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Knife fight erupts at cemetery as families clash during two funerals

Armed gardaí and a helicopter unit descended on a suspected knife fight between two rival Traveller clans in a Galway cemetery on Thursday.

The incident left almost a dozen people hospitalised.

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Fighting broke out in Tuam cemetery after two funerals, one at Tuam Cathedral for Martin Ward at 11.30am before another at 1pm for Teresa Ward.

The deceased were not directly related.

Blood was seen on footpaths surrounding the cemetery and up to 11 people were rushed to hospital in five ambulances, one with severe slashes to their body.

One person was reportedly armed with a saw. Tuam councillor Joe Sheridan condemned the violence, saying: ‘They have let their family name down by their actions.’

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Priest feared someone would get killed during violent brawl at Galway funeral

Fr. ray flaherty expressed his shock after a violent brawl, reportedly a feud between traveller families, broke out at a funeral in co galway this week..

A Galway-based priest who officiated at a funeral that turned into a graveside brawl has said that it was his "worst ever experience" as a priest. 

Seven people were hospitalized due to the injuries they sustained during the brawl at a local cemetery on the Athenry Road in Tuam, County Galway, on September 22. 

Armed gardaí, an Army helicopter, and five helicopters were called to the scene as brawlers attacked with knives, slash hooks, and saws. It is believed that one victim was rushed to hospital with severe stab wounds. 

• Dublin priest slams glorification of criminality at gangster's funeral

Numerous publications report that the brawl related to an ongoing feud between two local Traveller families that had been escalating over recent months. The feud is not believed to be related to the families of the deceased. 

Fr. Ray Flaherty told the Irish Sun that members of the bereaved family, who were not involved in the brawl, had apologized for the incident. 

“I did the second funeral. I wasn’t aware of the background . . . I’ve always had a great time for the Travelling community," Fr. Flaherty said.

“Regardless of who they are, you treat everybody the same. I’ve always had a policy that if you meet people half way, they’ll always meet you the other half.

“I know some members of the family came up to me afterwards and were apologetic.”

Fr. Flaherty said he feared that someone would get killed during the brawl.

"I was really shocked by the whole thing. I tried to calm things with the few guards who were initially present, but you might as well be shouting in the wind," he told the Irish Sun. 

"It was my worst ever experience. I’ve heard about it happening in places, but it was shocking to see." 

• Thugs who shockingly knocked girl under Dublin train accused of prior attacks

An eye-witness who was attending a loved one's grave in the cemetery when the fight broke out described the brawl as "complete carnage" and told the Irish Independent that he had never seen anything like it. 

The unnamed witness said that there were two funerals in the cemetery on Wednesday and that a number of people remained after the first funeral had ended. 

"When the second funeral drove into the graveyard all hell broke loose," the witness told the Irish Independent. 

"I’ve never seen anything like it in my life- women screaming, kids running for cover, and their mothers shouting ‘Go behind the wall’.

"And next thing rocks started raining down on the people coming in the second funeral." 

The witness said that some brawlers ripped wooden crosses out of graves to use as weapons and added that he saw Fr. Flaherty begging people to stop. 

He said that he also saw paramedics assisting a man who had suffered a serious head injury and was "losing a lot of blood". 

Gardaí have confirmed that they are investigating the incident and arrested a male youth who attempted to flee the scene in possession of a knife. 

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Galway Traveller Movement has launched a new toolkit to help members of their community take action against racism, discrimination and hate crimes.

The kit outlines Travellers legal rights under the law, and how they can respond to the racism they experience.

GTM spokesperson, Nora Corcoran, says they have posted over 800 toolkits to members of the Traveller community in Galway City and County.

“Racism and discrimination are a violation of human rights. They are wrong, they are against the law, and they are bad for mental health. This toolkit aims to support our community in defending themselves against racism.”

Nora says research shows that 70% of Travellers experience discrimination on a daily basis. “And it’s getting worse, not better as more and more Travellers – including children and teenagers – become victims of hate crime.”

“The Government is failing to protect Travellers and it’s part of a general reluctance in Ireland to recognise the widespread discrimination experienced by our community.”

She points to Behaviour and Attitudes research which shows that over 80% of Irish people would not employ a Traveller.

