School: Baile Mac Rabhartaigh (roll number 3978)

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1. Travelling Folk

   

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   Three different kinds of travelling folk visit our home frequently, namely, tinkers, gipsies [gypsies?] and tramps or beggars. These people have been doing so for many years. Beggars or tramps are very poor but the others are not so poor. Tinkers and tramps obtain most of their food by begging.

   Some tramps sell small articles as pins, studs, camphor, brooches, and needles. The gipsies [gypsies?] usually sell lace, little tables and mats. They make all these things themselves. The tinkers sell tins which they make themselves. The pedlars [peddlers?] obtain their supplies in large shops. People do not like to see them coming as they usually create a nuisance especially if the man of the house is not about.

   The gipsies travel and sleep in covered caravans. The tinkers travel in carts and sleep in tents which they erect on the side of the road. Tramps travel on foot and sleep in old sheds or barns at night. They usually stay a day or two. The tinkers travel in bands and the gipsies in families.

   The tinkers and tramps are usually seen at the harvest fair in Ballyshannon. The names of tramps are Simon Boyle, Spágái, and Martin Mc Donagh. The names of the tinkers are, the Maloneys, the Smiths and the Friels. These people bring stories and news from distant parts but the people never gather around to hear of them.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. agents (~1)
      1. people by social grouping
         1. travellers (~3,023)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Maureen Mc Cormack

   Gender

   Female

   Age

   13

   Address

   Ballintra, Co. Donegal