Oein DeBhairduin explained

Oein DeBhairduin
Birth Place:Tuam, County Galway
Nationality:Irish
Known For:writer, activist

Oein DeBhairduin is an Irish Traveller activist, educator, administrator, and writer. He is the co-founder of LGBT Tara (Traveller and Roma Alliance).

Publications

In September 2020, DeBhairduin published Why the moon travels, a collection of folktales from the Irish Traveller community retold. The book is illustrated by Leanne McDonagh, an artist and Traveller. It incorporates elements of the Gammon language.[1] [2] DeBhairduin collected over 100 stories, with 20 being included in this volume. It is believed to be the first book written and illustrated by Travellers about Traveller folklore. DeBhairduin has spoken about the difficulties of transitioning these oral stories to the written form, and the complications which arise regarding authority. The book was published and co-edited by Fionnuala Cloke and Gráinne O'Toole of Skein Press, who first encountered DeBhairduin writing on his blog, Keeping A Campfire. DeBhairduin consulted with his family and friends about the stories as they appeared in the final text.[3]

He took part in the Cúirt Festival in April 2021.[4]

In 2022, DeBhairduin co-published Weave, a collection of Solstice Stories along with Deirdre Sullivan, an Irish YA award writer. The book is illustrated by Yingge Xu, a Chinese ink brush artist.

In 2023, DeBhairduin published Twiggy Woman, a collection of ghost stories rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community and illustrated by the renowned Helena Grimes. These chilling tales, collected by Oein from Traveller folklore are re-envisioned and retold for modern times.

In 2024, he published a second book about the Irish Traveller community: The Slug and the Snail. This book is a tale rooted in the oral tradition of the Traveller community and illustrated by Olya Anima.

Activism

DeBhairduin is active in a number of campaigns and voluntary groups. He is co-founder of LGBT Tara (Traveller and Roma Alliance), and has spoken on numerous occasions about the lack of support for members of the Traveller community who are LGBT+.[5]

In 2021, he took part in the Children's Books Ireland Mind Yourself Mental Health and Wellbeing Reading Guide campaign aimed at children under 12 in 2021.[6] He spoke about the experiences of minorities in Ireland regarding institutional racism during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

Awards

In 2019, DeBhairduin won the Traveller Pride Award for Enterprise and Employment.[8] [9] DeBhairduin and McDonagh were awarded a Judges' Special Award prize at the 2021 Children's Books Ireland for Why the moon travels.[10] DeBhairduin was awarded the Creative Places Tuam inaugural Thinking on Tuam Artist Residency in 2020.[11]

Personal life

Oein DeBhairduin was born near Tuam, County Galway in 1985. DeBhairduin attended St Jarlath's College, in Tuam before entering NUI Galway to study psychology. After graduation he worked as a clerical officer. In 2017, he moved to Clondalkin, Dublin. He worked at the Clondalkin Travellers' Training Centre as manager and employment director.[12] In 2018, he became the first Traveller to work in the Oireachtas, working in Senator Colette Kelleher's office. In 2020, he was working as the manager of the Education Centre in Cloverhill Prison, Clondalkin. As of February 2022 he is the Traveller Culture Collections Development Officer with the National Museum of Ireland.[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: Murphy . Peter . 'If you are nomadic, your songs and tales become national' . 10 June 2021 . The Irish Times . en.
  2. News: Colleran . Mia . Why the Moon Travels by Oein DeBhairduin: Traveller folktales usher readers into another way of life . 10 June 2021 . Irish Independent . 12 September 2020 . en.
  3. News: Corrigan . Donal . A New Book of Traveller Folklore Is Rooted in the Oral Tradition . 10 June 2021 . Dublin Inquirer . 9 September 2020.
  4. News: Cúirt Festival - watch the Opening Night Event . 10 June 2021 . 22 April 2021 . en.
  5. News: Warde . Martin . LGBT+ Travellers: 'A lot of the community are ignorant towards the trans issue' . 10 June 2021 . The Irish Times . 25 April 2021 . en.
  6. News: Mind Yourself: Resources to help mind children's mental health . 10 June 2021 . 27 April 2021 . en.
  7. News: Bray . Allison . Pandemic triggers a wave of racist attacks and slurs says INAR in latest report . 10 June 2021 . Irish Independent . 23 March 2021 . en.
  8. Web site: Inspiring Winners of 9th Traveller Pride Awards Pavee Point . Pavee Point . 10 June 2021.
  9. News: Aodha . Gráinne Ní . Ireland's Got Talent singer and 16-year-old Mayo activist honoured at Irish Traveller Awards . 10 June 2021 . TheJournal.ie . 20 May 2019 . en.
  10. News: Bryan . Mike McGrath . Cork woman recognised for her illustration work in kids' book awards . 10 June 2021 . Irish Examiner . 25 May 2021 . en.
  11. Web site: Inaugural Thinking on Tuam Resident Artist Oein DeBhaurduin. Creative Places Tuam . 16 June 2021.
  12. News: Leonard . Sue . Beginner's Pluck: Oein DeBhairduin 'felt a responsibility' to tell Traveller stories . 10 June 2021 . Irish Examiner . 2020-10-17 . en.
  13. Web site: After nine years as Centre Manager in St Olivers/ Cloverhill - off to new challenges and horizons - delighted! The Traveller Culture Collections Development Officer with the National Museum of Ireland... gra grath gradum! . 2022-04-26 . Twitter . en.