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Travellers' Tales (Donegal)

Travellers' Tales (Donegal)

Written by: Donegal Travellers Project
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Travellers' Tales is a short series of podcasts put together for the Donegal Travellers' Project in 2025 by the Donegal fiddler and broadcaster Martin McGinley. Travellers' lives in their own words. In the Travellers' language Cant, the series is called Pavees Taurying (Travellers Speaking).

© 2026 Travellers' Tales (Donegal) Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Travellers Tales - Horses Tales

    Travellers Tales - Horses Tales
    Mar 23 2026

    Ackie McGinley, who lives in Ramelton, has been described as a 'horse whisperer'. In this episode he recalls how one time he got his horse Big Bob to step in time to the music of passing bands at an 'Orange Walk'. Big Bob was a regular feature at wakes, weddings and weekends across the North-West and further afield. Maeve McIvor from Donegal Local Development Company joins the conversation.

    Not far away in Ballyarr, there's a chance to hear from Hugh Friel, who's also been involved with horses all his life. Hugh talks about harness-racing as a professional and for the fun of it - "it's like jumping out of an aeroplane", he says.

    And in Ballintra Ned O'Reilly remembers days on the road in the horse-drawn wagon. And how he'd go back to them in a heartbeat.
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    19 mins
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