" P@tH Im@ges "
" The Travellers Rest "
" Well Ive known life hard, and Ive known it easy
And Ive cursed the time when winter days were dawning,
Still we laughed and sung through the whole night long,
Seen the sunrise over in the morning`
All you freeborn men of the travelling people,
Every Tinker, Rolling Stone and Gypsy Rover,
Winds of change are blowing, old ways are going,
Your travelling days will soon be over "
Ive written a bit more to this since the original story which I hope you may like! Pat. 9/8/2016
......................................................................................................................
A "Varda" caravan parked in a field in Co. Wicklow.
These caravans would have been more associated with the English Romanys than the Irish travellers. I don't every remember them being used here, but apparently they were in the 30s and when I was a kid most travellers lived "under canvas" on the roadside. Only the better off ones had small parked up motor drawn caravans.
It was a terribly hard life and the mortality rate among babies was very high. Adults didn't live much beyond 40. I remember a travelling lady used to call to my Mum and Dads house when I was small. She had a tiny baby about a month old in her arms and she said she was camped up the road with her husband. My Mum used to give her a meal and clothes and stuff for the baby and a few coppers and she called regularly. One day she called without the baby and said that it had died of pneumonia. It was very sad and its still stays with me to this day. She only called a few times after that and then obviously moved on. It should make us realise that we are the lucky ones and not be so quick to condemn others!
I have known quite a few Travellers through music and I have always found them nice people though I wouldn't want to get in a row! Lol!
Tinker is considered a derogatory term now for a Traveller but it refers to the fact that they were originally tin smiths and made and mended pots and pans. They were very skilled.
The Irish travellers claim to be directly descended from the high kings of Ireland and came from the 7 tribes of Galway who were evicted from their lands by Oliver Cromwell and they were destined to roam the roads forever.
Most of them are now settled in houses or in official caravan/mobile home sites so the traveller is fast becoming a thing of the past.
This Varda in the pic is one of a number that is rented out for travelling holidays to tourists who like an easy going leisurely holiday. It a big thing with German holidaymakers who like the pace and I must say they spoil the horses completely which is great!
I met two holidaymakers last week who had a donkey with 2 panniers on it with there bags in them and they were trotting along beside it! Didn't get a pic unfortunately but Ill have to enquire about it!
flickriver.com/photos/137473925@N08/popular-interesting/
My pics are also on Flickr River above.
Thank you,
Pat.
" The Travellers Rest "
" Well Ive known life hard, and Ive known it easy
And Ive cursed the time when winter days were dawning,
Still we laughed and sung through the whole night long,
Seen the sunrise over in the morning`
All you freeborn men of the travelling people,
Every Tinker, Rolling Stone and Gypsy Rover,
Winds of change are blowing, old ways are going,
Your travelling days will soon be over "
Ive written a bit more to this since the original story which I hope you may like! Pat. 9/8/2016
......................................................................................................................
A "Varda" caravan parked in a field in Co. Wicklow.
These caravans would have been more associated with the English Romanys than the Irish travellers. I don't every remember them being used here, but apparently they were in the 30s and when I was a kid most travellers lived "under canvas" on the roadside. Only the better off ones had small parked up motor drawn caravans.
It was a terribly hard life and the mortality rate among babies was very high. Adults didn't live much beyond 40. I remember a travelling lady used to call to my Mum and Dads house when I was small. She had a tiny baby about a month old in her arms and she said she was camped up the road with her husband. My Mum used to give her a meal and clothes and stuff for the baby and a few coppers and she called regularly. One day she called without the baby and said that it had died of pneumonia. It was very sad and its still stays with me to this day. She only called a few times after that and then obviously moved on. It should make us realise that we are the lucky ones and not be so quick to condemn others!
I have known quite a few Travellers through music and I have always found them nice people though I wouldn't want to get in a row! Lol!
Tinker is considered a derogatory term now for a Traveller but it refers to the fact that they were originally tin smiths and made and mended pots and pans. They were very skilled.
The Irish travellers claim to be directly descended from the high kings of Ireland and came from the 7 tribes of Galway who were evicted from their lands by Oliver Cromwell and they were destined to roam the roads forever.
Most of them are now settled in houses or in official caravan/mobile home sites so the traveller is fast becoming a thing of the past.
This Varda in the pic is one of a number that is rented out for travelling holidays to tourists who like an easy going leisurely holiday. It a big thing with German holidaymakers who like the pace and I must say they spoil the horses completely which is great!
I met two holidaymakers last week who had a donkey with 2 panniers on it with there bags in them and they were trotting along beside it! Didn't get a pic unfortunately but Ill have to enquire about it!
flickriver.com/photos/137473925@N08/popular-interesting/
My pics are also on Flickr River above.
Thank you,
Pat.