'Living in a house was like prison'. Travellers on their fight to retain their traditional way of life
Twenty years ago, a quarter of all Travellers in Northern Ireland lived in caravans. But by 2021 that number had dropped to 10%.
Irish Travellers Paul and Sarah* have lived in their caravan on a site in Legahory, Craigavon, since 2019.
They’re proud of living in their own caravan but described conditions at Legahory as “not fit for dogs”.
Families cook and wash in unheated prefabricated units which have no hot water in the kitchens, black mould, and a rodent problem.
“When you have big families, it's not easy,” Paul said.
“There's mice droppings over the floor every morning where we are living.”
The couple urgently want better conditions at the site.
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For other Travellers, a housing scheme, specifically designed for the community, is the way forward.
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As part of a special series of articles, our journalist Luke Butterly and photographer Chris Scott met Irish Travellers across the north to hear about their experiences of housing, education and social discrimination.
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New government, new Northern Ireland?
The first week of campaigning in the general election has already seen a “shambolic” visit to Belfast by Tory leader Rishi Sunak. Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey also hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons after he fell off a paddleboard on Lake Windermere while campaigning.
With the polls predicting a Labour landslide in the July 4 poll, our columnist Rosalind Skillen asks what a new government will mean for Northern Ireland.
What’s On - Events for Indie News Week
Independent local journalism: Past, present and future
Join The Detail and VIEWdigital for a special event!
We’re hosting talks and a public discussion to mark the first ever #IndieNewsWeek, run by the Public Interest News Foundation.
When: Tuesday, June 4, 10am-noon
Where: Ulster University, York Street campus, Belfast
We’d love to hear from our readers on the sort of news you want to read and how we can do things differently.
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Stand Up for Indie News: Music and comedy night
The Detail and VIEWdigital are also hosting a night of music and comedy to support our independent news journalism.
When: Sunday, June 9, 7pm-10pm
Where: The Black Box, Hill Street, Belfast
Chichester Street in Belfast ‘should be renamed’ McCracken Street
A couple of weeks ago, we asked you if Chichester Street in Belfast, which is named after Sir Arthur Chichester, a leading figure in the Plantation of Ulster, should be renamed.
A petition is calling for the street to be renamed McCracken Street after United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken and his sister Mary Ann, a life-long campaigner against slavery.
According to our poll, 88% of respondents think the street should be renamed.
Do you think other streets should be renamed? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
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