Newsletter of the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain’s Traveller Project Travellers in prison news

Issue 5 December 2012

Series of Traveller Reading

Books Coming Soon

Beannachtaí na Nollag agus Athbhliain faoi An illustration by Dublin artist Niamh Mhaise Daoibh! Merc from the book ‘A Traveller’s Home’

Bachtalo krecunu Thaj Bachtalo Nevo Bers! As the number of Travellers in prison doing reading courses such Christmas Blessings and a Peaceful New Year to as Toe by Toe increases, so too You! does the demand for interesting reading books. So The Irish Welcome to the fifth edition of We hope that you all enjoy the Chaplaincy has put together a short Travellers in Prison News! It’s been newsletter and would really like to series of reading books for a busy few months for the Traveller include more contributions for the Travelling people who are just Project. We’ve been developing a next issue. For this reason we are starting to read books. range of reading books for launching a competition with a prize Travellers and have created a new of £10 and an inspirational book for The first book ‘A Traveller’s poster of Irish Traveller Musicians. the best letter/ article/ picture we Home’ is the story of a young Irish We’ve also been working with receive before 1st March 2013. Traveller man called John, living in Thames Valley Probation, doing Dublin who dreams of being a Merry Christmas to you all! more research into the needs of cowboy like John Wayne. He Traveller offenders. journeys out of the city and crosses Ireland until he comes to the The work of the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain is funded in part by grants mountain known as ‘The Reek.’ from the Government of Ireland, the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, Having learned much on the and by the support of many generous Friends. journey, John returns to his friends

TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS and family in Dublin knowing that ‘A In the remaining 72 prisons no Dr. Patrick McDonagh: Irish Traveller is always home.’ Gypsies or Travellers were Traveller and Medical Doctor recorded at all. Conn Mac Gabhann who wrote the This recent graduation picture of book said ‘It’s important to remember These figures are much lower than Dr. Patrick McDonagh from The that Traveller men and women want to those reported by HM Prison Ulster Herald Newspaper (County read interesting stories. No adult really Inspectorate, who report that –for Tyrone) is another reminder if one wants to read a children’s book when example- 5% of prisoners in male were needed of what Irish they are starting to read books for the local Cat B prisons are Gypsy or Travellers can achieve through first time. These books are interesting Traveller. This would mean that education. and they are relevant to Travellers’ the total number of Gypsies and lives.’ Conn went on to say ‘We are Travellers in prison in and delighted that The Shannon Trust, who Wales in fact stands at several facilitate Toe by Toe across prisons is thousand; a sizeable population supportive of the series as a next step who’s needs must be recognised. for adult learners.’ The fact that the prison service recognises Gypsies and Travellers as an ethnic group is a step in the right direction. But more needs to be done. We have found that many Traveller prisoners still do not ‘A Traveller’s Home’ will be available know that a ‘W3’ code exits and from the Irish Chaplaincy in the New have never been offered the

