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Five Questions for Tullamore Tim

Tullamore Tim

Tullamore Tim

Tell us you don’t want Tim Herlihy’s job.

As the United States ambassador for Tullamore Dew, the second-largest Irish whiskey in the world, he has to travel from city to city sharing his knowledge about one of favorite spirits.

He’ll be in town Wednesday night, a guest of Irish Network-Philly at The Bards on Walnut Street, for a whiskey tasting and dinner. He’ll lead whiskey lovers through a tasting of three entries from the Tullamore line—10-year-old reserve, 12-year-old special reserve, and 10-year-old single malt. He’ll also talk about Irish whiskey, once second fiddle to other alcoholic beverages, has become one of the hottest-selling Irish exports.

We asked Herlihy to give us a sneak preview of his presentation. Here’s what he had to say.

Q. There are a lot of whiskeys in the world. How and why are Irish whiskeys different?
A. Irish whiskey is known for being a friendly spirit, smooth, sweet and approachable.

Q. When people taste an Irish whiskey, what should they be looking for? What should their mouths and noses be picking up? Maybe you could tell us what your far more experienced nose and mouth are picking up.
A. Most Irish whiskey is triple distilled, giving it an approachable and smooth taste profile, compared to Scotch, which tend to be more robust. With Tullamore Dew, it’s a triple distilled, triple-blend whiskey, giving it a smooth character, but it’s a whiskey made up of grain whiskey, which gives it a sweetness, malted barley which gives it great citrus fruit flavours, and pot still whiskey which creates a buttery, oily, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Q. What’s the audience for Irish whiskeys these days? IN-Philly seems to be a younger crowd (though certainly not exclusively), and I’m wondering if younger folks are part of a trend? That is to say, perhaps they go through their college and young adult years, and then they start to crave something more adult in character. Is any of the above true?
A. The new wave of whiskey drinker is enjoying Irish whiskey because of its taste profile, but also because Scotch (by comparison) is seen as a very serious drink. With Irish whiskey, there are no rules; it can be sipped neat, on the rocks, or mixed. The only rule with Irish whiskey is to drink it with friends! Scotch, on the other hand, is a more reflective drink to be had on your own by the fire, plotting the downfall of your enemies.

Q. Tell me about Irish whiskey as a category, Tullamore being the second largest distiller. How has its popularity grown, and how do you account for that?
A. Right now, Irish whiskey is the fastest-growing spirit in the world. Historically at the beginning of the 20th century, Irish whiskey accounted for 60 percent of all world whiskey sales, before suffering a tragic decline due to Prohibition, a trade embargo with the United Kingdom and other factors, which led to Scotch replacing it as the No. 1 whiskey. Today, Irish whiskey is entering a new renaissance with drinkers falling in love with its taste profile, and it’s sociable nature.

5. Tullamore is promoting “Irish True,” a campaign that urges Americans to forget shamrocks and leprechaun costumes, and to focus on the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day. (irishphiladelphia.com is a shamrock-free zone, so we appreciate the sentiment.) How are you and the folks at Tullamore suggesting we celebrate the occasion, and how is it different from how we typically do, awash in green beer?
A. There’s much more to being Irish than leprechauns, Lucky Charms and pots of gold. Here’s a couple of St.Patrick’s Day tips:

  • Kick off the day with a hearty, traditional Irish breakfast; it’s going to be a long day and you’ll need sustenance—my favorites include bacon rashers (real back bacon, if you can get it), both white and black pudding, fried eggs and a strong cup of Irish breakfast tea.
  • Take in a local St. Patrick’s Day parade; in Ireland, a parade can be found in a big city, complete with massive floats, right down to a simple tractor parade in a small village. Every city, town and village has its own parade on St. Patrick’s Day. In America it’s no different—go out there and show your support!
  • Catch some Irish entertainment; pull up a chair at your favorite pub and listen to a traditional session band.
  • Go out and find an Irish True bar or pub; forget the green beer and shamrocks on the wall; an Irish True establishment has its own character and way of doing things; there’s sense of community and camaraderie and, above all, friendship.
  • Have a St. Patrick’s Day toast at the ready; toasting is a big part of Irish culture; it should speak from the heart and is meant to be shared with those most important to you.
March 9, 2012 by
News, People

Honors for “Doc”

Parade officials Kathy McGee Burns and Michael Bradley, far right, pose with Mayor Michael Nutter, left, and Grand Marshal John J. Dougherty Jr. ,t he 2012 parade grand marshal.

