Travelers...who, what and where are they?

[Conservababe]

Since the news and tape of Madelyne Gorman/Toogood's beating of her child has been made public, there seems to be much interest in posters that the mother was an Irish Traveler. I, myself, have done searches on the net to learn more of the Travelers or Gypsies in the USA. I have not found anything that is more interesting than that of the posters who have given their individual experiences with these people. But, it is so much fragmented in many threads. I am hoping that by starting this thread, Freepers can relate their experiences and knowlege of these people, the Travelers. I wish it not to discuss the mother or her actions, necessarily, but to discuss the nature of the clan or cult or whatever or whoever is the Travelers.

[dennisw]

Great. Makes my day and yours. After all, MURPHY VILLAGE, S.C. can't be more than 500 miles from Nashville.

[julesrules]

So I just now realized that I (lefty) have accidentally stumbled onto a conservative forum while searching for info on the Travellers. However further googling got me to an artical that presents a slightly different point of view on this community. For interest's sake I post the link
http://www.pitt.edu/~alkst3/USA.html

[Cogadh na Sith]

That's an interesting and informational website:

Furthermore, I have learned from Traveller life stories in Ireland that parents also try to protect their children from the influential entertainment media of settled society. These parents act to protect children from the influence of television, movies and pop culture that could undermine their sense of family responsibility, morality, and values.

Hmmmmm, they sound kinda 'conservative'.

Hope you stick around--you'll be surprised what you can learn here!

[Eridanus]

I have to admit, when I first heard the name "Irish Traveler" on the radio the other day, I cracked up. The notion seems so outrageous that there are still gypsy - like folk in America. Like in the beginning of an article I read, the whole concept of it is 'from another time, another continent.'
This is what is interesting to many people who had never heard of the travellers. It is almost a romantic concept, in a way.
What most people don't realize is that there are many other groups of oddballs in the country that seem impossible. In northern NJ, in the mountains live the mysterious "Van Dunk" clans. Ask any regional person and they will act revolted at that name. A derogatory name for these people is the Jackson Whites. Centuries of inbreeding have led to giant blue eyes, albinism and other genetic defects, like webbed fingers. Their are thousands and you have to get really into the mountains on the loneliest back dirt roads to find their communities of huts without running water or power. And this is only 40 minutes away from one of the biggest cities in the world, NY!
In NY itself, or rather underneath NY lies entire communities of thousands of 'mole people' who live in the depths of abandoned subway tunnels and have learned to hate the 'surface dwellers'whom they have never seen.Many have never even seen the sun. Read "The Mole People" by Jennifer Toth for an academic study of those people.
Their are a lot of bizarre folks like the travelers that most people know nothing about. I thought I knew all about the weird subgroups of people in America, but then I heard of the travelers. Just shows, you learn something new every day!

[travelerneighbor]

I REQUEST THAT EVERYONE READ THIS PLEASE!!!!

I am indeed from the wonderful town North Augusta, SC. YES, North Augusta is in South Carolina....not Georgia or North Carolina for all those people who do not have their facts straight! However, I do live besides them and when I say beside them I mean right beside them! I went to school with them in elementary and middle school and I also currentlty attend college with the one who chose to be different and actually play a sport in college. I have experienced everything there is to experience with the Irish Travelers. For example, when I was in fifth grade I was asked to be in one of my classmates older sister's wedding as the flower girl. If you want to know anything about them, then I am the person to ask! PLEASE feel free to ask me anything about them! I would love to educate anyone about them and help everyone figure out what is fact and what is fiction about the Irish Travelers. Feel free to email me and ask me any questions. If you could please include your name and where your from just so I can see where all these people are from that actually know of the Irish Travelers!

One last thing, this is not a joke.. I was born and raised and still do to this day live in North Augusta, SC. I'm not kidding when I say I know everything about them.

My email is cheermo2005@yahoo.com
If you do email, put the subject as Irish Travelers or something to that nature so I will not delete it thinking it is junk mail!

I hope to receieve some emails answering your question, concerns, or opinions!!

[jamaly]

I think it is a safe bet that some of the Travelers are in the N.O. area. Many of them are scam artists posing as roofers, driveway patchers, etc. They probably follow the storms.

[Conservababe]

So, you signed on today just to post in a thread about Travelers that is four years old?

[F.J. Mitchell]

Picky, picky.

[Conservababe]

Scuse me? Do you have a problem with my question?

[F.J. Mitchell]

Nope.

[chatty123456]

I know that I am late as well! However I believe that people are still intrigued by the Travellers'.

[Conservababe]

Yes, I am, also.

[decimon]

This is rich.

Anyone going to reply to that email address with personal information?

[vato63]

It is too late for that my friend. I worked with them in northern Nevada and California. Worthless people they are.

[gypsypower]

i am a gypsy an i work fulltime i dont need to rip no 1 off som do i dont not all gypsys are bad ppl so b4 u judge us look at other ppi doing the same thing

[Quicksilver]

i am a gypsy an i work fulltime i dont need to rip no 1 off som do i dont not all gypsys are bad ppl so b4 u judge us look at other ppi doing the same thing

A nearly five-year-old thread comes back to life. Interesting.

First, welcome to Free Republic! :) My post of nearly five years ago was not my judgment. It was a quote from a web page, which no longer exists, regarding Irish Travelers. As with any group of people, I have encountered nice gypsies, and not so nice ones as well. So, I judge people as individuals, not by which group or groups they may be part of.

[Citizen Soldier]

They started as “tinkers” after the Famine in Ireland and got the name from fixing pots and pans etc. I saw them in Ireland a few years ago and the tour guide said the richest antique dealers in Ireland today were travelers. They have carvan camps in some areas of the brithish isles for them to stay. There was a National Geographic article on them a while back. I read about them in a cultural anthropology book for the class and it was quite interesting. You might start looking for info in those sources.

[penguin234]

people keep mentioning the 60 minutes story from about 5 years ago. Does anyone know where I can find the video?

[sinead]

hi i know that this thread is very old but if you are still interested in finding out about Travellers e-mail me
sinead-mcdonagh@hotmail.com I will be happy to let you know anything you want.

[Grizzled Bear]

Let’s all sing together -

This is the thread that never ends...
You thought it would die...
but it comes back up again and again and again...