The irish travellers are the largest minority in ireland. there are about 25,000 irish travellers in ireland and 1,300 in northern ireland. they are a little understood nomadic community, who have many difficulties to overcome if they are to survive as a culture and gain acceptance into irish society. among the challenges facing them are poverty and racism.the irish travellers are a distinct ethnic group which has existed for centuries. often they are mistakenly considered part of the nomadic romani, an ethnic group which originated in the region of india and is now widespread thro ughout europe. but the irish travellers are indigenous to ireland, so the two cultures are not related. while both are nomadic, the irish travellers are roman catholic and speak a language that is theirs alone. they have their own culture, customs, traditions, and language. they are noted for their musical and storytelling abilities.in times past, they travelled by horse-drawn wagon in caravans, making camp along the way. tinsmithing, horse tradi ng and peddling were the major sources of income in those days. tinsmiths were so prevalent among irish travellers that the terms tinker and irish traveller were used interchangeably. today, tinker is one of many names for irish travellers.horses and wagons have given way to mobile homes pulled by motor vehicles. they continue their life on the road, but there are fewer places to stop and fewer places where they are welcome. today, irish travellers mainly work in re-> cyding. changing needs of society and progress have eliminated the jobs that could support a culture on wheels.lris h travellers are poor, undereducated, and on the receiving end of discrimination. their life expectancy is lower than average while their infant mortalit у rate is higher than average. as is the case with the romani, the irish travellers are seen by many as a group of immoral, ignorant criminals and con artists. people distrust their nomadic culture and their language, shelta. many think it's a secret language specifically developed as a tool to help the irish travellers trick innocent people. but this is not true. it is an old language, which has evolved with time and circumstances. once heavily infused with irish gaelic, it is now infused with english. they were called tinkers, which is now forthem.

Irish Travellers are the largest minority group in Ireland, with approximately 25,000 residing in Ireland and 1,300 in Northern Ireland. They are a nomadic community that faces many challenges in terms of survival as a culture and gaining acceptance in Irish society. Some of the difficulties they encounter include poverty and racism. It is important to understand that Irish Travellers are a distinct ethnic group that has been in existence for centuries. However, they are often mistaken as part of the Romani community, which originated in India and is widespread throughout Europe. The Irish Travellers, on the other hand, are indigenous to Ireland, so they are not related to the Romani culture.

While both groups are nomadic, the Irish Travellers are Roman Catholic and have their own language, which sets them apart. They also have their own unique culture, customs, and traditions. They are particularly renowned for their musical and storytelling abilities. In the past, Irish Travellers traveled in caravans pulled by horses and made camps along the way. Tinsmithing, horse trading, and peddling were their primary sources of income. Tinsmiths were so prevalent among Irish Travellers that the terms "tinker" and "Irish Traveller" were used interchangeably.

However, as times have changed, horses and wagons have been replaced by mobile homes pulled by motor vehicles. Irish Travellers continue their nomadic lifestyle, but they find it increasingly challenging to find places to stop and be welcomed. Nowadays, many Irish Travellers work in recycling, as the changing needs of society and progress have eliminated the jobs that could previously support their mobile culture.

Unfortunately, Irish Travellers experience high levels of poverty, lack of education, and discrimination. Their life expectancy is lower than average, while their infant mortality rate is higher than average. Similarly to the Romani community, many people view Irish Travellers as immoral, ignorant criminals, and con artists. There is a general distrust towards their nomadic culture and their language, known as Shelta. Some individuals mistakenly believe that Shelta is a secret language specifically developed to deceive innocent people. However, this is not true. Shelta is an old language that has evolved over time and has been influenced by both Irish Gaelic and English.

In the past, Irish Travellers were often referred to as "tinkers," a term that is seen as derogatory nowadays. It is important to remember that the Irish Traveller community has its own unique history, culture, and challenges. By understanding and appreciating their distinct ethnic identity, we can promote inclusivity and work towards creating a society that is accepting and supportive of all its members.