Year. opportunity to change their ethnic categorisation. More worryingly we ‘Dr Patrick McDonagh, son of Traveller Numbers have found that some staff are also Thomas and Ellen McDonagh, unaware of the code and have given Comber Road, Omagh, who For just over a year, the prison service Traveller prisoners the wrong recently graduated from the Royal has recognised Gypsy and Traveller information when approached. College of Surgeons in Ireland with prisoners as an ethnic minority group LRCP & SI, MB BCh NUI (Hons) with the category ‘W3’. Any Gypsy or Prisoners should be offered the in June of this year. Patrick, who is Traveller prisoner can register opportunity to register as ‘W3 – a member of the Irish Traveller themselves as ‘W3’ on the P-Nomis Gypsy or Irish Traveller’ on community, received his earlier system. The more prisoners that reception. Diversity staff should education at St Mary’s Primary register, the more the prison system will also inform serving Traveller School, Killyclogher, and Omagh have to listen to the needs of Gypsy and prisoners that they have the option CBS. He is currently working as an Traveller prisoners. of being recorded as ‘W3’ on P- intern in Beaumont Hospital, Nomis. Dublin.’ The Irish Chaplaincy’s Traveller It’s also up to Traveller prisoners Project recently contacted the National The Traveller Advice Team Offender Management Service to spread the word and tell others to get themselves registed as ‘W3’. (NOMs) to find out how many The Traveller Advice Team have a prisoners were recorded as ‘W3 – Being counted means that you new national helpline for Gypsies Gypsy or Traveller’. We found that count. If Gypsy and Traveller and Travellers, which can be currently only 219 Gypsy or Traveller prisoners are being recorded then reached on 01216858677 on prisoners are recorded, in 65 prisons. more attention will have to be given Mondays to Fridays 9.00am – to their needs. 5.00pm. For emergencies 3 concerning Gypsies and Travellers, Traveller Greats Series string below the pitch of the melody. they also have an out-of-hours According to many, was emergency number which is 07768 In future issues of Travellers in a significant influence on the fiddle 316755. Prison News (TIPN), we want to playing of The Chieftains and Altan. highlight a Traveller or Gypsy who The Travellers Advice Team John Doherty was the last of the Great has done something remarkable. (TAT) is made up of a dedicated You can write a short paragraph Travelling Fiddlers. group of solicitors and legal telling us about that person. The workers who provide specialist person doesn’t have to be famous Taking a Stand legal advice and representation to they just have to have made a the Traveller community difference; that difference can be in There has been a marked throughout England and Wales. sport, in music, in public life or even improvement in provision for Gypsy Their work focuses mainly on in your life. So let us know who your and Traveller prisoners in recent years; evictions and planning. TAT Traveller Greats are! more groups, more Traveller reps and provides emergency 24hr national more Gypsy Traveller History Month advice and representation and events. works closely with other non- government agencies working with However, there is still much more work Travellers. to be done and we were distressed to hear this month of the racist abuse Lawyers from TAT have defended endured by one Traveller prisoner, Gypsies and Travellers in some of Miles Cash. On one occasion in HMP the most high profile planning Onley Miles was openly called a disputes of recent times – including “” by an officer. On a second – and have taken cases John Doherty (1900 –1980) King of occasion in HMP Dovegate he was told all the way to the House of Lords. The Donegal Fiddlers he couldn’t share a cell with his brother as the officer in question “knew how The TAT team is part of the John Doherty was born in County you Gypsies operate”. Community Law Partnership Donegal and came from a famous (CLP); a progressive firm family of who The positive aspect of this is that on specializing in housing law. CLP worked as tinsmiths and horse both occasions Miles was brave enough aims to provide quality legal traders. to make official complaints, and both services to the most vulnerable and these complaints were upheld. The disadvantaged sections of society From the late 1940s to the 1970s he officers involved were challenged and who, without their assistance, was sought out by national and sent for extra training. The Director of would be denied access to the legal international music collectors. He HMP Dovegate, Ray Duckworth, has system and to their rights. was first recorded in 1945 by The said that “any future complaints of a Irish Folklore Commission and then similar nature should be rigorously They can be found online at: by the BBC in 1953. His music has pursued”. www.communitylawpartnership.co. appeared on over 12 albums. He played with boundless uk The Travellers Project at the ICB have ornamentation, including bowed and seen the official paperwork relating to slurred triplets, rolls, cuts and Miles’ case, and have brought it to the double-stopping. Heavily influenced attention of the Ministry of Justice; by the uileann piping tradition, he expressing our view that more needs to often replicated the sound of the be done in terms of equality training, to pipes' drones, by either retuning the bring home to staff the fact that racism fiddle to an open tuning, or by against Travellers is just as maintaining the fourth finger on the

TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS unacceptable as any other form of racism.

“This is a common problem encountered by Travellers in prisons up and down the country”, Miles wrote to us; “all we want is to be treated like everybody else and allowed to do our time in peace and get home to see our families”.

Miles’ case goes to show that it is worth standing up for your rights and not tolerating racism or discrimination in prison. Don’t suffer in silence; make a complaint.

Travellers in Prison Calendar Launched

In the Summer of 2012, Pertemps People Development Group in conjunction with the National Offender Management Service, held an art competition for inmates in West Midlands prisons from the Gypsy, Traveller and Show People community.

A series of workshops were held where inmates created a story, poem, picture or model that they wanted to show the world.

The winning entries are featured in a specially created 2013 calendar which has just been launched. More information can be obtained from: Tina Pritchard, PPDG, Unit 40 Newtown Shopping Centre, Newtown, Birmingham, B19 2SS.

