Tinkering Gypsies

Whether they like it or not, every country is home to at least one distinct ethnic or racial group that takes the world by storm. These people shock and confuse the hell out of your average Joe and do so in a manner that dictates their definition. When investigating Ireland and Great Britain's cultural merchandise, the Travellers (or Tinkers as they are also known after their dealings with recycled scrap metal) are sure to pop up somewhere along the lines. Dating back to the 5th century, travelling gypsies began as nomadic groups that survived off the land. Today, over 2,400 travellers still roam the back country of Ireland and Great Britain.

Travellers are generally referred to in a negative context and have been classified as thieves, anti-social, uneducated, and well rounded con artists. Because of their nomadic behaviour, complaints have been raised about their choice of camp sites. Some of which have included and are not limited to private land, front lawns, alongside shorelines, and as some might put it, “where ever the hell they feel like it.” But for many travellers facing eviction comes on a regular basis and many families are left with no place to go. Although they have equal access to public funding and welfare, only 1% of Gypsies live to the age of 65, a shocking statistic to see in this day and age.

Now don't get me wrong, these people aren't walking around in brown paper bags and digging through trash cans. I can see where society's perception of this group may become hazy; driving around in caravans with no electricity doesn't really yell MacBook 2011, but travellers value their own traditions, place a heavy emphasis on religion and spiritual healing, and of course most Gypsy women support a Bend it Like Beckham closet. Currently in the UK, at a settlement called Dale Farm, hundreds of settled Travellers fight for the right to live in harmony and without discrimination from their neighbouring village of settled society.

But what we know about these people is strictly derived from our preconceived notions of them. Studies about their well being and way of life are inconclusive and true investigation will be hard to come by. Gypsies don’t cue for an interview and sure as hell won’t be cooperative if approached by a writer for The National Geographic. They live by the seat of their pants; speaking in their own tongue, neglecting society’s constant pressure to become literate, and of course refusing to integrate into "normal" society. The Tinkers now stand at the most discriminated against ethnic group in Ireland, a shocking truth that makes you question how far we've really come in the fight for equal rights.