Cork 2005: The Barrel Top

THE Barrel Top wagon is a pivotal image and focus of Traveller culture. At one time the wagon would have been used throughout Ireland as a home for families and as a means of travelling from town to town.

Whilst the use of the wagon is now very rare in Ireland, there is still widespread interest amongst the Traveller community in the lifestyle, skills, stories and traditions associated with its use.

The finished wagon will be used as a resource within Cork 2005, as an educational resource available to Travellers throughout the country after 2005, as a catalyst for learning about the traditions of a struggling community and above all as a means of shining a spotlight on this overlooked culture and heritage of the Traveller community. The project is a partnership between the Cork Traveller Women’s Network and Cork 2005.