Gypsy vs. Gypsy

The USA is chock full of different social groups, ethnic groups, gangs, etc.  In Ireland and the UK things are no different, but there is one group I was not familiar with until our move across the pond.

The Gypsies.

As an American the word gypsy conjures up images of old women in long-flowing skirts, heads covered by scarves, who are often viewed as outcast, beggars, and thieves.

These are Romani (or Romany, Roma) Gypsies, which is not exactly the same type of gypsy I am aiming to inform you of.  While Ireland does indeed play host to these types of Romani Gypsies there is another social group vying for the gypsy title.


I am talking about Irish Gypsies, or Travelers as they are more commonly referred to.  They are also sometimes called tinkers or knackers, which refers to services that were traditionally provided by them.  Tinkering being the mending of tinware (pots and pans) and knackering being the collection of dead or old horses for slaughter.  Pikey is yet another, but apparently more derogatory term for the travelers. Irish Travelers claim to be decedents of the aforementioned gypsies, but they have somehow morphed into something entirely different.

From this:

to this:

Irish Travelers are almost beyond my realm of explanation.  They are not exactly what Americans would call trailer trash, although upon fist glance that's what they appear to be. I had to ask a friend of mine to explain travelers to me.  The long and short of it is they live outside of mainstream society, travelling in caravans and often squatting on public land.  They maintain their own language, practice age-old traditions, and hold religion and virginity to the highest regard.


These apparent high moral standards had me scratching my head when I saw pictures of their children dressed like this:

This is a First Communion dress!!!

Not to mention they condone a practice called "grabbing" in which teenage boys can "grab" a girl and force a kiss upon her, and most are married by the age of 16! Which brings me to the real reason for this post!  If you enjoyed the clips I posted about Jedward a few weeks back you may just like this as well.  It is just as much of a train wreck!

"My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" is a behind the scenes look at the secret lifestyle and outlandish weddings of these travelers.  I believe the show has now made it's US debut, but if you're not interested in frying your brain cells watching this Toddlers in Tiaras meets Jersey Shore trash television let me help you out.  The only thing you really need to see are the outrageous dresses of both the brides, attendants, and even some of the guests. So I've collected a few pictures from the web in order to present you with this Gypsy Wedding (and 1st Communion) photo montage!