Low turnout at vigil for Carrickmines Travellers

Are Travellers second-class citizens in this country?

Last Wednesday night, I organised a candle-light vigil in Galway for the 10 Travellers who tragically died in Carrickmines a week ago. I also held a vigil a few months ago for the Berkeley students.

I publicised the event in local and national media, exactly as I did for the Berkeley memorial. All local politicians were invited.

We had a beautiful vigil on Wednesday night, which was well-supported by members of the Travelling community. Members of the settled community were very much in the minority. The Mayor of Galway, Cllr Frank Fahy, and County Cathaoirleach, Cllr Peter Roche, attended and spoke briefly, as did two members of the Galway Traveller Movement. No other local representatives attended.

Last June, during the Berkeley vigil, there was a much bigger crowd. A number of local representatives attended, as did Mayor Frank Fahy and Cathaoirleach Peter Roche. Also, two national newspapers sent reporters and RTÉ and TG4 sent film crews.

This time, the only national coverage was a mention and photograph on the RTÉ website. This was solely thanks to an RTÉ reporter who is personally known to me.

We talk about welcoming 4,000 refugees to our shores. Maybe a little more compassion for our fellow Irish people might do many more of us no harm.

After all, the main reason why I, a member of the settled community, held this vigil was to allow all people, irrespective of their background, an opportunity to show support and compassion to some of our fellow Irish citizens who have recently gone through such a horrific trauma.

Tommy Roddy

78 Lower Salthill,

Galway