Store, A mushroom Farm, Cheese Makers, A pop up cafe space, a Banana Ring, Banana beer and an incredible line up of local artists and producers.

A tour at Hinch Distillery is not just an exploration of history, production and their bold range of triple distilled whiskeys; it’s an invitation to sit and learn from the characters that bring it to life through an immersive sensory journey.

The Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum is an award-winning museum located in Market Square, Lisburn. The permanent exhibition Flax to Fabric traces the story of linen from Ancient Egyptian times to present day.

Antrim Castle Gardens is an absolute historical gem. You will find nothing like these 400-year-old gardens anywhere else in Northern Ireland. Walk into the past as you stroll around this magnificent setting, visiting beautiful features such as the Large Parterre, Her Ladyship’s Pleasure Garden and Yew Tree Pond.

Historic and traditional Belfast bar.

Nestled in an enchanting woodland in the very heart of Northern Ireland, just 45 minutes from Belfast, The Jungle is the perfect location to engage with life and put to test your sense of daring and adventure. Some of the activities on offer include high ropes Tree Top Adventure for kids and adults, archery, coasteering, kids Polaris Quad Bikes, Llama trekking, segway tours and downhill zorbing.

Showcasing work for sale from the best of Northern Ireland's contemporary craft makers and applied artists. You’ll find beautiful ranges of jewellery, ceramics, glassware and textiles to suit all budgets.

Ulster Museum is home to treasures past and present. There’s something for art lovers, history buffs, inquisitive kids and the culturally curious! Come face to face with dinosaurs and for a fun family day out dive into the Discovery Zones of art, history and science where you can try on costumes from the past, explore the tree of life and create your own art to take home.

With a range of mentally stimulating, physically challenging and competitive team building exercises. And all outdoors. Activities to include team battle rope runs around the course, shooting games and timed challenges. Laser combat, Nerf-wars, Airsoft, Assault course training, Bushcraft, Axe-trowing and more. S51-Airsoft Northern Ireland is a team game in which participants eliminate opposing players by tagging them out of play with spherical plastic projectiles shot with mock air weapons called airsoft guns 6 maps set over 30 acres of forest, testing combatants’ knowledge and skill in real life game scenarios. We offer created gameplay scenarios, military simulation, training days and introduction days for beginners

Born from engagement with the community, Belfast Exposed houses contemporary photography galleries, bookshop, and archive with some of the most iconic images taken during the Troubles.

Discover the real Belfast – one bite at a time. This tour takes you down quiet streets and into hidden corners - “off the eaten track” - to meet inventive locals making world-beating products.

Celebrate the history of invention and innovation through engineering, design, and technology at Ulster Transport Museum. Check out the famous Delorean, a Ferguson tractor and a model replica of the Titanic!

Whatever the season there's always something new to see at Rowallane Gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens in Northern Ireland. Carved from the County Down landscape, the garden has grown from the 19th century beginnings of the Reverend John Moore and his nephew Hugh Armytage Moore. Their vision helped create a place where you can leave the outside world behind and immerse yourself in nature’s beauty.

The Dirty Onion is Belfast's oldest building, dating back to 1780.

Catch a wave, whatever the conditions outside at Northern Ireland’s first ever indoor surf simulator. Pumps fire a constant 5 metre wide wave sheet to challenge riders.

ArtisAnn Gallery is a gallery based on Bloomfield Avenue in East Belfast You will be able to find high quality art at this friendly gallery, featuring emerging and established artists working in a range of styles and mediums.

Refresh the connection at Ulster Folk Museum, a place where traditions and heritage skills are preserved and celebrated to help shape future generations.

With tranquil walks through peaceful meadows and wooded glens and a stunning waterfall, Crawfordsburn Country Park provides a relaxing natural retreat.

The Naughton Gallery, located in the historic Lanyon Building at Queen’s University, is an award winning registered museum displaying works from the University’s own collection, touring exhibitions and shows by local and international artists.

Journey back in time at the Ulster American Folk Park, from the Old World of Ulster to the New World of America. Learn what life was like in rural Ulster, step on board the full-scale emigrant ship and enjoy craft demonstrations performed by guides in traditional costumes.

Mount Stewart is a stunning estate in the beautiful scenic area of Strangford Lough. The Formal Gardens are ranked as one of the top ten in the world and the within the house there are collections of national and international significance.

Live jazz, delicious food and sumptuous cocktails seven nights a week.

If you’re up for a challenge, then Limitless Adventure Centre is definitely for you. Adrenalin junkies and thrill seekers will love the array of experiences on offer including hovercrafting, operating a Powerturn Buggy, football golf or lasertag.

The MAC is one of Europe’s leading art centres, situated in the heart of Belfast. Recently nominated a finalist for the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2015, the award-winning venue has welcomed some 800,000 visitors since it opened.

It is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. Varieties of flowers, plants, fruit and vegetables mix with sculptures and a unique fountain with a tongue twister! We are thrilled that the Walled Garden is now open all year round (except on particular holidays). Please see opening hours.

