[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!