Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
This interview is with George Kelly, an Wexford Traveller born in 1944. He talks about growing up travelling the roads around Screen, The Ballagh, Blackwater and Ballymurn with his family, living in tents and caravans and moving from place to place for work. He remembers his childhood, his parents, and how life was for Travellers at the time, including working with farmers, using horses, and the simple way people lived. He also speaks about Traveller traditions, language, religion, and the strong sense of family and community that existed. Throughout the interview he reflects on how much Traveller life and Irish society have changed since he was young, while looking back on the memories of life on the road.
George's grandfather was a Protestant man, called George Scott, who was from Ballinroad near Raheenduff, Oulart. He married a woman called Annie Kelly (a Catholic) and all the children were raised with his grandmother's name, Kelly and as Catholic. When old George died, his father, Paddy Kelly, was sent to work (like so many others) to ”bring home a few bob and kept his family from being sent away”.
This was the reality and the hardship so many poor people faced back then, and we often heard growing up that as farm labourers you “were never far from the road”. I love in the 1st few minutes George talks about how the people in the cottages were good to them, the farm labourers and I loved how people had so much time for George, from farmers and country people to the people in The Shannon and wider Enniscorthy.
00:00:00 – Interview begins; introduction between Michael Fortune and George Kelly.
00:00:06 – George Kelly introduces himself.
00:00:10 – He explains he was born in 1944 during World War II.
00:00:20 – Born in St. John’s County Home.
00:00:40 – Early childhood memories of leaving the county home.
00:01:00 – Family begins travelling and living roadside.
00:01:15 – Father travels to Dublin seasonally with a caravan.
00:01:30 – Description of parking the caravan for winters.
00:01:45 – Local people recognizing and greeting the family each year.
00:02:00 – George describes his father’s character and work ethic.
00:02:10 – Names of his parents: Paddy and his mother.
00:02:25 – Story of his father’s childhood and early responsibilities.
00:02:40 – Father working making blocks for cottages.
00:02:55 – Discussion of families being separated in earlier times.
00:03:10 – Talk about family background and ancestry.
00:03:25 – Explanation of the Scott/Kelly family naming history.
00:03:40 – Memories of grandparents and where they lived.
00:04:00 – Description of older rural houses and living conditions.
00:04:20 – Early memories of travelling life.
00:04:40 – Life along roadsides and fields.
00:05:10 – Growing up in tents and caravans.
00:06:00 – Limited schooling during childhood.
00:07:00 – Beginning work at a young age.
00:08:00 – Working with farmers around the countryside.
00:09:00 – Learning to plough fields with horses.
00:10:00 – Description of farm labour and rural work.
00:11:30 – Talking about the importance of horses in Traveller life.
00:13:00 – Seasonal movement between towns and rural areas.
00:14:30 – Living through difficult winters.
00:16:00 – Food, cooking, and simple meals on the roadside.
00:18:00 – Foraging and gathering food locally.
00:20:00 – Community support between Traveller families.
00:22:00 – Religion and belief in everyday life.
00:24:00 – Stories and traditions shared among Travellers.
00:26:00 – Speaking Gammon / Traveller Cant language.
00:28:00 – Encounters with settled communities.
00:30:00 – Memories of travelling through different counties.
00:32:00 – Courtship and meeting his future wife.
00:34:00 – Marriage at a young age.
00:36:00 – Beginning family life.
00:38:00 – Raising children while travelling.
00:40:00 – Changes in Traveller life over the years.
00:42:00 – Increasing pressure to settle permanently.
00:44:00 – Moving into more settled accommodation.
00:46:00 – First Traveller in wexford to work for Wexford County Council.
00:48:00 – Comparing past Traveller life with modern times.
00:50:00 – Reflections on hardship and resilience.
00:52:00 – Thoughts on how culture and traditions have changed.
00:55:00 – Looking back on his life
00:58:00 – Final reflections on family, work, and memory.
........................................................
I recorded this conversation on the 2nd of March 2026 as part of a larger Oral History Project in the Templeshannon area of Enniscorthy. Although part of the wider town of Enniscorthy, The Shannon retains its own unique identity, accent, customs, and mannerisms. It also has a very strong community bond and deep-rooted connection to place, not found in other parts of the town. These interviews are being undertaken in a bid to celebrate these qualities and are supported by Wexford County Council through the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme.
..........................................................
