Limerick City and County Council’s efforts to enhance traveller community integration will be showcased as it hosts a special event, ‘Making Connections across Limerick’, today, June 6, as part of Traveller Pride Week 2019.
Istabraq Hall at City Hall will be the stage for an interactive discussion, which will be open to the public, as the local authority celebrates and promotes the co-operation of Traveller advocacy and health projects from across Limerick city and county.
Group representatives and peer health workers – Travellers who are qualified health workers – will discuss the findings of their work, with Traveller engagement with the formal political process among the timely areas up for conversation.
The public is welcome to the event, which will be followed by an informal social gathering and refreshments.
Speakers from Minceir Whiden; Limerick City Traveller Health Advocacy Programme; Kilmallock Travellers Group; West Limerick Primary Health Care Project for Travellers and Clondalkin Primary Health Care Project will all take part.
Among the invited guests will be Limerick City and County Mayor, Councillor James Collins. Welcoming the initiative Cllr Collins said it was a hugely positive example of co-operation.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome these exceptional community and advocacy groups here to Limerick City and County Council headquarters. I want to thank them for giving their time and sharing their insights and experience. The work they do is of pivotal importance to both the Traveller community and society at large.
“This event will bring people together who have a common purpose and desire to achieve the best for their communities and will be an excellent opportunity for all of us.”
A number of events have already taken place as part of Traveller Pride Week across Limerick to promote the inclusion of the Traveller Community in a way that benefits both the Traveller and settled communities in a spirit of mutual respect.
Thursday will also include an exhibition of two creative projects undertaken by members of the community in Abbeyfeale and Kilmallock. This event is funded by Limerick City and County Council and has involved the active participation of members of the Traveller community at all stages.
Chair of the discussion will be Jennifer Moran Stritch, a faculty member of LIT Department of Applied Social Sciences, and MC will be Hannah O’Donnell of Kilmallock Travellers Group.
“I’m very pleased to participate in the Limerick Traveller Pride Week event and delighted to represent Limerick IT,” said Jennifer Moran Stritch. “Part of our remit as educators at third level is community engagement, and during my time as independent chair of the Traveller Health Unit I was privileged to learn about the work of Travellers within the political, educational, health, arts and civic sectors. In particular the peer-led groups for Travellers, and their ongoing collaboration with elected representatives, organisations and the general public is key to the success of this work. I look forward to learning more on June 6, celebrating what has been achieved, and seeing what the future holds if we can strengthen our mutual connections.”
Further details on Traveller Pride Week are available from Limerick.ie
