School: Athlone (Mixed) (roll number 16092)

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1. Travelling Folk

   

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   Travelling Folk.
   Travelling folk still come to Athlone, they are called tinkers or gipsies.
   They come year after year and are nearly always very poor.
   They sell small tables and chairs, cans, and paper flowers. They make these articles themselves.
   They buy their supplies cheaply in shops. Travelling folk are not always welcome because of the damage they do.
   Sometimes they stay for only one night and sometimes a week. They sleep in tents and caravans on the roadside.
   They accept money, tea, sugar, flour, and other food. They usually travel in families. Sometimes they travel on foot but only when alone.
   The names of the best known are Joyce, West, adn Green and Mac Donagh.
   In Spring, Summer, and Autumn, they travel but in Winter they come into Athlone and live in houses.
   They always come tot he town on feast and fair days, and narly always perform tricks and tell stories.
   Sometimes people gather around to

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   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

   Informant

   Mrs A. Johnson

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Garrycastle, Co. Westmeath

   Informant

   Mr Trappe

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Athlone, Co. Westmeath

   Informant

   Mr W. Taylor

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Athlone, Co. Westmeath

   Informant

   Paddy Burns

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Bunnavally, Co. Westmeath