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Where Childhood Runs Free: 29 Irish Traveler Kids And Their Animals
Children and animals often share a natural bond, and photographer Michele Zousmer captures that connection in a powerful way. In this series, she turns her lens toward Irish Traveller kids, showing tender moments between them and the animals they grow up with.
These photos offer a glimpse into a world that’s rarely seen. With honesty and care, Zousmer highlights the strength, innocence, and deep relationships that shape childhood in Traveller communities, especially through the eyes of their youngest members and the creatures they love.
More info: Instagram | michelezousmer.com | Facebook
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#2
"Unconditional love."
#4
"Horses are very important to Irish Traveller men. Here, a young boy gets his first horse. Loving and caring for horses starts young. "
#8
"Boys learn to take care of horses at a very young age. A special bond. Teaching responsibility and love."
#16
"James and Charlotte, when I first met them with their protective dog."
Motivated sloth 4 months ago
The rope around her neck looks a little tight, it makes me uncomfortable. Unless he’s pulling against a rope or chain I can’t see.
#18
"Pa got a new horse. Michael got a new puppy. Horses and dogs are loved. Better than toys. Teaches responsibility."
#21
"When you're as beautiful as your puppy. Many Irish Traveller children have puppies as pets. "
#24
"Brand new puppies. She was so excited! Mom wasn’t happy!"
#25
"Home from school. It was an OK day! Teacher not very nice? Government housing for Irish Travellers."
#26
"Mary is 14 now. She is the oldest of 11. I met her when she was 9. Beautiful, smart, and kind."
Mabelbabel 4 months ago
Beautiful, smart and kind. That'll get her nowhere when she's forced to leave school at 15 and marry at 16. Traveller girls can't aspire to anything different-they don't go to college and working outside the home is seen as shameful because it implies that the man can't provide for his family. Her life expectancy is also about 15 years less than any other ethnicity in Ireland.
#29
"Boys love their horses. Horses are a big part of their lives since they were once responsible for pulling the wooden bow-top caravans. Caring for them, training them, riding or driving them from a cart—they require lots of time and love."
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What do you think ?
Peppy 4 months ago
I know this isn’t going to be a popular take on this but there’s an awful lot of animal neglect that goes on in these communities, it’s not all idyllic
Apatheist Account2 4 months ago
Travellers are not popular in the UK. They come with a reputation for destruction and lawlessness. They've even committed the ultimate English sin of taking over a cricket pitch. There was a recent video of a farmer covering the field in slurry in order to make them move on. No-one wants them on their field. Don't even get me started on Brad Pitt's accent in Snatch!
XenoMurph 4 months ago
The farmer was in France. The lifestyle has become unsustainable as common land and "wasteland" has become vanishingly rare. I know there are some good people from travelling families. I live next door to one. Great neighbours. Sadly the criminal ones give the rest a bad name.
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How about no 4 months ago (edited)
Give me the hate but why does each and every kid in this pictures just look dirty? Is it the lighting? Every face looks grimey.
Kit Black 4 months ago
A traveler's home is rather small, so the kids spend a lot of the day outside playing - kids who spend the day outside playing tend to get dirty. This used to be normal. When I was growing up, it was not considered to be disgusting or weird if your kid was dirty at the end of the day - we had baths before dinner, then an hour with mum& dad, then bedtime.
Load More Replies... Peppy 4 months ago
I know this isn’t going to be a popular take on this but there’s an awful lot of animal neglect that goes on in these communities, it’s not all idyllic
Apatheist Account2 4 months ago
Travellers are not popular in the UK. They come with a reputation for destruction and lawlessness. They've even committed the ultimate English sin of taking over a cricket pitch. There was a recent video of a farmer covering the field in slurry in order to make them move on. No-one wants them on their field. Don't even get me started on Brad Pitt's accent in Snatch!
XenoMurph 4 months ago
The farmer was in France. The lifestyle has become unsustainable as common land and "wasteland" has become vanishingly rare. I know there are some good people from travelling families. I live next door to one. Great neighbours. Sadly the criminal ones give the rest a bad name.
Load More Replies... How about no 4 months ago (edited)
Give me the hate but why does each and every kid in this pictures just look dirty? Is it the lighting? Every face looks grimey.
Kit Black 4 months ago
A traveler's home is rather small, so the kids spend a lot of the day outside playing - kids who spend the day outside playing tend to get dirty. This used to be normal. When I was growing up, it was not considered to be disgusting or weird if your kid was dirty at the end of the day - we had baths before dinner, then an hour with mum& dad, then bedtime.
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