Two of the winning entries from the PPDG calendar, entitled ‘Our Story’:

5 Traveller and Romany Music her father-in-law: "Best singer I ever oppression, by empowering Shortlisted for Mercury Music heard in my life – said he was born themselves. Prize coming over on a ship from Ireland. My husband would make a fire, we'd Fanon’s masterwork The Wretched Coming in the months following the gather round and his father would of the Earth is a classic, a brilliant launch of our Irish Traveller sing." analysis of the psychology of Musicians postcard series, celebrating marginalised people and their path to the genius of Traveller musicians, the It is this mixture in Travellers' songs liberation. The book offers a powerful prestigious Mercury Music Prize between traditional Irish, Scottish and and singular insight into the rage and 2012 has shortlisted Sam Lee’s album English folk that is making Sam Lee’s frustration of oppressed peoples, and of Traveller music ‘Ground of Its music so popular. While Sam Lee’s the role of self-discipline and self- Own.’ album has brought much interest to empowerment in effecting historical this genre, it is the resilience, the change. Songs, melodies, rhythms and styles wisdom, the beauty and the of playing which have been preserved soulfulness of this music, which The book incisively attacks the twin for generations by Irish Travellers, as makes it entirely unique to the perils of the disenfranchisement of well as Gypsies have made an impact Traveller, Romany and Gypsy the masses by the elites on the one on the world of folk music. Recently, people. hand, and inter-tribal and inter-faith they have also captured the interest of animosities on the other. Fanon’s Sam Lee, a singer from North Finding Inspiration - The analysis is a veritable handbook of London who has become deeply Wretched of the Earth by social reorganization for community involved with the traditions and songs Frantz Fanon and national leaders of marginalised of the Irish Traveller, Gypsy and groups. The Wretched of the Earth Romany culture and whose works has has had a major impact on civil rights, won national fame. anti-colonialism, and group consciousness movements around the Sam Lee brings contemporary folk world. music back to where much of it came: Romanies, Gypsies and Winter Blues Scottish and Irish Travellers, who Christmas can be a hard time to be in have passed these songs from prison, away from family. If you’re generation to generation, over feeling low it is important not to suffer centuries. He scours Britain for those in silence; talk to someone. whom many avoid or despise – Travellers in camps or housed – to Thomas McCann is a Traveller and a learn their lore and songs. And this Psychotherapist and runs the first collection makes up his debut Traveller Counselling Service in album: Ground of Its Own, Frantz Fanon (1925 –1961) was a Ireland. nominated for the Mercury award last Martinique-born psychiatrist, month. philosopher, revolutionary and writer “It’s a wise saying that a problem whose work is influential in the fields shared is a problem halved.” Thomas Freda Black one of the Traveller of post-colonial studies, group says. “Often, when someone finds a women from whom Lee got his songs consciousness and liberationism. safe opportunity to talk about how low explained their diverse origins. Ultimately, Frantz Fanon's work they feel, or about their thoughts of "We're Romany," explains Freda. explores the psychological effect of suicide, they find this a great relief, "The Irish Travellers married into marginalisation on oppressed and it sometimes allows them space our families, but they're a different communities and how these and time to work out what to do next race," adds Freda’s daughter. Most of communities can overcome or how to improve their situation. Freda's songs come, she says, from

TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS If you feel you need to talk to The Advertising Standards Authority It was a superb occasion seeing Jim someone while you’re in prison you also criticised the “Bigger. Fatter. O’Brien hoist the Sam Maguire Cup can ask to speak to a Listener or call Gypsier” adverts saying they were over his head and there could be no the Samaritans. Listeners won’t judge irresponsible, offensive and reaffirmed doubt for the crowds attending that you or pressure you; they don’t even negative stereotypes and prejudice this was a celebration of being a need to understand exactly what against the Traveller and Gypsy Traveller and being Irish. The women you’re going through because they communities. would not be outdone though. Amidst just do what it says on the tin: listen. the banter at the event the county Just talking to someone and being David Enright, a partner with solicitors rivalries (as always) emerged but this heard can be a huge relief in difficult Howe & Co said that “the ASA's was Dublin’s year. times. Samaritans can be called powerful findings represent a fundamental turning point in how free from prison on 08457 90 90 Travellers and Gypsies can be 90 portrayed in the media in the future.” Channel Four to be investigated

for ‘’

The television watchdog ‘Ofcom’ has launched an investigation into the ‘Big Fat Gypsy Weddings’ programmes and spinoff show