As always, there’s a long day of ceremonies a few days before Philadelphia’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. But this one was longer than most. It was filled with accolades for this year’s Grand Marshal, John J. Dougherty Jr., business manager of IBEW Local 98, the electricians’ union, and a long-time fixture on the city’s political scene.

Saluting Dougherty were mayors (current Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and former Mayor Bill Green), politicos (including most of city council as well as the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives), clergy, local TV celebs, and family members (including Dougherty’s younger brother Kevin, a judge, who said he knew that Dougherty was destined to be a fundraiser when, as a young child, Kevin asked his big brother to hold his hand when he was scared one dark night and John replied, “Sure. . .for a quarter.”).

Dougherty defiantly repeated his mantra “I’m proud to be white, Irish, Catholic, union, and a Democrat” several times over the course of the day, though he said he’d been dogged by reporters that day who wanted to know, “Did you really say that?”

“I said, yes I did, and I’m going to say it again later,” Dougherty told the crowd at the Doubletree on Broad Street, where he was officially “sashed” as Grand Marshal, as he mimicked hanging up a phone.

“I am proud of those things,” he told the friendly, receptive audience. “That describes my father. Why would I not want to be like my father?”

Early in the day, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the second oldest Irish organization in the US, laid a wreath at city hall to honor Revolutionary-era patriots of Irish descent. The city erected a plaque on the west side of city hall acknowledging those men, but current construction force the ceremony to the north side of the building facing Market Street.

Also honored: Five men selected for the parade Ring of Honor for their efforts to preserve Irish heritage in the US. Read about them here.

View our photos of the events.

March 9, 2012 by
People

The 2012 Parade Ring of Honor

The Ring, from left, Joseph Kelley, Thomas O'Leary, Gerry Timlin, Grand Marshal John Dougherty Jr., Tom Higgins, and Bill Watson.

By Kathy McGee Burns

It is my privilege and pleasure as the President of the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association to choose a Ring of Honor. This is a select group of Irish/Irish Americans who have contributed to the continuance and preservation of Irish traditions. I am very proud to introduce you to them.

“It’s not the honor you take away with you but the heritage you leave behind.” – Branch Rickey

Thomas Higgins was born in Philadelphia to Irish-born parents: Tommy Higgins (Mountbellew, Co.Galway) and Peggy Kelly (Termon, Co.Donegal). When he was 10, his family moved back to Galway to raise their family of three sons, Tom, Sean and Mickey, back at the old homestead. Tom was a great athlete, excelling in soccer, basketball and Gaelic football. He often came back to Philadelphia to play football in the North America League. He also played for the Mayo, Donegal and Galway teams. winning championships for all.

After attending college at Holy Rosary (Mountbellew) and the University College of Cork where he earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts, he moved back to Philadelphia
to attend St. Joseph’s University and complete his education in accounting. He is now a realtor.

Tom, who is 6’3, red headed, freckled, and very handsome, still has the youthful look of an athlete. He is now the coach of Gaelic football team, Philadelphia Youth. He has dedicated his life to being a player, manager, and a coach.

I asked him why and he readily said, “Heritage. With the lack of Irish Immigration the sport needs life blood and American youth had to start playing it. Now every team has 2/3’s Irish descent and the rest just plain ordinary kids.”

Tom has three sons who practice what he preaches: Tommy,17, Connor, 15, and Ronan,12, are all Gaelic players. He has been married for 18 years to Dee (McAllister) and they also have a sweet, feisty 8-year-old daughter named Ciara.

Tom wins this honor for his preservation of Gaelic football.

“Among all men on earth, bards have a share of honor and reverence because the muse has taught them songs.” – Homer

Well known musician and pub owner, Gerry Timlin, was born in Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, to Joseph and Susan Timlin. His father was the town barber and carpenter. His father, he said, believed that one always needed two occupations, “just in case.” There were five other Timlin siblings: Seamus, Malachy, Niall, Shane and Eileen.

Gerry first gig was playing the coronet (at age 10) in the local marching band. At his first talent contest (age 14) his brother, Shane, lent him his guitar and after winning, Gerry said, “Holy Smokes, there are people who liked me.” He had caught the bug.

