University of Galway has detailed plans to celebrate Irish Traveller Ethnicity Week with a series of events across campus.
Irish Traveller Ethnicity Week marks the anniversary of Irish Travellers gaining ethic status and celebrates their culture and heritage including music, craft traditions and language.
The week-long series of events starts on Monday, 26 February and runs to Friday, 1 March – marking the anniversary of the Government formally recognising Irish Travellers as a distinct ethnic group.
The University is hosting a range of panel discussions, workshops and cultural exhibitions throughout the week, with a variety of opportunities for staff, students and the public to learn more about Irish Traveller culture, overcoming adversity in education and the experiences of Leaving Certificate students as members of the Irish Traveller community.
Mary Warde Moriarty (Doctor of Laws (LLD)), a traveller, human rights activist, who recently received an honorary degree from University of Galway will officially open this year’s series of events on 26 February at 11am, at The View, Áras na Mac Léinn.
The week will also see a series of events being held to highlight the supports available to students, including sessions on the University of Sanctuary programme and information on pathways into and through education.
Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of Galway, said: “Each year the Irish Traveller Ethnicity Week at the University marks our commitment to openness, diversity and inclusion as we build and strengthen connections with the wider community.
“We welcome and encourage all students, including Irish Traveller students, to seize the opportunities that education offers and that this week brings.
“Our University is open to all and works to ensure equality for all our students by providing supports to overcome barriers and establish a sense of belonging and the week-long celebration of Irish Traveller ethnicity affords us the opportunity to reflect on where we have come from on that journey and where we should look to as a community.”
The week’s events are organised by University of Galway’s Access Centre, in collaboration with Irish Traveller Organisations, local schools, Mincéirs Whiden Society, Galway Traveller Movement and Cell Explorers.
