|
Ireland is a very small country, both in area and population. It is not noted as a country with substantial minorities, especially eyhnic minorities. Ireland is a country that is strongly Catholic and relatively homogeneous. Thus minorities stand out more in Ireland than many other countries. The country separated from Britain before many Empire ethnic hroups began emigrating in large numbers. In addition until rlatively recently, the Irish econmy was weak and did not attract immigrants. The historic flow has been the Irish emigrating to other countries, especially America and Britain. There are, however, several small minorities in Ireland. The most important is what is known as the the Travelling community. One source estimates that there are more than 20,000 Travelers in Ireland. They are primarily the Pavee who in Irish are called the an Lucht Siúil. Some groups of Pavee also live in Britain. Gypsies and Pavee are culturally similar, both nomad peoples, but they have different origins, languages, and cultures. The Pavee are ethnically Irish with blond or tawny hair. There are also small numbers of blacks, both from Africa itself and the Caribbeans, probably totaling around 20,000 people. In addition there is a small Asian community. There is a small Jewish community of about 3,000 people. Ireland was neutral in World War II. Ireland did not offer refuge to Jewish refugees and was notably silent about NAZI attrocities and the Holocaust. Some Irish Jews have emigrated to America. In addition there are a number of asylum seekers and refugees. Unlike many European countries there seem to be few Muslims in Ireland. While not an ethnic minority, Protestants are a religious minority. The Catholic Protesrant religious divide, however, is not as sharp in the Republic as it is in Northern Ireland.
The most important Irish minority is what is known as the the Travelling community. One source estimates that there are more than 20,000 Travelers in Ireland. They are primarily the Pavee who in Irish are called the an Lucht Siúil--the walking people. They refer to themselves as Minceir or Pavees in their own language. Some groups of Pavee also live in Britain and the United States. Gypsies and Pavee are have some similar characteristics , both nomad peoples, but they have different origins, languages, and cultures. The Pavee appear ethnically Irish with blond or tawny hair. The origins of the Travellers is an interesting and largely unanswered historical question. There is some indication that groups of Irish adopted the Traveling life style over various historical periods.
Some authors claim there were nomafic groups at a very early point in Irish history (5th century AD). The written record establishes the name 'Tynkler' and 'Tynker' being used for groups of nomads who maintained a separate identity, social organization, and dialect (12th century).
One popular theory is that the Travellers were descended from Catholic landowners and labourers who were made homeless by Oliver Cromwell's military campaign in Ireland (17th century). The Potato Famine was probably another major contributor (1840). The Traveler origins is difficult to determine because there is no written Traveler record. We know of no DNA studies on the Travelers which might give some indication as to origins. Here we see a Pavee group in 1966 (figure 1). The European Parliament Committee of Enquiry on Racism and Xenophobia found them to be among the most discriminated-against ethnic groups in Ireland.
There are also small numbers of blacks, both from Africa itself and the Caribbeans, probably totaling around 20,000 people.
In addition there is a small Asian community.
Ireland was not part of the Roman Empire. As a result there is no known record of Jews in Ireland until the post-Roman Christian era. As in most of Europe, few records exist on the early medieval era. The first known Jew to reach Ireland appears to have been merchants from Normandy (1079). Tgere are occassional references to Jews, inclusing a doctor, suggesting that a small number of Jews were living in Ireland (12th century) and references confirming the exitence of a small community, probanly in Dublin (13th century). These Jews presumably were expelled when Englnd expelled its Jews (1290). There is no record of the course of events in Ireland or what happened to the Irish Jews. (Many of the English Jews were murdered in the process of expullsion.) There are no further references to Jews in Ireland until Spain and Porugal expelled their Jews (1492). A small group of Portuguese Jews apparently established a small community along the southern coast (1496). Occasional references to Irish Jews are noted in subsequent centuries. They established links with other Sephardic communities in London. one report indicated there were 40 Jewish families in Dublin (1745). Legally Jews in Ireland and England were outside the law as the royal expullsuion order was still theoretically in force. Some consideration of naturalizing Jews took plave, but not action was taken (18th century). Legal changes did occur (18th century). Small numbers of Russian Jews arrived in Ireland as a result of the Russian pogroms that drove huge numbers of Jews to America. By the early 20th century, the Jewish population reached about 5,000 people, many from Lithuania (a Russian province). An anti-Semitic boycott was organized in Limerick (1900s), but this seems to have been an aberation. Ireland was neutral in World War II. Ireland did not offer refuge to Jewish refugees and was notably silent about NAZI attrocities and the Holocaust. There is today a small Jewish community of about 3,000 people. Some Irish Jews have emigrated to America.
In addition there are a number of asylum seekers and refugees.
Unlike many European countries there seem to be few Muslims in Ireland. >nr>
While not an ethnic minority, Protestants are a religious minority. The Catholic Protesrant religious divide, however, is not as sharp in the Republic as it is in Northern Ireland.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the main: Main Irish page]
[Return to the main: Main Gypsey page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Essays]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossary]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
