Irish Travellers (sometimes known as "pikeys", "itinerants" or
"Tinkers") are a very small minority group in Ireland. They make up
less than 1% of the population with approximately 23,000 people in the
Republic and another 1,500 in the North. It is also estimated that
there are about 15,000 Irish travellers in Britain and another 10,000
in the USA. Irish Travellers belong to a distinct ethnic group within
Ireland. They have their own language, beliefs and social customs which
have been made stronger over time due to their exclusion and
marginalisation from mainstream "settled" society.
Travellers
refuse to adopt a settled way of life instead choosing to travel around
the countries they inhabit living in caravans stopping at the side of
roads or in fields for periods of time before moving on. Their culture
is notoriously violent with frequent skirmishes between rival families
and secret prize fights often held in remote areas as to go under the
radar of the local authorities. The highlight of these fights is the
legendary king of the Tinkers gathering where individuals duke it out
bareknuckled with the victor assuming the throne of this nomadic
culture. The fight is rarely witnessed by outsiders, the same goes for
the brutal prize fights, that is until now. This is a ten thousand pound prize fight between
two travellers James McDonagh Quinn and a character known as 'The
Lurcher' Joyce. Be prepared to witness this bloody contest by the side
of a quiet road somewhere on the Emerald Isle. Fight Club eat your
heart out!
Pickeys in Nikeys
