This site was the campsite in the 1970’s of a man known locally as ‘Carthy the Tinker’. Carthy was a member of the Traveller Community who spent a few months every year in Silvermines and is remembered with affection in the village. He was a lone Traveller, known for his smart appearance.
The term ‘tinker’ was originally drawn from the trade of tinsmithing, for which Traveller people were famous. The term was in common usage in the 1970’s, not necessarily an insulting term at the time. ‘Travellers’ is the term preferred by the Traveller Community.
After the death of Carthy, the local Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) converted this piece of waste ground into a Rose Garden, now a Shrub Garden.
Source/ Local conversations, participating artist research & writer’s observations.
Artwork/ Sally Anne McFadden.
01/Front
‘Carthy the Tinker’ in the 1970’s, Image lent by Tommy Hickey.
01/Back
Sally Anne McFadden carried out a long-term art project with the Traveller Community in Limerick. The verse reproduced here, A Wob’s Swurcan, is a version of the Irish National Anthem in Cant, a language spoken by the Traveller Community.
