Latest news with #Travellers
Press and Journal
a day ago
- General
- Press and Journal
Safety fears after arrival of Travellers at Aberdeen's Inverdee pitches causes 'very frustrating' cricket disruption
Local cricket has been disrupted due to the arrival of Travellers at Inverdee playing fields. Around 15 caravans arrived at the Aberdeen site, next two Goals and Harvester, over the weekend. Although the vehicles are spread out around the boundary edge of the two cricket pitches at Inverdee, the Travellers' presence still led to Sunday's North East Grade Four matches between 3rd Grampian and 3rd Mannofield and Ceylon Deeside and 2nd Methlick being postponed. Two Evening League matches – North Sea v Knight Riders and Grampian Strikers v Aberdeen Tigers – were scheduled to be played at Inverdee on Tuesday night, but have now been called off and rearranged for next Wednesday. Meanwhile, Wednesday night Evening League fixtures between 2nd Knight Riders and Master Blasters Aberdeen and Shell and Aberdeen All-Stars may also have to be postponed. A spokesperson for the North East Scotland Cricket – who manage the cricket bookings at Inverdee and run the Grades – explained the games were postponed on safety grounds. The spokesperson said: 'It's very frustrating that cricketers who had planned their weekend and midweek around playing at Inverdee have not been able to enjoy their sport. 'Whilst we appreciate that the vehicles have been spread outside the boundaries of the two pitches, any cricket match would potentially result in damage being caused, and the safety of all involved is paramount. 'We have two matches scheduled to be played on Saturday. We hope that Inverdee will be available for those games. 'We are grateful to Sport Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council for their efforts in trying to progress access.' One Traveller spoke to the Press and Journal on Monday and said they were in Aberdeen as part of a summer holiday tour of Scotland and only planned to stay in the north-east for a week.
Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Press and Journal
Fifteen-caravan Traveller convoy pitches-up at Inverdee playing fields
A 15-strong caravan camp has set up on Aberdeen playing fields as part of a summer holiday tour of Scotland. The Traveller convoy settled temporarily at the Inverdee playing fields, close to businesses such as Goals and Harvester, and arrived on Sunday June 1. Fifteen caravans along with towing vehicles were spotted on the large cricket pitch next to Great Southern Road. It is understood their arrival proved a surprise to local cricketers, who were forced to call of matches at the weekend. The Press and Journal went down to the site today to speak with one of the families, who told us they were visiting the city on holiday. They were in Aberdeen after previous stops in Edinburgh and Dundee, with the Highlands their next destination. According to one of the Travellers, the group had never stopped in the Granite City before but were pleasantly surprised by how friendly Aberdonians were. He said: 'We always try to find somewhere that is not going to be an issue for anyone, but it is getting harder every year to find a suitable site to set up on. 'We have passed through Aberdeen but never stopped. The people are friendly.' They had been on the site for only a day, arriving around lunchtime the day before. And it was something of a tight squeeze, due to the corner leading down to the pitches from the main road. One of the Travellers told us they 'don't want to upset anyone' and said they were only staying in the north-east for a week before moving on. The Travellers said they had been doing this for several years and found Aberdeen 'much nicer than Dundee'. Interactions between the adults and the young children at the site suggested a loving family unit. The caravans were spread out over the cricket pitch but all 15 families travel as one group. The travellers' arrival comes shortly after another group set up at Aberdeen Beach. We were told the two groups were separate and did not travel together. Within the Aberdeen city area, there few official Gypsy/Traveller sites, with the sole council facility at Clinterty, near the border with Aberdeenshire. It offers 21 permanent pitches, with a waiting list for spaces, and no provision for temporary stays. We also spoke to nearby football centre Goals, who told us the Travellers had asked to use their facilities but were refused permission. He went on to say that a group of cricketers who frequently use the ground were unable to play due to the travellers' presence on the pitch. They will not be able to use the playing field until the group vacate. The Goals worker also said that dog walkers had complained about the travellers' pets roaming freely around the area. A member of management at Harvester confirmed they had asked the group not to make use of the business' water tap after three individuals began filling water tanks. Its toilet facilities, they said, were also being used regularly. An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: 'We are aware of the encampment and we will progress action to have it removed as soon as possible. 'We are committed to engaging with the traveller community to address accommodation challenges they face.'