“If this discriminatory view was based on someone’s gender, colour or sexuality, there would be a huge outcry.  But there’s barely a whimper about the 80% unemployment rate Travellers face as a result of such racist views.”

Nora is GTM’s Traveller Homes Now Campaign Coordinator, and she says employment is just one of many areas of discrimination. She cites some examples of what Travellers have to face.

On her Confirmation day, a young Traveller and her family were turned away from the hotel they’d reserved for dinner.  The staff told her they were ‘overbooked’.

Nora says lots of families have had similar experiences but this family took a successful case for discrimination against the hotel.

“These are unfortunately the things that we have to do as a community,” says Nora. “But claiming back the right to public spaces is the first step in holding those responsible to account for the hurt and damage caused.”

“We want to encourage more Travellers to use the law to defend their rights. So, this toolkit explains how to report hate crimes to the Gardaí and how to pursue incidents of racism and discrimination.”

The toolkit also emphasises how important it is for Travellers to record the details of each incident. “This increases the chances of taking a successful case, and highlighting the level of racism our community faces.”

Galway Traveller Movement says discrimination against Travellers in Ireland is acknowledged at the EU level.

The European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has expressed concerns about the accommodation conditions of Travellers.

Young children and their families continue to live in appalling, unsanitary and unsafe conditions, they said in a 2022 report.

The ECRI and the Irish Human rights and Equality Commission has also spoken out about the need to legislate against hate crimes to protect Travellers.

“The Government needs to take action to protect our community and support zero tolerance for racism and hate crimes against us,” says Nora Corcoran.

“Firstly, they need to ensure the full implementation of the National Action Plan Against Racism. This plan recognises the specificity of the racism experienced by the Traveller community. And, secondly,  they need to enforce meaningful hate legislation.

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To challenge discrimination and racism experienced by the Traveller community in Galway city and county, to challenge the status quo and to empower members of the Traveller community to take action to realise Traveller rights.

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A social movement for greater equality needs a sustained sense of direction and a view of how we can achieve the necessary economic and social changes. The key is to map out ways in which the new society can begin to grow within and alongside the institutions it may gradually marginalise and replace. That is what making change is really about. Rather than simply waiting for government to do it for us, we have to start making it in our lives and in the institutions of our society straight away

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LIVE: Major Galway crash sees road close as gardai and helicopter at serious three-car collision

One person was taken to hospital for their injuries

• Updated 17:50, 6 SEP 2024

Gardaí and emergency services, including a helicopter, are at the scene of a three-vehicle road traffic collision in east Co Galway.

The incident occurred at around 11:30am on Friday morning 6 September 2024 at St. Joseph's Road, Portumna along the R352 and near the entrance to the Portumna Forest Park and Castle Demense.

One person was injured and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Both lanes were closed as a large cohort of emergency services attend the scene, Gardaí report the road has now reopened.

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Eyewitnesses passing the scene after the crash report a helicopter at the scene. It is not yet known if any injuries were sustained during the incident.

An An Garda Síochána spokesperson told Galway Beo: "Gardaí and Emergency Services attended the scene of a three vehicle road traffic collision on the R352 in Portumna, Co. Galway today at approximately 11.30am.

"One person was taken to Portiuncula University Hospital for treatment. The road has since reopened."

This is a LIVE article, updates will be posted below...

Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of a multi-vehicle road traffic collision along a major route in Co Galway on Thursday 5 September .

The incident occurred after 9am along the N17/N83 north of Claregalway and involved three vehicles. The road was closed to traffic as Gardaí and emergency services rushed to the scene, and lanes remain closed in the area.

The incident occurred along the N17/N83 near the junction with Corofin at Tawnaghmore. Gardaí confirmed that three people were hospitalised with what they described as non-life threatening injuries.

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A second 'bad' crash has been reported in Co Galway on Friday with Gardaí and ambulance services attending the scene

The incident occurred after 3pm on Friday 6 September at the junction near Waterview, Turloughmore, Co Galway.

One injured in three-car collision, Gardaí report

"Gardaí and Emergency Services attended the scene of a three vehicle road traffic collision on the R352 in Portumna, Co. Galway today at approximately 11.30am.

Emergency services are still at the scene, a stretch of the R352

Gardaí and emergency services, including a helicopter, are at the scene of a major road traffic collision in east Co Galway.

