AWARD-WINNING radio reporter Henry McKean, met with members of the Travelling community in Rathkeale as part of his new TV3 documentary “The Truth About Travellers”, and the end product can be seen on May 11. The reporter, who works for Sean Moncrieff’s daytime Newstalk radio programme, told the Limerick Post it was difficult to get the Rathkeale Travellers to co-operate.
He commented: “They are very secretive and don’t trust the media, primarily because of the negative way that they are portrayed in the tabloids”.
Rathkeale has a population of 1,700, half of which are believed to be members of the Travelling community.
When he failed to secure interviews with local Travellers, he attended a mass at Rathkeale church where residents had been concerned about their behaviour.
McKean said that this proved successful: “We spoke to Travellers after the mass and a few of them opened up and talked”.
Limerick has over 500 Traveller families, and he described Rathkeale as the ‘spiritual home’ of the Irish community.
“Travellers are always associated with scams and crime but many of them are hard working people… the documentary takes a closer look at Traveller communities around Ireland to get a clear picture of their life”.
The reporter also travelled to Tuam, Ennis and Croagh Patrick while filming the three-part documentary series.
The series begins with the wedding of 18-year old Stacey Ward in Tuam.
He also looks at lives on a Traveller halting site for several days, and examines their devotion to religion.
During the series, he speaks to a gay Traveller who has faced hostility towards his sexual orientation.
The second episode of The Truth About Travellers, which focuses on Rathkeale, will be aired on Tuesday May 11, at 9pm on TV3.
Henry McKean at Stacey Ward’s wedding in The Truth About Travellers