In the 50’s and 60’s there was a resurgence of Irish folk music which had a great influence on Gerry. So by the tender age of 16, Gerry was touring as soloist with a group called the Jolly Tinkermen and shared the stage with the likes of the Clancy Brothers, Dubliners and Paddy Reilly.

When he came to the United States in the 1970s, Tommy Makem, who was his greatest hero, gave him some advice, “Grab the audience by the throat and make them listen to you, talk them through every song.” Gerry paid attention. He is an enchanting, lovely man with a voice that charms your heart. He’s one-half of Timlin and Kane, a musical duo that’s been together for more than 30 years.

His restaurant, The Shanachie, in Ambler, is the fulfillment of a 30-year dream. Sadly, though, just last week Gerry and his partner announced that they had sold The Shanachie, though it’s unlikely that this is the end of Gerry’s career as a publican. He’s already looking to the future.

And he’ll never give up entertaining. “Bringing Irish traditions through music, song and story is very gratifying. When I do a show it is one of the greatest feelings to have an audience along with you knowing they’ll be back for more.”

Gerry is married to Lois and has two daughters, Sherri and Susan. Gerry wins this honor for his years of serving up Irish music—and some good food.

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Anonymous

Thomas J. O’Leary Jr., was born in Philadelphia, to Thomas and Elizabeth Whalen O’Leary. He was raised in the Westbrook Park section of Upper Darby attending Holy Cross Grammar School, Msgr. Bonner, St. Joseph’s University and the American Academy McAllisters Institute of Funeral Services. The family owns O’Leary’s Funeral Home.

Tommy, as he is affectionately known, has spent a lifetime giving, unselfishly, to many causes. He not only gives monetarily but physically and emotion
ally. There are not many ad books, sports teams, or good causes that do not have the O’Leary name attached to them in some way.

In the ‘80s, Tom and his wife, Carol, were involved with Project Children, an organization founded to provide much needed respites in the United States for children from Northern Ireland. Although they had 6 children of their own– Megan, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Margaret, Thomas, and Colleen–
Tom and his wife opened their home to many of these children to give them a break from the grim politics and violence surrounding them.

His dear friend, Parade chaplain Father Kevin Gallagher, said “Tommy O’Leary is a wonderful man who has served, faithfully and selflessly, the Irish community for five decades. His assistance to families at a most difficult period of their life has helped them cope.”

Tom loves his Irish heritage and especially the people for their happy-go-lucky, friendly ways. His own family has roots in Cork. Tom is a member of the Friendly Sons, AOH #4, and Knights of Columbus. Tommy wins this honor for his dedication to the Irish Community.

“It is with great pleasure that I accept this very generous honor on behalf of the Brehon Society, my dad, and all of the labor leaders, John Dougherty included, who have devoted their lives to the betterment of the American worker.” – JosephT. Kelly Jr.

That was the eloquent response from Joseph T. Kelley, Jr. Esq. when he accepted the invitation to be part of the 2012 Ring of Honor, so appropriate this year because the parade grand marshal is a union leader and the parade theme honors the American worker. “Labor” is in his blood.

Joe Kelley was raised in East Germantown, in Immaculate Conception Parish, by Helen (nee Murphy) and Joseph Kelley, Sr. His father was president of Local 113, IUE, International Union of Electrical Workers and president of the Philadelphia CIO.

Joe attended Villanova University and without knowing what career path he wanted to take, opted to go to Villanova Law School. However, the die had been cast for Joe from the beginning; because as his Dad had spent his life in labor relations, he would end up spending a large part of his legal life practicing union labor law.

Joe Kelley is President of the Brehon Law Society, which was founded in 1976 in order to foster the profession of law among individuals of Irish ancestry. This year under Joe’s tutelage and along with his co-chairs, JohnO’Malley, Esq. and Kevin Kent, Esq., an Irish solicitor, they successfully launched the U.S./Ireland Legal Symposium in Westport, Co.Mayo. This conference tackled critical legal issues faced by United States and Irish companies when conducting business at home and abroad. The keynote speaker was the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. In October 2012, Philadelphia will be hosting the 2nd Symposium.