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Oein DeBhairduin on Traveller Pride, folklore, and cake bread
Author, activist and educator Oein DeBharduin spoke with Sínann Fetherston about the importance of celebrating Traveller Pride and the traditions he holds dear. "I didn't want to write a book about Travellers," says author Oein DeBhairduin, "because I thought that's what Travellers had to do; we were forced into a corner and had to write about ourselves." Instead, the activist and educator created a series of books capturing the spoken word stories passed down through generations of his family and community. "The larger community are largely ignorant of the stories," he explains, "which is such a loss because a lot of our stories are about origin myths." Across Ireland, for example, many people associate robins with departed loved ones (I myself think of my grandad every time I see one), but not many know why these red-breasted birds are seen as spiritual messengers. "If you don't know the story, you've lost that connection," he insists. "Thankfully, we're one of the people that kept that story." DeBhairduin's book, Why The Moon Travels, delves into 20 tales rooted in the oral tradition, while Twiggy Woman looks at some of the more ghostly folktales, and Weaves shares stories inspired by the eight festivals in the wheel of the year. The full story of the spideog can be found in Weaves, but he kindly shared the following message to briefly explain the spiritual status of robins: "One Samhain in the Inagh valley, an old woman was mourning the loss of a great love, her grief summoned the curiosity of a robin—the Spideog. The bird, so touched by her grief, set out to find her departed beloved. It traveled through all sorts of haunted landscapes and went to the island of Teach Doinn, where the dead are said to dwell. "After much effort, there, it found the spirit and carried his whispered message, a part of his very essence, back to the living. The old woman on meeting the robin again, felt the presence of her loved one and knew the message in her heart, and from that day and every day since the Spideog has being a sacred bridge between worlds." Irish Travellers, or Mincéirí, are known for their rich culture of music, craft, trading, family, songs and, of course, storytelling. With most of these stories being passed down orally, they have likely changed and developed over the years, but DeBhairduin insists that only adds to the magic. "Stories grow and change," he muses. "If I told you a story and you told me the exact same story back, you haven't embraced it, you've just dictated it." When we speak, DeBhairduin is Cork-bound, set to take part in an event as part of Traveller Pride Week - a time dedicated to celebrating the culture and heritage of his community. Officially recognised as a distinct ethnic minority group in Ireland in 2017, DeBhairduin says that he hopes that the Mincéirí can be better understood through celebrations like Traveller Pride, and conversations can become more varied. "Can we have a conversation about beauty? Can we have a conversation about our strengths, and connection, and resilience? And fun! I think that's really important, otherwise, we're always on that campaign block rather than sharing the joy in life." Overall, the author says that Traveller Pride is a wonderful time to embrace and celebrate his community ("With all the sweetness and sourness in the world, isn't it just great to be who we are together), but also a great time to whip up some griddle bread, better known as cake bread. "When we make bread, we rarely make it for ourselves," he explains. "It's about breaking bread, and sharing bread, and coming together." "The idea is that when people come, you feed them," he continues. "It's such a simple thing and such an Irish thing, but it's really observed in our community. This is the bread that our ancestors made, and this is the way they made it." With initiatives like Traveller Pride, DeBhairduin hopes to see a revival of Mincéirí traditions, and insists that everything from herbalism and metal crafts, to the functional and fashionable beady pockets, can be embraced in 2025. "Often people think of tinkers and they only ever discuss men, but we have a history of women who, believe it or not, could pick up a hammer," he deadpans. "There's a revival now around copper work where women are creating pieces of art that can be sold, or exchanged, or can just be a celebration of this skill that largely fell away." Rings made from spoons, and homemade beady pockets - a type of flat handbag that ties around the waist - are just two examples of traditions that can be embraced today because, as Oein correctly points out, "in the modern world, most women are still struggling for pockets". When it comes to the younger generations, the advocate and co-founder of LGBT Tara, says that social media has become a fantastic way to share insights into different types of lives and experiences. "When people think of Travellers, they think of extreme poverty or they think of this 1950s version of people, this real stereotype," he says. "People talk about us in a retrospective way, but we're contemporary people living contemporary lives. All communities have grown and changed." DeBhairduin hopes the wider community will take part in the variety of events happening as part of Traveller Pride this week - you can see the full programme at Traveller Pride Week 2025. "This is a shared celebration for us all to connect," he insists. "I would love to see it extended to at least a month and become a part of the culture calendar." Additionally, he hopes that seasonal traditions like May Day (tying ribbons to hawthorn bushes on 1 May), and the Mummers (a group of masked individuals visiting homes to perform songs, dances, and skits at Christmas time) can continue to reemerge across the country.
