im a traveller AMA

[TakeABreak2]

irish traveller ama

Is the term "gypsy" offensive to you?

We knew a traveller family who had settled locally - parents and child who lived in town and husband's uncles - two elderly brothers who owned a derelict cottage and lived in a caravan on the land. They were amazing people with incredible folk knowledge who would do anything to help an animal in distress. I find it hard to reconcile my memories of them with the images that we see on tv.

queenaravis
tbh if its number 1 and were desperate well go in a forrest if were not desperate or anything else we go to the nearest garage/supermarket
thats only a rare occasion though because theres usually a portaloo or a toilet block on sites

youknowwhatimean
i was 16 in the april married in the october but it really varies girl on the same site as me is getting married in november shes 27..

You said there are life and life missions on at the moment in Doncaster and Blackpool? What happens at these missions? And how often do they occur over the summer?

mynamedefanitlyisnt janet

most kids are alowed social media boys usually do mix and get girlfriends but girls dont usually we check their phones and tbh my daughter will only be getting a phone at 13/14 what can only make phone calls
grabbing really isnt true well it is but it doesnt happen and how can anyone traveller or non traveller stop our kids getting into abusive relationships?! we learn our girls that their privates are theirs and no one it doesnt matter who it is is allowed to see!
my husband works from about 7am -6-7pm painting exterior (gates houses fences) built up trust in the area he is working and getting quite a few jobs atm

myotheruaernameisbest
i dont know

Sorry about the racist remarks on here, OP.

I wanted to ask, do you know the history of your people? Do have stories and/or myths about your origins?

ithinkisawahairbrushbackthere
the stuff on tv is way over reacted tbh id say 80% of us wanted it took of tv...
gypsy isnt offesive but of corse if i was walking past you and you whispered oh there gypsys which had happened alot i probably would be a bit funny

Did you come to Appleby this year? Why do you think this year was so bad in comparison with previous years?

figmentofimagination
its a big tent with trailers pulled around it mostly christians but traveller churches put these on every year to get everyone in including non travellers to hear the good news of jesus christ

Hi @TakeABreak2 - what would you say is your favourite thing about being a traveller?

also lite and life missions they are in each place for about a week

I went to school with a lot of travellers, I'm still friends with a few now. In my experience, some a nice, some are arseholes- much like anyone else!

One of my friends was encouraged to marry very young and that's an aspect that I'm not keen on. What do you think about that? Do you really think traveller girls are given the best opportunities in life? I only say because my friend was super bright and intelligent but didn't sit her GCSE's- I think it's a shame.

Oh and in my experience traveller boys are very polite tbh, at school when I was about 15/16 the little 11 year old boys would still hold doors and call you darling like little old men

coyoacon
well irish travellers imigrated to england years about probably 50/60 years ago and english gypsys imigrated from roamania hundreds of years ago

TakeaBreak2 thanks!

I guess my abuse question was poorly worded, apologies. I think what I meant was in a patriarchal culture where women are completely reliant on men, divorce is frowned upon and sex is a taboo subject, how do you encourage your young women to become independant of men and self reliant in order to make it less likely that they'll find themselves trapped in abusive relationships?

tjzmummbear
i hate appleby its somewhere were alot of organised fights are id rather the small fairs like lee gap in leeds cambrige stow ext and i dont know what happened this year so cant answer that

If you did come to Appleby did you suffer racist remarks. I'm of Russian Roma descent and I got followed around Kirkby Stephen Co-op. Such fun!

Also heard "she's going to nick everything". I wasn't but if you insist...

electrocute
i dont know really

Thank you for this, it's really interesting.

What sort of jobs do travelling people tend to do? Is there really a gender divide between men and women?

In the documentaries I've seen it very much seems like the men work and women stay at home, but I know how inaccurate these can be.

I went to university with a woman from an Irish traveller background however she was very negative about it - said that she ran away from home aged 16 in order to get her A levels at college and when she went off to university all her family cut off contact with her. Is this cultural? Or was it just her family?

How do things that you need a permanent address for, like bank accounts, voting, phone contracts work for people who are travelling most of the time? Do you pick one address and have post forwarded on?

nkfell girls only get married if they want to usually they wont be allowed at 16/17 then they run away come hom then parents have to let them because theyv spent the night with a man

was a lot of violence this year. ah least said soonest mended. x

mynamedefinatlyisnt janet
usually girls will have there own bank account with money saved for them and some girls get a job so not fully reliant kn husbands

do u get security following u all around shops usually?

I deliver to a medium sized traveller site (postie) and there is an old lady there who is obviously in charge, she takes the post and and at christmas she told one of the men there to 'tip the lady.' Is it a normal thing for an older woman to be the head of the group?

my daughter is begging me for a dog thoughhmm even if i do give in it will be in a dog box outside and fed ect everyday

Traveler or not ( I suspect not) that’s fucking disgusting. That’s not how Dogs should be kept.

Everything you’ve said , from my vast experience of travelers is wrong.

I don’t think this poster is who they claim to be. At all.