Clare Focus Week
National Traveller MABS were delighted to showcase their work during Clare Traveller Focus week in Ennis in November 2014. We hosted a stand during an event to celebrate Traveller culture and achievements. The event celebrated the achievements of Travellers locally with renowned singer Mary Keenan entertaining the crowd.
The work of the "Our Heritage Project" carried out by Ennis CDP Traveller Peer Support Worker, David Mc Carthy and a group of young Travellers was on display . The groups compared the lives of Travellers in times past with that of Travellers in the present day. They interview older Travellers and built a model of an old Traveller camp as it was remembered. The highlight of the night was the performance of the play "Magpies on the Pylon". Written and performed by acclaimed actor and Traveller Michael Collins, 'Magpies on the Pylon' addressed the sensitive mental health issues surrounding substance misuse and suicide In 'Magpies on the Pylon', Collins addresses the issue of suicide through the eyes of a father who is trying to come to terms with the loss of his son and the many unanswered questions that haunt him. Following the performance there was a question and answer session to discuss issues arising from the play with a panel made up of Michael Collins, the National Traveller Suicide Prevention Programme, Pieta House (061 - 484444), Console (1800 247 247) and Clare Parents Unite for Suicide Awareness (CUSA).