Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Inside Ireland’s Traveler Culture: 35 Unforgettable Photos By Joseph-Philippe Bevillard
Joseph-Philippe Bevillard is a French-American photographer based in Ireland, best known for his striking documentary-style portraits. With a background in fine art and photography, his work focuses on people living on the fringes of society, captured through an honest, intimate lens.
In 2010, Bevillard began a project that would come to define much of his career—documenting the lives of Irish Travelers, also known as Mincéirs. These vibrant and deeply human portraits have received international praise and earned him awards from All About Photo, Budapest International, Fotonostrum, and beyond. In this article, we’ve collected some of his most powerful photographs from the Irish Travellers series, the Horse Fair series, and more.
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
For over ten years, Joseph-Philippe Bevillard has dedicated his project to documenting the lives of Irish Travelers. Throughout this time, he has forged deep connections with the community by first earning their trust and showing genuine respect. Historically marginalized and often misunderstood, Irish Travellers have faced discrimination and negative portrayals in the media for decades. Recognizing the value they place on photographs—especially since many old images are lost or damaged due to their nomadic lifestyle—Bevillard offered them photos in exchange for their time, honoring their cultural significance.
RELATED:
Bevillard’s work also highlights the significant challenges within Traveler communities. These include higher rates of poverty, health problems, and tragically, suicide, all contributing to a life expectancy shorter than that of the settled population.
Intrigued by their rich cultural heritage, once deeply nomadic, he explores their concerns about the erosion of their identity as pressures mount for assimilation into modern Irish society. While a minority have opted to settle in government housing, most prefer to maintain their traditional traveling way of life.
#6
#11
bodhisayumi 4 months ago
Yeah makeup is wonderful. However I hope these beautiful young ladies know how gorgeous they are without the makeup and revealing clothing. :)
#12
bodhisayumi 4 months ago
They all look lovely. I agree, if you have a jacket on your child should have socks on. Sure they kick them off, put em back on lol.
#13
#14
KrazyChiMama 5 months ago
Been there done that…flashback to my grandmother wiping my face with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth…the smoke would be burning my eyes and nose. I remember trying to hold my breath until she was done. This was 1979-1980 so smoking was still widely accepted indoors in most place.
#15
PeepPeep the duck 5 months ago (edited)
I am so glad my grandfather moved to Australia and not to the UK or Ireland from east europe, he was really against this, the lack of education for girls and just all the sexualising etc. our culture really is feral and nothing like a kids movie with crystal ball 😂
#16
Mona Mendoza 5 months ago
Treating little girls like little adult dolls...so much for keeping little girls, little girls.
#26
#28
Add New Image
What do you think ?
lenka 5 months ago
My first thought is that they all look unhappy. No one is smiling. There is no joy. In any photo.
Lost Panda 5 months ago
I am about to sound very ignorant, but... Are these who Brad Pitt's character's people from Snatch are based off of?
Gayla Sue Mendez 5 months ago
Very beautiful and happy looking people. Since there was a wedding they were all dressed up. They appear to live in some form of poverty, but life if a g***y queen is still all goid.
Mama Clare 5 months ago
Ah sure look, they're their own people and they get a bad rep but the majority are lovely.. Now if we could get the ladies to relax a bit on the tan, eyelashes and cartoon eyebrows...
Janelle Collard 5 months ago (edited)
Looks like someone bought ONE eyebrow stencil and everyone used it. 😉 A few years ago there was a show on US tv - ""My Big Fat Gyp-see Wedding." Some of the wedding gowns - whoa!
Leslie Victor 5 months ago
Out of context these are really facinating, but the culture these folks are adhering to seems to be really deviant. Women and girls who are hyper sexualized and the boys all look super puritanical. Very sad and creepy
Mona Mendoza 5 months ago
I respect other people's cultures and enjoy learning what thier cultures entails. YET! This culture is absolutely sad. No real education for both genders, girls are basically there to clean, cook, and birth babies and take care of other children. Boys are allowed to do whatever they want. No proper discipline, no respect for the law and no real stability. Just a culture based off of superficiality of being better than each other's current possessions. Not to mention the abuse of smoking, drinking, and partying. That whole culture is a revolving door of neglect and abuse.
Linda Johnson 4 months ago
THIS WHOLE POST IS SO DISTURBING AND SOMEONE IN IRELAND NEEDZ TO STOP THE ABUSE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS....they ALL look miserable and then they grow into miserable women....this is a disgusting life....in the 21st Century??? WHYYYYY?
Gina Cavalli-Boehne 5 months ago
They had a program on tlc several years ago about a similar culture. It was quite fascinating. I never knew anything like this ever existed, much less in this day amd time.
lenka 5 months ago
My first thought is that they all look unhappy. No one is smiling. There is no joy. In any photo.
Lost Panda 5 months ago
I am about to sound very ignorant, but... Are these who Brad Pitt's character's people from Snatch are based off of?
Gayla Sue Mendez 5 months ago
Very beautiful and happy looking people. Since there was a wedding they were all dressed up. They appear to live in some form of poverty, but life if a g***y queen is still all goid.
Mama Clare 5 months ago
Ah sure look, they're their own people and they get a bad rep but the majority are lovely.. Now if we could get the ladies to relax a bit on the tan, eyelashes and cartoon eyebrows...
Janelle Collard 5 months ago (edited)
Looks like someone bought ONE eyebrow stencil and everyone used it. 😉 A few years ago there was a show on US tv - ""My Big Fat Gyp-see Wedding." Some of the wedding gowns - whoa!
Leslie Victor 5 months ago
Out of context these are really facinating, but the culture these folks are adhering to seems to be really deviant. Women and girls who are hyper sexualized and the boys all look super puritanical. Very sad and creepy
Mona Mendoza 5 months ago
I respect other people's cultures and enjoy learning what thier cultures entails. YET! This culture is absolutely sad. No real education for both genders, girls are basically there to clean, cook, and birth babies and take care of other children. Boys are allowed to do whatever they want. No proper discipline, no respect for the law and no real stability. Just a culture based off of superficiality of being better than each other's current possessions. Not to mention the abuse of smoking, drinking, and partying. That whole culture is a revolving door of neglect and abuse.
Linda Johnson 4 months ago
THIS WHOLE POST IS SO DISTURBING AND SOMEONE IN IRELAND NEEDZ TO STOP THE ABUSE OF THE LITTLE GIRLS....they ALL look miserable and then they grow into miserable women....this is a disgusting life....in the 21st Century??? WHYYYYY?
Gina Cavalli-Boehne 5 months ago
They had a program on tlc several years ago about a similar culture. It was quite fascinating. I never knew anything like this ever existed, much less in this day amd time.
You May Like 50 Amazing Pics Of Our World You Probably Haven’t Seen Before 64 Of The Most Famous Photographers In History 50 Self Portrait Ideas To Step Up Your Insta Game
Shelly Fourer
Viltė Domkutė
Eligijus Sinkunas
Related on Bored Panda
