"'Your house is not where your heart's at.' Irish Travellers are an Indigenous ethnic minority of Ireland, with an estimated population of 40,000, making up about one per cent of the island's population. With roots that date back centuries, Travellers lived mostly nomadic lives until the 1960s, when forced government policies - including anti-trespass laws - made their distinct itinerant lifestyle difficult to sustain."
"The short documentary shows families and friends sharing memories from nomadic times, songs and crafts near a fire. This includes tinsmithing and the crafting of paper flowers - two skills deeply intertwined with Traveller heritage. Filmed with an observational lens, the work is both educational and intimate, offering a window into a rich culture that persists despite ongoing assimilation efforts that threaten it."
Irish Travellers are an Indigenous ethnic minority of Ireland numbering about 40,000, roughly one percent of the island's population. With roots dating back centuries, Travellers lived predominantly nomadic lives until the 1960s, when forced government policies, including anti‑trespass laws, curtailed itinerant lifestyles. Free People captures a 2023 gathering at a recreated County Galway camp where families and friends share memories, songs and crafts around a fire. The film documents tinsmithing and the crafting of paper flowers, skills central to Traveller heritage. Filmed observationally, the work presents intimate, educational scenes that show a resilient culture facing assimilation pressures.
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