The Courier
7 days ago
- The Courier
Council issues legal threat to Travellers with 11 vehicles next to Perth play area
Perth and Kinross Council has issued a legal threat to a group of Travellers who have plotted up at a park in the city. An encampment of 11 caravans and motor homes is camped up next to the play area at Western Edge Park in the Letham area of Perth. The council says it has received 15 complaints from local residents since the group arrived at the weekend. The authority has given the Travellers a deadline of Saturday May 31 to leave the area. An officer briefing to councillors read: 'In the absence of any alternative site, or one that could accommodate this size of encampment, the best option may be to manage the situation and keep it under review. 'Discussions are underway about an agreement that the encampment can remain on this PKC Greenspace site until Saturday 31st May, on the condition that if they do not leave that day legal action will be taken. 'Daily uplift of black bag refuse will be carried out, and wider flytipping issues will be monitored. 'Warden visits will check on the site to monitor site conditions, the number of people and vehicle movements. 'They will also liaise with the local settled community.' One local resident told The Courier the group arrived on Sunday. He said: 'Western Edge Park is the only area you can take kids for a kick about, fly a kite, or play football. 'They've taken over the whole area and driven all over it in their vehicles. It's a health and safety issue too.' He added: 'I'm not against Travellers at all, but this is our only park, our only facility, and there's not much else in the area.' Council staff visited the site, which is PKC Greenspace land, but did not report any ground damage. An offer of portable toilets was refused. The encampment presence is expected to 'curtail' dog walking routes and activities in the park, according to the local authority. Vehicle movements around the site may also create a 'potential risk'. Perth and Kinross Council runs two purpose-built Traveller sites. There is one at Double Dykes in Ruthvenfield and another at Bobbin Mill in Pitlochry. In April, an investigation found Traveller residents had been 'seriously failed' by Perth and Kinross Council. A £6.5 million revamp of Double Dykes is underway and is expected to be completed by September.
Dublin Live
25-05-2025
- Dublin Live
Notorious hitman was 'master of disguise' who dressed as woman to evade Gardai
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Evil hitman Robbie Lawlor used to dress up as a woman so he could dodge the Gardaí, we can reveal. He would go around his native Coolock, North Dublin, wearing a frock, make-up and jewellery so people wouldn't recognise him. A Garda source said: "Robbie Lawlor became the master of disguise on and off for years before he died. "His family and friends used to joke about it that he liked nothing more than dressing up as a woman so he could move around Dublin without anyone recognising him. We only became aware of it very late on in his life when one of her guys spotted him all dolled up in a dress. "We used to call him Roberta for the laugh but Lawlor, who had no sense of humour, didn't see the funny side." The notorious criminal is believed to have killed at least 12 people before he was executed himself five years ago in April, 2020, in Ardoyne, North Belfast. Lawlor, 35, paid the price for the murder of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready-Woods, 17, a killing that sent shockwaves across the country. Lawlor organised to have the youngster abducted and then personally murdered him at a house in the town. (Image: PA) Keane's body was then dismembered and body parts were deliberately dumped in Drogheda, Coolock and Drumconrath in Dublin. The sheer horror of what Lawlor and his associates did to a child caused deep anger and distress in the teen's local community. The killing was carried out over the Drogheda drugs feud that saw Lawlor side with a gang led by two local brothers against the rival gang of Travellers to control the lucrative drugs trade in the north-east. He blamed the leaders of the Travellers, including his arch enemy, the late Cornelius Price, for the shooting dead of his brother-in-law Richie Carberry, in Bettystown, Co Meath, a few months previously. But the Mulready-Woods murder was a hit too far and the Travellers paid to have Lawlor killed while collecting a drug debt. The two brothers had to flee Drogheda following the murder of Mulready-Woods after death threats were issued against them, and they haven't been back since. One is now believed to be in Dubai, while the other is said to be flipping between Turkey and Thailand. No international arrest warrants have been issued for either of them yet. The Garda source added: "Robbie Lawlor was a psycho and was responsible for the deaths of a lot of people. Since he left this world Coolock has been a far safer place. For such a hard man it is amusing that he used to avoid detection by dressing up in drag." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
