Traveller and Roma Groups

About

This project aimed to develop and implement a research partnership with the Cork Traveller Visibility Group and STAR (Supporting Travellers and Roma) to address gaps in music provision for Traveller and Roma youth and identify barriers to participation in existing programmes. By creating Traveller-specific and Roma-specific spaces we explored possibilities for cultivating cultural and musical awareness of traditions and contemporary songwriting, spoken word, beat-making and creative music making.

We developed a set of collaborative projects for action research to be implemented in selected schools and youth settings

  • Music in Community (MiC) led a songwriting and performance programme at St Aidan’s Secondary School, Dublin Hill, supported by staff from STAR project and TVG
  • The Kabin led intensive 3-day songwriting and beat-making camps during midterm and summer 2022, and a six-week programme in collaboration with the TVG afterschool support project, supported by TVG and The Kabin teams

Read the Report

Download the full "The Urgency of Music" report as a PDF

Images

See images from the project
Photos 1 - 2: Michael O’Sullivan
Photos 3 - 11: Wayne J Forde

Video

A short video for RTÉ Toy Show Appeal created by SwanIGuess. Featuring members of the Traveller and Roma Visibility Group and participants in the action research project with The Kabin Studio.

Audio Clips

Biddy the Coal Miners Daughter is a recording from the St Aidan’s STAR/TVG group and was recorded by Rory McGovern and Joe Philpott.

STAR/TVG Music in Community (MiC) St Aidan's songwriting session 1

A short extract of a songwriting and performance workshop with Music in Community at St Aidan's Secondary School, Dublin Hill, recorded 2022.

The Real McCarthys’ from the TVG group: Can't Stop Us (June 2021)

TVG Crew

Romani Crew

Article in
Cork Beo

This article in Cork Beo, with words from Nicki Egan, principal of North Presentation Primary School, gives a brilliant sense of the excitement about the whole initiative for the Romani children, the school community, and their families.”

See article »

Northside principal says pupils in 'Romani Crew' have become 'heroes of the school'

Meet the staff

Traveller and Roma Groups
Garry McCarthy
Creative Lead and Project Coordinator
TVG / STAR Project / Cork Migrant Centre
Gina Miyagawa
Roma Education Officer, STAR Project Coordinator
TVG / STAR Project / The Kabin Studio
Rachel Coffey
Traveller Education Officer, STAR Project Coordinator
TVG / STAR Project / St Aidan’s / The Kabin Studio
Joe Philpott
Creative Lead and Musician Educator
TVG / STAR Project / St Aidan’s
Rory McGovern
Creative Lead and Musician Educator
TVG / STAR Project / St Aidan’s
Frank McCarthy
Creative Project Facilitator
TVG / STAR Project
Caoimhe Barry
Project Support
TVG / STAR Project / Cork Migrant Centre
Alex Pacino Brady
Project Support
TVG / STAR Project / Cork Migrant Centre

Project Partners

Traveller Visibility Group
TVG is a Traveller-led Cork based organisation which brings the settled community and Travellers together to facilitate community development work for the Traveller community. The STAR Project is an independent pilot project, aimed at tackling education disadvantage in Traveller and Roma Communities, led by Gina Miyagawa and Rachel Coffey.

www.tvgcork.ie
The Kabin Studio
A not-for-profit vibrant music & creative hub, repurposed Masterkabin in Knocknaheeny in the Northside of Cork City. Established by GMCBeats in 2012 with the support of Music Generation Cork City, The Kabin has grown out of a love for hip hop, songwriting, performance and creative expression.

www.thekabin.ie/our-work
Music in Community (MiC)
MiC works in healthcare settings such as Marymount Hospice, the Ballincollig Family Resource Centre, Westgate Foundation, sheltered housing units for senior citizen residents, Cork University Hospital, Headway and Music Generation Cork City, grounded in the wish to use music to bring communities closer together.

www.musicincommunity.ie/
Music Generation Cork City
Music Generation Cork City (MGCC) is a performance music education programme that works in partnership with community-based musicians and music organisations to bring music education into the lives of children and young people across Cork City.

musicgenerationcorkcity.com/programmes/
Traveller and Roma Groups – Music Generation Cork City