Joe Kelley is married to Donna and they have two sons, Joseph the 3rd and Austin, and 2 grandchildren, Sophia and Joseph the 4th called Leo. The Kelley and Murphy Family have roots in Co. Mayo.

Joe wins this honor for building bridges between our home and our homeland.

“How come the bosses had silence on their lips as 57 Navvies were buried in a pit, no stone to mark their resting place, no one to mourn their passing.” Wally Page, “Duffy’s Cut”

There is a saying that beneath every mile of railroad track, there’s a dead Irishman. Well, in the case of Mile 59, the Duffy’s Cut of legend, there are actually 55 men and 2 women.

William E. Watson, PhD, head of the History Department at Immaculata University in Malvern, has made sure that the Irish workers from Duffy’s Cut will be mourned, buried and their resting spot memorialized by a beautiful 10-foot Celtic cross.

In 1832, 57 Irish laborers stepped off a ship, the John Stamp, which had come into the Philadelphia port. According to the ship’s log, they were from Donegal, Derry and Tyrone. They were hired by Philip Duffy to build a section of track, near Malvern, for the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad. Within 6 weeks they were all dead, mostly murdered…brutally. A small number of them had died from cholera but the rest were hunted down, some shot in the head, others beaten with shovel, but most buried in a common grave. Why? They were expendable; there was a strong prejudice against the Irish Catholics and there was a widely held belief that they would spread cholera.

Bill Watson was left paperwork from his grandfather who was secretary to four different presidents of the railroad that led him and his twin brother, Frank, to look for the last burial grounds of these ill-fated immigrants. He saw the injustice. “It’s like an echo through time. They weren’t meant to die there,” he said.

So began the long journey: targeting the exact spot, beginning the dig, fighting the bigotry, getting local cooperation and raising the money. And then they started to appear: coffin nails, buttons, tools, and at one point when Dr. Watson put his shovel into the ground, up popped a completely intact bowl of a clay pipe which was embossed with the words, “Erin Go Bragh,” or Ireland forever. Then, finally, they found the first bones.

No one in Ireland ever heard from these lost children again, but Bill Watson has made sure that they won’t ever be forgotten. The remains of at least some of them, are to be buried at West Laurel Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd on March 9. Watson and his colleagues can’t remove the other remains which are 30 feet down and too near the existing Amtrak tracks, though he hasn’t given that fight up quite yet. He feels that he was chosen by the spirits of the men from Duffy’s Cut, and he intends to do his best by them.

March 9, 2012 by
News, People

Good Weather for Philly's St. Patrick's Day Parade?

They partied hearty Thursday night at the CBS3 studios in Philadelphia. St. Patrick’s Day Observance Committee President Kathy McGee Burns and Parade Director Michael Bradley presented the parade’s Grand Marshal, labor leader John Dougherty, and the Ring of Honor

who will march in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, March 11.

The parade is broadcast on CBS3 and sister station, CW Philly, so the Channel 3 Eyewitness New team that also serves as its parade team joined invited party-goers at a buffet dinner with music (by most of the Celtic rock group, Blackthorn). On hand were anchors Susan Barnett and Chris May, meteorologist Kathy Orr along with 3’s newest weather reporter, Katie Bilo, traffic reporter Bob Kelly, consumer reporter Jim Donovan, and General Manager John Hightower.

We got our invites, attended the party, and captured at least some of the fun at this annual event that kicks off St. Patrick’s Month. Check out our photos.

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March 2, 2012 by
News, People

Good Weather for Philly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade?

They partied hearty Thursday night at the CBS3 studios in Philadelphia. St. Patrick’s Day Observance Committee President Kathy McGee Burns and Parade Director Michael Bradley presented the parade’s Grand Marshal, labor leader John Dougherty, and the Ring of Honor

who will march in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, March 11.

The parade is broadcast on CBS3 and sister station, CW Philly, so the Channel 3 Eyewitness New team that also serves as its parade team joined invited party-goers at a buffet dinner with music (by most of the Celtic rock group, Blackthorn). On hand were anchors Susan Barnett and Chris May, meteorologist Kathy Orr along with 3’s newest weather reporter, Katie Bilo, traffic reporter Bob Kelly, consumer reporter Jim Donovan, and General Manager John Hightower.

We got our invites, attended the party, and captured at least some of the fun at this annual event that kicks off St. Patrick’s Month. Check out our photos.