Belfast’s state-of-the-art museum tells the compelling story of HMS Titanic, from the triumph of her construction to the tragedy of her maiden voyage

Fill your next day out with laughs and excitement, while bouncing, sliding, jumping and crashing your way around a state-of-the-art inflatable aquapark, loaded with slides and obstacles. Or enjoy a relaxing and tranquil float around a beautiful spring fed lake on a stand-up paddle board - Splash Outdoor Water Park has so many things for you to try out.

Destination spot for Terry Bradley collectors and art enthusiasts from across the globe. Whether you are passing through or spending the day on the beautiful Peninsula, be sure to pop in and experience all that Bradley Art has to offer.

Situated in the heart of Belfast city centre's historic Cathedral Quarter, The award-winning 5 AA Red star Merchant Hotel is a harmonious blend of Victorian grandeur and Art Deco inspired sleek modernity with award-winning restaurants and cocktail bar, a tranquil spa and rooftop gym and hot tub.

World famous 4* Europa Hotel is superbly located in the heart of Belfast City Centre, close to many top attractions. Beautifully restored, this popular international hotel offers spacious elegance and has been the choice of President Bill Clinton.

The mile long crescent of sandy beach curving along Ballyholme bay has been a favourite sea bathing spot for generations.

Scott's Jazz Club is a purpose designed Jazz Club Theatre with amazing sound and lighting. Every major European City has a jazz club where the cream of the crop of local musicians perform regularly in an intimate setting. Scott's Jazz Club is that place in Belfast.

Got a question for our Community experts?

Getting to Belfast

Fly to either of Belfast's two airports and you're there. Or go to Dublin and head north on a scenic road trip. Coming by ferry? Belfast is your closest port. But Larne and Dublin are a pretty easy distance too.

How to see more of Ireland on a budget

Mar 31, 2024 • 6 min read

Read on for expert tips to make your money go further in Ireland © davidf / Getty Images

By most European standards, Ireland can be quite expensive. Accommodation and food are generally priced at the upper end of the scale, which means a sizeable daily budget is needed.

However, there are plenty of ways to make your money go further during your visit to Ireland, and if you are travelling on a tight-ish budget, I have a host of cost-saving tips that will help you enjoy the best of what the country has to offer without missing out on the very best experiences.

Here’s a few tips that will help stretch your budget while visiting Ireland. 

Daily Costs

• Hostel room: €40-€70 (€50-€120 in Dublin)
• Basic room for two: €80-€100 (€100-€150 in Dublin)
• Self-catering apartments (including Airbnb): €150-€250
• Public transport ticket: €3.60
• Coffee: €3-€5
• Sandwich: €4-€8
• Dinner for two: €150
• Beer/pint at the bar:  €6-€9
• Average daily cost: €150- € 250

Know the cheapest time to go to Ireland

Peak season – May and August – is the most expensive time to visit, so you can make considerable savings travelling to Ireland outside of those months. Winter (except for Christmas) is when flight costs and accommodation rates are at their lowest, but you’ll likely encounter the worst weather and a lot of seasonal closures, especially along the west coast.

The ideal time to visit is during the shoulder season, especially in autumn (spring has St Patrick’s Day and Easter, which are typically busy and popular), when the crowds have dwindled, prices drop (especially for accommodation) and the weather can be surprisingly good.

Check the cheapest way to get there

Ireland is an island, so the vast majority of arrivals come by air. Dublin is the most popular arrival point, but if you’re coming from North America, flights into Shannon Airport are usually cheaper. For arrivals from Europe, Irish-based Ryanair is Europe’s largest airline, with dozens of cheap flights into Dublin and Cork from most major European cities. Cheaper still is the ferry. There are ferry ports in Dublin, Rosslare and Belfast , serving arrivals from the UK , France and Spain . A typical Sail & Rail ticket between London and Dublin can cost as little as €20.

Public transport is a good option to get around

Ireland has a pretty extensive network of public and private buses that are the most affordable way to travel. Transport for Ireland is a handy route planner for all public transport services across the country, including buses; in rural areas, Local Link services are a convenient way of exploring the local surroundings.

How to save money on attractions

Many attractions offer discounted rates if you buy tickets online in advance. You can also buy visitor passes that include entry to a number of attractions, such as the Dublin Pass. The Heritage Card includes free entry to all Office of Public Works–managed sites; it can be a good deal depending on how many spots you plan to visit.

There’s free entry to the four museums that make up the National Museum of Ireland (three branches in Dublin and one, the Museum of Country Life , in County Mayo), the National Gallery in Dublin, the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork and the Ulster Museum in Belfast.

Where to find good, cheap eats 

In bigger towns and cities with a large working population, many restaurants offer lunch deals that usually include a starter and a main course; a lot of Asian restaurants serve bento boxes as part of their lunch deals. Many restaurants also provide early bird menus that usually run between 5pm and 7pm; the menu is more limited but can offer considerable savings compared to the standard evening a la carte menu.

Early Table is an excellent online service that allows you to book an early sitting in restaurants across the country. You need to buy credit with them but the savings are considerable, usually up to 50% of the regular price of the meal.