‘Thelma's Gypsy Girls’ over claims that they racially stereotype Gypsy Later in the Summer, The Parish of and Traveller communities. Howe and Co say that the matters that The Travelling People invited Ger Ofcom are now investigating, regarding Brennan and ‘Sam’ to visit more Ofcom will formally investigate the the TV shows themselves “are of the Traveller sites. Ger Brennan made a complaint lodged by Howe & Co most serious nature." "If Ofcom mini-tour of the Traveller sites in solicitors, which said that people concurs with its fellow regulator, the Finglas bringing along ‘Sam.’ from the Traveller and Gypsy ASA”, the firm says, “the consequences communities were "unfairly portrayed No one was disappointed with could not be more serious." in an untrue and damaging racially unusually sunny skies and Dublin stereotypical manner". Sam Maguire Comes Visiting bunting and banners on the sites. Ger was delighted at the reception. There Howe & Co gave examples of "unfair were a great many people out to negative images" such as showing all welcome Ger and Sam making for a children as "wildly behaved, The greatest sports prize in Ireland is wonderful occasion. uncontrollable, foul-mouthed, undoubtedly, Gaelic Football’s All illiterate, uneducated, violent and Ireland Championship trophy, the Sam Speaking over a hot cup of tea on a dangerous". Maguire Cup. In Autumn 2011, the Traveller site in , Ger said, winners of the All Ireland ‘It’s my first time on a Traveller site Last month the chief Championship were Dublin. So this and I’ve really enjoyed it.’ Travellers executive, David Abraham, was summer the Traveller Community of gathered, young and old, decked out forced to offer a public apology for its Finglas were delighted to welcome in their Dublin kits as many are keen "Bigger. Fatter. Gypsier" advert ‘Sam’; Dublin footballer, Ger Brennan; supporters of the Dublin team. And campaign, after it was condemned as and Dublin team selector David even though there were a few (quiet) offensive and irresponsible by MPs in Hickey. supporters of other counties they also parliament. appreciated the visit from Sam 7 Maguire! Writing in the Daily Mirror, David Anderson commented that Fury STAY IN TOUCH! Adapted from an article in The showed “just the sort of discipline he Traveller: Parish Newsletter, by needs to show if he is going to We hope you enjoyed our newsletter and will sign up via email for future Geraldine McDonnell. become world champion... He can't go in there swinging like he has done editions. in his career, hoping he will land one Sports News If you: of his haymakers before his opponent does. He needs to be controlled, fight  Have a question about behind his jab, and take no risks.” Travellers in prison. There was less good news for John  Are thinking of starting a Joe Nevin at the end of November. Travellers group and would Nevin, boxing for the British like advice. Lionhearts, lost to Branimir Stankovic  Would like help arranging in the World Series of Boxing face-off speakers from the Travelling in Wales. community.  Are looking for resources for Nevin, a silver medal winner at the Traveller Prisoners. 2012 Olympics, was ahead on points Then please get in touch!

against Stankovic going in to the fifth and final round of their lightweight Travellers Project, Manchester Traveller clash. But the Serb, who was beaten Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, cruised to victory against American by Nevin on a split decision in the Kevin Johnson on Saturday 1st 50- 52 Camden Square, WSB earlier this year, turned it London, December, winning virtually every around in the final frame to claim a NW19XB round. The win is Fury's third of split decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48) 2012, meaning he is only one fight over the Mullingar man. away from becoming mandatory [email protected] challenger for the WBC heavyweight Following the Olympics Nevin had Tel: 020 7482 5528 title, currently held by Vitali announced his intention to turn pro Fax: 020 7482 4815 Klitschko. and was lined up to sign up with Amir

Khan’s newly formed Super Fight However the fans in Belfast's Odyssey Our Staff: Promotions. Arena did not seem to enjoy Fury’s patient, careful approach against In the end though, the 23 year old Conn MacGabhann Johnson, with some who had hoped changed his mind and extended his (Manager) for a more exciting fight booing him amateur career by joining the as the final bell went. Fury claimed Lionhearts squad. Joe Cottrell-Boyce that he had had no intention of (Policy Officer) knocking Johnson down and had stuck to his uncle and trainer Peter Fury's instructions to keep out of danger and just let the points clock up.

"I didn't let my heart get to me”, Fury explained, “I knew that would be a war and I outboxed him."

Are you an

Irish Traveller OR a Gypsy?

It will help YOU if you register as:

‘W3 Irish Traveller OR Gypsy’

The Traveller Representative is:…………......

The Diversity Officer is: …………......