The Traveller Movement Releases Short Film Showcasing the Truth about Appleby Fair

Immediate release – 16th September 2024

Last month, the Traveller Movement (TM) went to Appleby Horse Fair, one of the biggest social gatherings for Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller people in Europe. The fair has been running for almost 250 years and attracts fair goers from all over the UK, Ireland, and even Europe. The 3 day trip was an opportunity for TM staff to engage with members of Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller communities, and showcase the support that the organisation
offers.

Whilst at the Fair, Youth Engagement and Development Officer and member of the Irish Traveller community, Charlie Doherty, also created a short film designed to challenge negative perceptions of the Fair, and of the communities as a whole.

The short film titled, Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: The Truth about Appleby Fair, showcases the true nature of the Fair and its importance to the families that have been attending for generations. The film aims to combat some of the negative portrayals of the Fair in the media. Throughout the course of the short film, Charlie speaks to various
fairgoers, from community members who attend the Fair annually to meet family and friends to those who facilitate religious outreach, to a representative of an animal welfare charity who supports horse owners to care for their horses at the Fair.

Towards the end of the short film, Charlie speaks to Billy Welch, one of the main organisers of the Fair, or the Shera Rom, meaning the Head Gypsy. Charlie and Billy speak about the negative perception of the Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller communities, and about the Fair itself, highlighting the racism that the communities continue to face. The two also discuss the role of voting in challenging racism, opening up the conversation to the importance of democratic participation for Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller communities.

Billy Welch said:
“There is nowhere in the British Isles or possibly the world where you would get an event of this size, with this volume of people and have the least amount of criminality and law breaking… They tried their best to promote the fair as a dangerous, lawless place but it isn’t… It’s the opposite of that and the media just point blank refuse to report it like that.”

Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: The Truth about Appleby Fair will be available to view on The Traveller Movement’s YouTube channel on Monday 16th September at 9 AM. Click here to view.

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The Traveller Movement
020 7607 2002
info@travellermovement.org.uk

Notes to Editor
* The Traveller Movement (TM) is a national community development policy and voice charity who campaign against discrimination, promote inclusion, participation and community engagement for the Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities in Britain. TM is proud to work in partnership with the Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Traveller
communities together with service providers and policy makers across the UK to better promote social inclusion and community cohesion