The Complex and Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group present a poetry reading by Helen Hutchinson in celebration of Traveller Pride 2021.
Helen is a poet whose work contemplates issues facing Travellers in contemporary society. The poems she read as part of the event explore topics such as social isolation, Traveller rights, and a child’s first
experience of prejudice.

‘The Travelling Man’
When I was a young Traveller, well every road I’d know
If you got lost in a place, I’d tell you where to go
Ah well the Travelling people now, they’re blocked out of everywhere
They tell us to settle down, that it’s for the best
We try to do what they tell us, but they put us to the test
They call us hurtful things, tinkers, knackers, words like that
And while they are insulting you, an eyelid you’re not meant to bat
It leaves you with no choice, up and out you go
Trying to find a place that once upon a time you knew
It’s very hard to find a place when you’re from a Travelling clan
You may as well build a spaceship and get out while you can
You feel so fed up of the rejection and the slander
And I say in the name of God, why do you want to change me?
Well, we’re all the one, life’s a con
And this worlds gone so greedy
Well, if you ask me what’s wrong,
This worlds gone stone crazy

‘No Surrender’
Are we rejections from a production line? Or were we born with flaws?
Maybe it’s a case we were born with no fingers, or maybe it’s a case we were born with no toes
Sure, so maybe that’s to blame, so when it comes, we have no right just to live this life at all
The fact that we are Travellers, from the first day we are born,
We are shunned and judged by you, the majority of you all
Through pure ignorance we are hurt, we are forced to live on the margins
By good Irish Christians yeah, by you
But one day we’ll break even

To be respected and given our civil rights
A strong statement I’m not mistaken, we won’t have to fight
We don’t want what ye’ have, only our own ways
Our culture and shared history should take its rightful place
Among the Irish Nation, among the Irish race

‘Hold My Hand’
Please hold my hand, I want to play with you
What’s wrong with me? Please tell me
As I am not like you
I know I’m a Traveller, but I don’t do you no harm
I just want to play ring a rosie
Oh please, won’t you hold my hand
It’s the first day at school and I’m frightened and I’m lonely
And no one will play with me, and I don’t like the names you call me
And I don’t understand
Are you saying those words to hurt me?
Oh please, won’t you hold my hand
It’s hard to know where I come from
But now I live like ye’ in a house
Now we’re all settled, we’re all the same
Oh please, won’t you hold my hand?

свернуть