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March 2, 2012 by
News, People

Irish Ambassador Presents Business Awards

Irish Ambassador Michael Collins presents the award to Daniel Hilferty, CEO of Independence Blue Cross.

After congratulating Irish American Business Network founder Bill McLaughlin and his staff for their ability to pronounce the Irish word Taoiseach—tee-shuck, the traditional name for Ireland’s prime minister—at the group’s annual awards ceremony on Thursday in Philadelphia, Irish Ambassador Michael Collins told a story of how impressed he was when a group of Asian students he visited also pronounced the word accurately. Or so he thought.

“Then I happened to glance at the desks where they were sitting and written on each one was the word “T Shirt,’” he said, to the appreciative laughter of the more than 300 local business people who attended the annual Ambassador Awards luncheon at the Hyatt at the Bellevue in Philadelphia. “I thought, ‘Whatever works.’”

Then, Collins told the crowd, many of whom work for or do business with companies with Irish ties, what’s now working for the Irish. In the last few years, he said, Ireland “was in the news in ways we never wanted.” With peace in Northern Ireland, a new set of “troubles” beset the island country. After an economic boom, Ireland went bust, or very nearly, as unemployment rose to double digits, banking scandals made headlines daily, and Ireland became the first country in the Eurozone to declare it was in recession. Its debt was downgraded to junk status.

But, said Collins, Ireland has since become “the poster boy in terms of the effects of measures taken to try to bring the economy in line.” Austerity measures—still being protested all around the country—have made it possible to close the budget deficit in two years, Collins said. “It has taken determination and reslience. And the Irish are nothing if not resilience. It’s embedded in th

e Irish DNA.”

Some positive news to come out of Ireland: Exports are now larger than 100 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The country’s largest export customer is the US, which gets 1/5th of everything Ireland exports. Pharma, computer software, financial services, and agribusiness continue to be strong. Eli Lilly and PayPal are moving operations to Ireland, and Collins said that the country is about to get a new “investor that is very impressive indeed,” though he didn’t share the name.

Ireland is also on its way to become “more competitive,” he said, and tax rates for corporations remain tantalizingly low—12.5 percent.

“I attended an economic summit with President Clinton and he said it was ‘nuts not to invest in Ireland’—his words,” Collins said.

The Ambassador’s Award, presented annually to recognize a company that has furthered the goals of the Irish American Business Chamber by developing business between Ireland and the United States, was give to Shire Plc, a specialty biopharmaceutical company with 5,000 employees in 28 countries, including the US. Shire employs more than 500 people in its Chesterbrook facilities. CEO Angus Russell accepted the award on behalf of the company, where he started in 1999 as chief financial officer.
Daniel J. Hilferty, CEO of Independence Blue Cross, received the Taoiseach Award, which honors people of Irish descent who show compassion and leadership. Hilferty spearheaded the Healthy Hoops Program which uses basketball to teach health care consumers how to manage their health. He was also behind the donation of 2,500 toys to the Toys for Tots campaign by Independence when the Marine-backed program appeared to be faltering.

Timothy Chambers, filmmaker, founder of Tango Traffic, and former director of the Pennsylvania Film Office, received the Uachtaran Award, given annually to people who initiate cultural or economic alliances with Ireland. Chambers was the writer-director of “The Mighty Macs,” an inspirational film about the Immaculata College women’s basketball team that won the first national championship in women’s basketball. The movie starred Carla Gugino and David Boreanaz.

View our photos from the event.

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March 2, 2012 by
Dance, News, People, Sports

They DID Dance Like Stars

It had everything you could have wanted from a star-studded evening worthy of the Red Carpet: Talented performers, beautiful costumes, and even a wardrobe malfunction.

Don’t expect anything titillating. It was only Pat Bourke’s Elvis wig that came off during his final dance number with Carmel Donaghy who, in her white halter top and peroxide-blond Marilyn wig, did a more than fair impression of the ‘50s bombshell.

Delco Gaels coach Pat Bourke as Elvis with partner, Carmel "Marilyn Monroe" Donaghy

By any measure, the Delaware County Gaels Gaelic sports organization’s “Dancing Like a Star” fundraiser last Friday at Springfield Country Club was a rousing success. With more than 700 people in attendance at $40 a person and votes for the eight dancing couples costing $1 a pop, it appeared to be the mother of all fundraisers, sure to spawn a few copycats in the coming months.

