Traveller men honoured for horse care course

TRAVELLERS were honoured last night for completing an EU-funded college course on horse care that is set to be rolled out nationwide.

The 12 men from the Meelagh Estate in Mahon, Cork, were presented with certificates for completing the International Horseman’s Project.

It ran simultaneously with other nomadic ethnic minorities in Belgium, Spain and Hungary.

All were trained in every aspect of horse care and the Cork Travellers received a FETAC qualification from St John’s Central College.

Project coordinator, Brian Cullen of the VEC, said the four-month course gave the men a deeper insight into caring for their animals.

“It covered all aspects of horse care, from special feeding, to cleaning. The men also learned about when to look at horses’ teeth and the treatment of sores,” he said.

“The men were quite willing to go on the course. The more they went, the more they wanted to learn.”

Mr Cullen, who teaches part-time in the Traveller training centre in Blackpool, said the project, once evaluated, would be rolled out to other Travelling training centres nationwide.

However, he said Traveller culture was being slowly eroded in the Mahon area.

“Development in the Mahon area is squeezing them out and the horses are suffering. Travellers are finding it increasing difficult to find space for them.

“Traveller culture is being eliminated, they are being pushed away.”

He called for the establishment of a transient halting site in the city.

Brothers Martin and John Keenan, aged 22 and 17 respectively, from the Glen boxing club, were also honoured last night for recent boxing title wins.

John is heading to Prague to represent Ireland in a boxing tournament.

Kathleen O’Reilly, aged 16, was honoured for her All-Ireland boxing title.

Patrick McDonagh was also rewarded for winning a Tae Kwon Do title.