Sir, - We are writing on behalf of the Galway Traveller Support Group, with regard to the letter from Angela Magennis in The Irish Times (April 13th). We feel strongly about what people publish in papers when it is in relation to travellers. The heading of this article was "Travellers and child neglect".
It was stated in the letter that when hardstands are built for travellers, they are left unoccupied. The writer of the letter also states that "travelling families live in sub human conditions by choice". It is true that many travellers live in subhuman conditions; it is not true that they do so by choice. We do not know one traveller family who wishes to live in conditions which are a danger to themselves and their children.
Also mentioned was travellers' culture. Travellers know a good deal about their culture, and when they do not we should ask the question why. For many years, they have been told that they do not have a culture and that their way of life should change to become the same as that of the settled community.
We feel that she letter published on April 13th was not an informed one. It was based on prejudice and a lack of knowledge about travellers and the issues which we face on a daily basis. - Yours, etc.,
Galway Traveller
Support Group,
Prospect Hill,
Galway.