This interview is with George Kelly, an Wexford Traveller born in 1944. He talks about growing up travelling the roads around Screen, The Ballagh, Blackwater and Ballymurn with his family, living in tents and caravans and moving from place to place for work. He remembers his childhood, his parents, and how life was for Travellers at the time, including working with farmers, using horses, and the simple way people lived. He also speaks about Traveller traditions, language, religion, and the strong sense of family and community that existed. Throughout the interview he reflects on how much Traveller life and Irish society have changed since he was young, while looking back on the memories of life on the road.
George's grandfather was a Protestant man, called George Scott, who was from Ballinroad near Raheenduff, Oulart. He married a woman called Annie Kelly (a Catholic) and all the children were raised with his grandmother's name, Kelly and as Catholic. When old George died, his father, Paddy Kelly, was sent to work (like so many others) to ”bring home a few bob and kept his family from being sent away”.
This was the reality and the hardship so many poor people faced back then, and we often heard growing up that as farm labourers you “were never far from the road”. I love in the 1st few minutes George talks about how the people in the cottages were good to them, the farm labourers and I loved how people had so much time for George, from farmers and country people to the people in The Shannon and wider Enniscorthy.
00:00:00 – Interview begins; introduction between Michael Fortune and George Kelly.
00:00:06 – George Kelly introduces himself.
00:00:10 – He explains he was born in 1944 during World War II.
00:00:20 – Born in St. John’s County Home.
00:00:40 – Early childhood memories of leaving the county home.
00:01:00 – Family begins travelling and living roadside.
00:01:15 – Father travels to Dublin seasonally with a caravan.
00:01:30 – Description of parking the caravan for winters.
00:01:45 – Local people recognizing and greeting the family each year.
00:02:00 – George describes his father’s character and work ethic.
00:02:10 – Names of his parents: Paddy and his mother.
00:02:25 – Story of his father’s childhood and early responsibilities.
00:02:40 – Father working making blocks for cottages.
00:02:55 – Discussion of families being separated in earlier times.
00:03:10 – Talk about family background and ancestry.
00:03:25 – Explanation of the Scott/Kelly family naming history.
00:03:40 – Memories of grandparents and where they lived.
00:04:00 – Description of older rural houses and living conditions.
00:04:20 – Early memories of travelling life.
00:04:40 – Life along roadsides and fields.
00:05:10 – Growing up in tents and caravans.
00:06:00 – Limited schooling during childhood.
00:07:00 – Beginning work at a young age.
00:08:00 – Working with farmers around the countryside.
00:09:00 – Learning to plough fields with horses.
00:10:00 – Description of farm labour and rural work.
00:11:30 – Talking about the importance of horses in Traveller life.
00:13:00 – Seasonal movement between towns and rural areas.
00:14:30 – Living through difficult winters.
00:16:00 – Food, cooking, and simple meals on the roadside.
00:18:00 – Foraging and gathering food locally.
00:20:00 – Community support between Traveller families.
00:22:00 – Religion and belief in everyday life.
00:24:00 – Stories and traditions shared among Travellers.
00:26:00 – Speaking Gammon / Traveller Cant language.
00:28:00 – Encounters with settled communities.
00:30:00 – Memories of travelling through different counties.
00:32:00 – Courtship and meeting his future wife.
00:34:00 – Marriage at a young age.
00:36:00 – Beginning family life.
00:38:00 – Raising children while travelling.
00:40:00 – Changes in Traveller life over the years.
00:42:00 – Increasing pressure to settle permanently.
00:44:00 – Moving into more settled accommodation.
00:46:00 – First Traveller in wexford to work for Wexford County Council.
00:48:00 – Comparing past Traveller life with modern times.
00:50:00 – Reflections on hardship and resilience.
00:52:00 – Thoughts on how culture and traditions have changed.
00:55:00 – Looking back on his life
00:58:00 – Final reflections on family, work, and memory.
........................................................
I recorded this conversation on the 2nd of March 2026 as part of a larger Oral History Project in the Templeshannon area of Enniscorthy. Although part of the wider town of Enniscorthy, The Shannon retains its own unique identity, accent, customs, and mannerisms. It also has a very strong community bond and deep-rooted connection to place, not found in other parts of the town. These interviews are being undertaken in a bid to celebrate these qualities and are supported by Wexford County Council through the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme.
..........................................................
