Sir, - I refer to the letter of Tomas MacSuibhne (April 19th) concerning the "Irishness" of itinerants. Surely it is only in the most extreme cases that we are told by members of the "settled" community that travellers "are not native" and "are not our people"? On the other hand itinerants and their various advisors/ mentors have often claimed that they are a different ethnic group/ race.
Ms Sinead Ni Shuinear, for instance, claims not only physical distinctiveness for the itinerants but also exclusive surnames as evidence that they are a race apart. The name "Mongan", she claims, does not appear among the settled people at all. However, I found several Mongans in the 01 directory, with addresses all over the Dublin area. It should also be noted that names which commonly occur among itinerants such as Connor, Joyce, McCann, Ward, Sweeney, McDonough, Stokes etc., are also found among the general population.
Those who continue to insist that the itinerants are a race apart offer them countless bays of deflecting legitimate criticism of their lifestyle, its feasibility and its effects on themselves, their children and the population at large. Every time a point is raised against them they can cry "racism" and avoid the very pressing issues involved. Those who (from the other, rosier side of the ditch) romanticise traveller life and encourage itinerants to believe that even though they cannot afford to carry it on legally, with dignity and in safety they yet have a right to continue this way of life indefinitely only prolonging the resulting suffering which is so often attributed to the settled community.
I would like to add that Edmund MacSweeney of Doe, about whom your correspondent wrote, is, like all other MacSweeneys/ Sweeneys/Swineys descended from the Gallowglass soldiers who came to Ireland from Scotland in the late Middle Ages and who received tracts of land in the Donegal area as payment for their military services. Edmund MacSweeney, in being dispossessed of his lands, was no different to many of the others. Few of us still retain any of these acres! - Yours, etc.,
Trim,
Co Meath.