The incident occurred after midday on Friday 6 September 2024 at St. Joseph's Road, Portumna along the R352 and near the entrance to the Portumna Forest Park and Castle Demense.

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Travellers in theatre – challenging discrimination with Night Shift

The voices, stories and creativity of the Traveller community are  often drowned out by the prejudice Irish society holds against them. Although institutions are slowly cracking open their doors to the indigenous Irish community, it is clear that this is happening all too slowly. There comes a point when breaking down this proverbial door is more effective than waiting for society to welcome t hem in. This is precisely what the all-Traveller cast hoped to do in their performance of the play Night Shift . Claiming their space in Galway city’s Mick Lally Theatre, three Traveller actors took to the stage to share their story.  

Authentic representation

Before their final performance, the cast and crew highlighted the importance of accurate representation of the Travellers in theatre. Irish Traveller director Thomas Connors expressed his dedication to finding actors within the community to do justice to Night Shift . “I wanted an all-Traveller cast. I wanted to finally see Traveller women actually play Traveller women,” he said.  

He emphasised that it’s time for his community to be able to take ownership of their narrative and reveal the diverse reality of the lives of Irish Travellers.  

Christine Collins, who played Noreen in the production, expanded on this sentiment saying: “I think it is a very important thing for our community to know that it’s okay to be a Traveller and a woman and be an actress.”    

Night Shift was written by Irish Traveller playwright and activist Rosaleen McDonagh as part of Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures . This festival  aims to celebrate nomadic communities in Galway through cultural awareness and creativity.  

For actor Mary McDonagh, who took on the role of Noreen’s mother in the production, the festival and Night Shift are about “empowering people in the community to go out there and create”. To her, the Traveller community exemplifies creativity, and she is adamant that they should be afforded the opportunity to be true to themselves in creative spaces .  

Mary   point e d out ho w productions such as Ni ght Shift have paved the way for increased representation of Travellers in theatre. “T o have a playwright within the community that is also a Traveller—it’s good for herself, but it’s also good for the community because we have that step forward within the arts,” said Mary .

Complicated lives

Night Shift is an exploration of the inter-ethnic relationship between Irish Traveller Noreen and her Polish partner Piotr. This play navigates the complexities that arise from their clash of cultures and depicts Noreen’s turmoil when faced with the tension between society’s expectations and her own cultural norms.  

In this hour-long play, Piotr, Noreen and Noreen’s mother offer a glimpse into the Irish Traveller experience within their community and outside of it.    

Mary shared her own experience battling prejudice as a Traveller in Irish society: “People say ‘when did you start acting?’—the day I was born. Because we always had to be different for society and put on that different persona.” This pressure to assimilate into Irish society conflicts with their culture and has damaging effects on the identities of Travellers. So, why does this pressure exist?

Mary noted how the discrimination that the Traveller community faces comes down to unchallenged ignorance. Their culture is continually misconceived because it is not well represented. This allows Irish society to perpetuate their prejudgment toward the Traveller community rather comfortably. Mary is optimistic that art like Night Shift will encourage people to acknowledge and confront this normalised prejudice. She referenced a line in the play, to sum up her point: “They think we are a simple people, but we have such complicated lives.”

Christine also shared her hopes for the legacy of Night Shift saying: “If nothing else, it is going to give the people in the audience that aren’t Travellers an insight into a community that they may not know that much about.” She went on to explain that it  may also have the potential to help toward eradicating the stigma faced by Irish Travellers. “Who knows, we might change their preconceived ideas,” she said.    

Breaking barriers

Christine expressed the reason she got involved in Night Shift was that it offered an important opportunity to work alongside other Traveller actors to “do something that hasn’t been done”. 

“This festival is taking the time out to have a female Traveller write a script and then, for the first time in any of her plays, have an all-Traveller cast. And if anything, that is a step in the right direction.” Christine added.

She anticipates that the production will open doors for other Traveller creatives to find a place within the arts where they are judged solely on their talents. Her final wish for their last showing of the play was that their team will do the script justice “as actors, not just Travellers”.  

Sharing this sentiment, Mary explained that the communities we grow up in are just one side of the many facets people have. Although being a Traveller is an important part of her identity, it is not the entirety of who she is. “I always say I’m an Irish person. I’m just lucky that I was born into a Traveller family,” she said.  

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