How to get good value accommodation in Ireland

Accommodation will likely be the heftiest part of your travel budget. However, as many hotels use booking engines that operate dynamic pricing (which means rates go up and down depending on demand), early booking can often result in some very good deals. Calling a hotel directly – especially at the last minute – can also result in getting a better price than the one quoted on a website.

The traditional B&B was long the backbone of the Irish accommodation industry, and while many have been superseded by a glut of midrange hotels, they still offer surprisingly good value for money – with a home-cooked breakfast thrown in for good measure. Another option for savings on accommodation is to travel in the off-season, when rates are typically lower.

Find out where to join a free walking tour in Ireland

There are a handful of free walking tours that only expect a tip. Yellow Umbrella Tours operates free, thematic tours in Belfast, Cork, Dublin and Galway. Sandemans offers free tours across many European cities including Dublin, where it has a standard walking tour as well as an evening haunted tour, which explores the darker stories of the capital.

The best entertainment in Ireland for the price of a drink is...

Irish traditional music is Western Europe’s most vibrant and dynamic folk music. It is played all over the country, mostly in traditional pub "sessions", where many of the world’s very best players in the genre will showcase their remarkable skills…at no cost to the public. All you need to do is show up, buy a drink and settle in to enjoy.

How to visit heritage sites for free

Unless you invest in a Heritage Card, visiting OPW (Office of Public Works; the government agency that manages Ireland’s heritage sites) attractions can add up. However, try to time your visit for the first Wednesday of the month, when a large number of sites waive their entry charges as part of Free Wednesday . 

How to ride the train for cheap in Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the Sunday Fun Day Tracker ticket gives passengers unlimited train travel on a Sunday for £9 (£4.50 for children). Tickets are available from all ticket offices, the mlink ticketing app and from the train conductor.

Take advantage of the transport fare cap

If you’re planning to explore the region surrounding Dublin, you will save money by using public transport, which has instituted a fare cap on travel to some of the region’s commuter towns across counties Kildare, Meath and Louth. Standard single fares to/ from Dublin to a host of towns is fixed at €6.

Invest in a Leap card for public transport in Dublin

If you're going to use public transport in Dublin, be sure to get a Leap card  – a tap on, tap off card (similar to London’s Oyster Card) – which reduces fares by around 10% compared to cash and eliminates the hassle of having to provide exact change when buying a ticket. Leap cards can be bought in most convenience stores. Topping up is a cinch: you can do it at train stations, Luas stops and at all convenience stores that sell them. You can also download the Leap top-up app for NFC-enabled iPhone 7 (or above) and Android phones. You then hold the card to the back of the phone and it’ll display your balance and options to add value.

Keep planning the trip of a lifetime in Ireland:

• Start that Ireland bucketlist with our list of the  top things to do . 
• Have wheels, will travel: here are the best  road trips  to tackle in Ireland. 
• Get outside and into the great outdoors in Ireland with these top walks .
• Read on for when's the  best time to go to Ireland.
• Get off the beaten track with this guide to where locals holiday in Ireland. 

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'Discover Derrynane' festival returns June 14-16

The family-friendly event showcases the natural and cultural heritage of the area with an action-packed program of free activities, walks, talks, and tours..

The 'Discover Derrynane' festival, which showcases the natural and cultural heritage of Derrynane National Historic Park and the surrounding community, will return to County Kerry from June 14-16.

The 'Discover Derrynane' festival is curated, programmed, and funded by The Office of Public Works (OPW) and offers a fun-filled weekend of free activities, walks, talks, and tours for all ages.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the return of ‘Discover Derrynane’ family festival. The action-packed program has something for everyone to enjoy, from informative talks and walks to photography, music and yoga," said Kieran O’Donnell TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works.

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"There are so many opportunities to explore nature and marine life and take part in some superb activities. The festival also provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the spectacular landscape and culture of Derrynane. Why not come down and explore Derrynane and all that is on offer across the weekend.”

Attendees of the festival can enjoy a wide range of activities offered by locally based providers, including crafts, photography, yoga, heritage walks, tours, and more. Festival goers can participate in activities such as Seashore Discovery Walks with Vincent Hyland, Forest Bathing and Sunset Yoga with Louise Weinzweig and Photography Workshops with Patrick Kavanagh.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by OPW - Office of Public Works (@opwireland)

For a full detailed list of activities and events, including guided walks, workshops and family activities, see the festival brochure here .

The 'Discover Derrynane' festival was first launched in 2015 with an aim to showcase the area, which is home to Derrynane House, the ancestral home of politician and statesman Daniel O'Connell, and Derrynane National Historic Park.  O'Connell's home is now a museum dedicated to his life and achievements, while the 300-acre park boasts beautiful gardens, natural oak woodland, and archaeological sites. Located on Fáilte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way route, the park has an extensive coastline and beaches, including a Blue Flag beach . 

More information can be found at heritageireland.ie

Related: Ring of Kerry , Wild Atlantic Way

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