Who are North Augusta’s (SC) Irish Travelers?

The State ^ | AUGUST 16, 2016 | Cynthia Roldán

[Gamecock]

Ping?

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Weren't some of them called:" Irish Tinkerers "?
They were tinsmiths, metalworkers, and general repairmen with a 'wanderlust' ?
Same folks ?
Or were these folks like 'Irish Gypsies' ?

[from occupied ga]

Gypsies & Travelers - a criminal society.

[mothball]

I lived in Augusta for a few years, and they are some strange people. The women look like they border on having down syndrome.

[namvolunteer]

Tinkers = scammers.
Don’t open your door for them.
They’re gypsies, Roma, avoid them.

[wbill]

They're problematic in NC. I'll see warnings periodically on the news that groups of them are operating in the area.

Usually it's some sort of flim-flam on construction or driveway repair. Last one was a scam on meat - "Hey, my refrigerator truck is broken down, can you help out, want to buy some, etc etc"

[Louis Foxwell]

The Clinton’s are members of 2 different Traveller’s clans. Hillary from a Chicago clan. Bill from an Arkansas clan.

[Boogieman]

They’re not Roma, though they have a similar lifestyle and are also criminals.

[SC_Native]

I grew up in Saluda SC and we often drove through Johnston and Aiken into N. August. In the early 70’s the area known as Murphy's village was mostly wooded and sand with scrub trees. Then around 71 or 72 a few very nice houses were built. Once construction was completed the inside of all of the windows were covered in aluminum foil and they would stay that way for one year, then people would move in and take down the foil. Every year there would be more, nicer, and bigger houses built, following the same pattern with aluminum foil in the windows. All of the houses were and are extremely nice and very fancy, with flower gardens and statues, all new vehicles, etc.. I always wondered who these people were and where they got their money. This was a relatively poor area of peach groves and corn fields back then. Not a lot of industry.

[yarddog]

I have had three different run ins with them. They are scum of the earth. The first time was at a rest area off an interstate in South Carolina. A young couple with a baby approached me and said they were stuck and almost out of gas.

I told them I would buy them $10 worth at the next exit. We stopped and they waited for me to give my credit card to the cashier then proceeded to fill their tank with around $30 worth. I should have phoned the sheriff but was in a hurry and just chalked it up to experience.

The next time, I was doing a little shovel work in my parent’s driveway. They were in their 70s and financially comfortable. A guy in a new pickup stopped by and asked about paving the driveway. I told him my parents liked it just the way it was and he drove off without any problem. I had immediately sensed a fraud tho.

The third time I was caught off guard as I had phoned him from a card he had left at a nearby store’s bulletin board. He advertised yard work.

I needed someone to haul a new yard tractor home. He agreed to do it and said he would only charge me for the gas it took. I told him that was not enough but he insisted so I said OK. After we got the tractor on his trailer he stopped for gas and filled up two empty tanks. Took around $60. Nothing much I could do and just decided to think of it as one of those things to never fall for again.

They tend to be handsome, well groomed and drive new pickups. They will often hit a general area for a few weeks then move on but some are semi permanent residents.

[Tennessee Nana]

Gypsies ???

[namvolunteer]

Speaking for all Irish-Americans everywhere, these people ain’t Irish!!!
This crap is p.c.-speak for Gypsies.
No matter how inexpensive the deal seems, your driveway will crumble within six months!

[W.]

There were gypsies who’d show up at the Holiday Inn I worked at and rent an entire 30-room block for a week. We kept everything locked up and buttoned down, I double locked my shop door, didn’t want my tools and equipment to disappear. It was a relief when they’d vanish! They ran a blacktop resurfacing scam on folks. Ugly scum, the lot!

[yarddog]

They actually are Irish. Same people as the old Irish tinkers. They behave a lot like Roma but are genetically very different.

They also tend to be very physically attractive.

[needmorePaine]

I thought they were called Pikeys, and they really like their caravans. And dags.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

They tend to be handsome, well groomed and drive new pickups. They will often hit a general area for a few weeks then move on but some are semi permanent residents.

Holy smokes...that describes a guy that quoted me some work on paving my gravel driveway a few months ago here in SC. They posted signs in the area stating that they would be in the area for just a few days. Guy met the description above. Decided something didn't feel right...and his price was too high.

[frithguild]

[Howe_D_Dewty]

I have driven through there many times and the houses are enormous and look new. They are primarily brick and did not ,at that time, appear to have much landscaping. The windows were all darkly shaded or curtained.
If I read the article right I did not realize that South Carolina had 14 as the age or marriage until it the law was recently changed. Interesting.

[mad_as_he$$]

Had the meat scammer at my front door last weekend.