President Michael D. Higgins has said that a deeply moving documentary which will be broadcast on RTÉ One tonight should be seen in every household and school in Ireland.
The new documentary shines a light on the alarmingly high suicide rate among the Irish Traveller community, through the harrowing and deeply personal story of 12-year-old Patrick McDonagh from Finglas who died by suicide a year ago.
Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, which will air tonight on RTÉ One at 9.35pm, only hears from Traveller voices, with the story told from their perspective and not through the lens of settled community.
Sensitively following his parents, Michelle and Pat, as they come to terms with their loss, the film explores wider challenges facing the community and highlights the devastating impact of suicide on those left behind.
In sharing their harrowing personal story, Patrick’s family’s hope is to inspire other people to speak up and ask for help when they need it.
President Michael D. Higgins said that it was an honour to attend an advance screening of Patrick: A Young Traveller Lost, saying that it should be seen in every household and school in Ireland.
“Even though I am familiar with the issues with which the Travelling Community struggle, the personal testimonies of Patrick McDonagh’s parents, and Bernie Power moved me in a way I find difficult to describe,” said President Higgins.
“It would be so valuable if all members of the public could see this film, which describes a life lost to bullying. An incredibly talented boy, interested in all aspects of life and full of curiosity, within one year had his life destroyed.
“RTÉ and Alleycat Films have in my mind placed all of us in their debt in what is a splendid, valuable exercise in public service broadcasting. There are so many reasons I could think of why this film should be seen in every household, and it would be just incredibly valuable if it were seen in every school.”
Research shows that more than 1 in 10 Irish Travellers die by suicide. The suicide rate for Irish Traveller women is six times higher than settled women.
Meanwhile, the suicide rate for Irish Traveller men is seven times higher than settled men.
In the documentary Patrick’s mother Michelle Ward shared some of her treasured memories of Patrick.
“I remember when he was born,” she said. “He was the most beautiful little boy that was ever brought into this world. He was always clever. He loved English. He loved Irish. He knew everything about science.”
“He loved fixing bikes. He’d take a bike apart and put it together in seconds. I just can’t believe he left the world the way he did. I just thought he was so happy. He showed no signs…”
Patrick’s father Pat McDonagh reflects on the bullying his son experienced which the family were unaware of until after Patrick’s death.
“My little boy didn’t tell us nothing. I mean, secrets he took it to the grave. God rest him. We never expected Patrick to do what he done. I’m no good with phones – that’s the reason why we didn’t pass any notice of the phones.
“But when he passed away, we started taking notice of the phones, started realising it was the phone. It was a poxy phone. He was hiding stuff where he was being bullied. He never told us deep down inside, the mental torture. God knows what he was going through.”
Michelle explained that he deleted everything off his phone before he passed away.
“Deleted his Snapchat. His Tiktok. I couldn’t figure out why he deleted all of them, you know? We didn’t know what he was going through until the end, until people came and told us, little friends of Patrick’s came up and told us bits and pieces like we didn’t know.”
Sitting in Patrick’s bedroom, his mother Michelle describes her heartbreak.
“I feel very heartbroken when I’m looking at all this stuff. I didn’t just want him for 12 years; I wanted him forever. I was meant to go first. Not him. Suicide is the most hurtful thing to me as a mother. To lose a child. I feel like I have no answers. You know, why would he feel so hurt? That he thought he wouldn’t be happy in life you know? Why? I don’t get it.”
Leading Traveller voices from around the country, including Senator Eileen Flynn and Director of the Traveller Counselling Service Thomas McCann, contribute to the documentary and delve into the complexities facing this marginalised and often discriminated against community.
The documentary details research by DCU which states that 1 in 10 Irish Traveller children experience bullying more than several times a week. Meanwhile, 85% of the Irish public wouldn’t have a Traveller as a friend.
The deeply moving, unprecedented film, created in close collaboration with the Irish Traveller community, hopes to provide an opportunity to ignite conversations, dismantle stigmas, and encourage proactive measures to address the underlying factors contributing to this devastating crisis.
Patrick, A Young Traveller Lost airs tonight, Monday 27th, at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
National Traveller Counselling Service – 01 8685761. Email: info@
Pieta provides 24/7 support – if you are suicidal, self-harming or bereaved you can contact Pieta 24/7 via the Freephone crisis helpline on 1800 247 247, you can also text HELP to 51444