The 16 volunteer dancers started practicing in January—some five days a week—and it showed. There were a few stumbles, one or two feet got stomped, and there was the wig incident, but the evening showcased grit, determination, and some real talent.

We were there, had a ball, and took lots of photos so you can be there virtually yourself.

March 1, 2012 by
History, People

Will They Go No More A-Roving?

A scene from the film, "Settling Down."

They’ve had many names: tinkers, travelers, gypsies, Lucht Siuil (“the walking people” in Irish), and Pavee, in their own tongue. There are only about 36,000 of them in Ireland and they’ve traded their distinctive horse-drawn carts for gleaming trailers and, increasingly, houses, just as they’ve given up tinsmithing and seasonal farm labor as 21st life encroaches on their centuries-old itinerant culture.

On Sunday, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will present the short film, “Settling Down,” a look at a small group of Irish travelers in Cork and how their identity and culture has been transformed as a result of bigger changes in Ireland.

Joseph Lennon, director of the Irish Studies Program at Villanova University, will be speaking about the film and the uncertain future facing the travelers. We spoke to Lennon this week.

What’s the film about?

It focuses on pretty localized incidents in Cork and right outside Cork City where the city corporation is trying to negotiate with a group of travelers about keeping some of their camp sites open and creating more open space and fields for their horses. One of the travelers asks many, many times, “Where can we go?” It seems like the big question in today’s Ireland. How are travelers going to find any place they can go? It’s a problem that endures. It’s about land. It’s about prejudice. There’s still a lot of fear of this pretty insulated community and what they do and what they’re about. As much as we know about them and studied them and talked to them, they’re a closed community with their own language, and people are fascinated by that.

Travelers are ethnic Irish. Why is there so much prejudice against them?

It’s half romanticism and half fear. Historically there has been this projection of the settled population, of us, onto this romantic itinerant group that seems to buck the rules of modernity. The truth is, for every incident of traveler theft there are hundreds of thousands of incidents of no theft, but things get magnified both in the media and our cultural imagination. You have to remember too that the population of Ireland had struggled to own their own land for hundreds of years after it was confiscated by the British. It was one of the goals of Irish immigrants to the United States and in Ireland to get land. They have a great passion for that; it’s seen as the most prized possession. For people who never aspired to that, there was a sense that they were the losers in life. Michael Hayes, a scholar in this area, calls it the dropout theory: They couldn’t make it in society so they dropped out. And as the documentary points out, the travelers were left out of Ireland’s economic boom times. They’re considered working class people who don’t have the same ambitions as settled people. They’re not seen as a different ethnic group or lifestyle, but a group that should assimilate and most travelers don’t want to assimilate. Their lifestyle and culture is to be on the road. Ireland has difficulty with multiculturalism. Only in the last 15 has Ireland had any immigrants. The immigrants who are coming to Ireland have brought awareness of the need for advocacy for the travelers.

What are their origins? I’ve read that they’re descended from ancient traveling poets or that they’re descendants of people turned out of their homes during the famine.

It’s difficult to say. There’s no absolute origin story for the travelers. Going back to the mid-17th century, there were these traveling bards or the Filid, people who would travel between districts or kingships as storytellers, bringing news, telling stories, acting as historians, doing genealogies, things that were very meaningful in those societies. It may be that the travelers picked up on that tradition, coopted it if you will, and picked up some of the stories and the oral culture. They are certainly more practiced in orality than, say, people who watch TV all the time, so there may be some truth to it.

I’ve also read that their language, shelta, can be traced back to that time.

Nowadays people have about 200 to 1,000 words of vocabulary and they mostly use it for bargaining. [Irish travelers trade in everything from dogs and horses to scrap metal.] A part of the language appears to be Norman Romany, a root of the language of Romany and what was to become English. Languages like shelta are actually what are considered “anti-language.” They’re there to obfuscate, to be intentionally not understood, which makes them useful in bargaining so people outside the community would not understand.

What do you think viewers will come away thinking after they’ve seen the film?

I hope they come away thinking that what’s going on with Irish travelers is much more complicated than they had guessed and the problems haven’t been solved for good reasons, including prejudice.

February 29, 2012 by