The Mincéiri Archives is a growing collection of stories that celebrates Irish Traveller culture, past and present. Staying true to tradition, each chapter is told aurally by an individual from the Travelling community. The content covers a wide range of topics within the community such as tent making, metal work, marriage traditions and ghost stories. The content is a celebration of Mincéiri/Irish Traveller culture and is positive in tone. Much like Irish Travellers, these archives are ever-changing, never still – a collection that will grow and develop over time.
The aim of this project is to affirm Irish Mincéiri/Traveller history, as national history. We’re proud to say that these are among the first lessons for primary schools to be made by Mincéirí Elder for the children of Ireland and provides a wide scope for discussion and inclusion within the national curriculum. This collection is spearheaded by members of the Mincéirí community, Oein De Bhairduin, Traveller Cultural Collections Officer at the National Museum of Ireland and activist Martin Warde as well as the 10 interviewees from the Mincéirí community across Ireland.
For Oein De Bhairduin, Traveller Cultural Collections Officer at the National Museum of Ireland the project has had many resonances, including, he says, "Having space to experience the voices of a community that has been historically largely unheard is of great importance. It allows us not only to learn and reflect but peer beyond misconceptions and misunderstanding and connect on a very real human level. The opportunity to incorporate the voices of the Elders into educational pathways offers up moments of learning, sharing and growth. I feel very honoured to have been part of the process and remain very excited about where these insights, lives and tales may journey to."
‘Director of the National Museum of Ireland, Lynn Scarff, said the National Museum of Ireland is incredibly honoured to support this work, as custodians of Ireland’s national collection it is vital that we work collaboratively with communities across the island and through conversation and co curation understand how we can better support preservation, documentation, and access to their cultural heritage. Oein’s work with Martin and members of the Traveller community across Ireland ensures the voices of Elders, their wisdom and stories are heard and shared’.
Museum book (minceiriarchives.ie)
About Oein DeBhairduin. Oein joined the National Museum of Ireland in March 2022. Oein has previously worked with the HSE and was supervisor and manager of St Olivers Training and Education Centre in Cloverhill, Clondalkin for nine years. He was the first Mincéiri / Irish Traveller to work in the Oireachtas, engaging in educational inclusion and cultural rights policy matters. His focus within NMI is developing a Traveller specific collection, as directed, supported, and identified by the indigenous, ethnic, minority community. He is a published author of Minceir/ Traveller Folklore, and a long-standing member of many Traveller organisations such as a past vice Chair of the Irish Traveller Movement, Council member of Mincéiri Whidden and originating member of Tome Tori, the Gammon-Cant (Shelta) speakinggroup.
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Media Contacts: Maureen Gaule, Marketing Manager, National Museum of Ireland
mgaule@museum.ie 087 9031690 and Brian Houlihan, Marketing Executive, National Museum of Ireland bhoulihan@museum.ie 087 411 0798
Images: Press photography from the launch will be released by Paul Sherwood paul@sherwood.ie 087 230 9096
About the National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland is the nation’s premier cultural institution and home to the greatest collections of Irish heritage, culture, and history. Admission is free.
The National Museum of Ireland has 4 public sites, and a Collections Repository:
- National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology (Kildare Street, Dublin)
- National Museum of Ireland – Natural History (Merrion Street, Dublin)
- National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History (Collins Barracks, Dublin)
- National Museum of Ireland – Country Life (Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo)
- Collections Resource Centre (Swords) (Not open to the public)
Website: www.museum.ie
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