Art & Advocacy
An exhibition for Cork Traveller Pride Week 2026
Cork Traveller Pride Week (running alongside national celebrations in May 2026) is a vibrant festival celebrating Irish Traveller culture, heritage, and identity as integral to Cork's community. Curated by the Cork Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) and partners, it features free community events like flag-raisings, heritage talks, and family fun days to promote positive visibility.
The Glucksman’s showcase, Art & Advocacy, coincides with Traveller Pride Week and reflects on projects developed with the Traveller community in the museum over the past decade. These projects include:
Cork Travellers’ Flag
In 2018, members of Cork Traveller Visibility Group and Cork Travellers Women’s Network were invited to The Glucksman to work with artists Helen O’Keeffe and Claire Coughlan on the design and creation of the first Cork Travellers’ flag. In a historic moment for the city, the flag was raised over Cork City Hall during Traveller Pride Week.
Meelagh Creative Project
The Meelagh Girls’ Creative Project in 2021 saw teenagers explore their cultural heritage through large-scale artworks and music. The mural created by the group focused on unity, friendship, and tradition, and transformed the appearance of their community hub.
In Touch with Tradition
As part of Cork Heritage Week in 2018, The Glucksman showcased the creativity of local Traveller girls in the exhibition In Touch with Tradition. The young participants from the Spring Lane halting site created portraits, paintings, and sculptures that explored the challenges the Traveller community faces in maintaining its heritage and traditions in the 21st century.
Access All Areas
Access All Areas: Snapshots of a Day in University College Cork was an exhibition of photography by secondary school students who visited the university as part of the Traveller Student Engagement Initiative.
In 2022, The Glucksman was one of fifteen organisations in Cork City to be recognised at the inaugural Traveller Ally Awards. The Traveller Ally Award recognises the work of organisations and also serves as a signal to the Traveller community that these organisations respect Traveller culture and are open to working with and supporting it.
