Horses and Caravans

In my project I'm documenting the English and Irish Traveller community at horse fairs across these two countries. In my eyes it's simple one of the last scenarios where this community can live out their rich tradition. My goal is to offer an intimate and authentic portrayal of the lives of English and Irish Traveller communities, highlighting their rich cultural heritage, unique lifestyles, and the challenges they face. This project seeks to shed light on the social importance of these communities and to foster understanding and empathy among viewers.

Driven by my enthusiasm for cultural research and my strive for social justice, I came across the English and Irish Traveller community. A minority that suffers from discrimination by the government and society. A nomadic lifestyle has been part of their tradition for centuries and is more endangered than ever. Being forced to settle down by the government, the Traveller Community is being deprived of their origins. The kids are often pulled out of school at a young age, which creates a vacuum when it comes to chances in the labor market. It is common to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Many Travellers are breeders of dogs such as lurchers and have a long-standing interest in horse trading. The main fairs associated with them are held annually at Ballinasloe (County Galway) and Appleby (England).

My project takes place at these horse fairs across Ireland and England. So far I have shot in Appleby (June 2023) and Ballinasloe (October 2023) and will continue to do so for the next 1 1/2 years. It's one of the last sceneries where they are still being able to freely outlive their traditions. My goal is to offer an intimate and authentic portrayal of the lives of English and Irish Traveller communities, highlighting their rich cultural heritage, unique lifestyles, and the challenges they face. This project seeks to shed light on the social importance of these communities and to foster understanding and empathy among viewers.