Nan Joyce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nan Joyce
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Nan Joyce in 1982
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| Born |
Ann O'Donoghue
1940 Clogheen, Ireland
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| Died | 7 August 2018 (aged 77–78) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Known for | Traveller rights activism |
| Spouse(s) | John Joyce |
| Children | 11 |
| Parent(s) | John O'Donoghue Nan McCann |
Nan Joyce (1940 – 7 August 2018) was a very important activist for Irish Travellers' rights. She worked hard to make life better for Travellers in Ireland and Northern Ireland. She started her work in 1981 and continued until she passed away in 2018. Nan Joyce was also the first Traveller to run in an Irish general election, which happened in 1982.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Nan Joyce was born Ann O'Donoghue in Clogheen, County Tipperary, in 1940. She was the second of nine children. Her father, John O'Donoghue, trained horses and loved to read. He taught his children about the history of places they visited. He could speak Cant, Irish, and English. Her mother, Nan McCann, could not read or write.
When Nan was twelve, her family faced tough times. She took on the role of caring for her younger brothers and sisters. She traveled around the country with them. Later, she married a Traveller named John Joyce. Together, they had eleven children.
Nan and her family faced many challenges. They experienced unfair treatment and lived in difficult conditions by roadsides. They often had no basic facilities and were exposed to bad weather. These tough conditions led to health problems for her children. For example, one daughter became very ill from pollution near their camp, needing long-term care. Unsanitary conditions, like rubbish being dumped near their camps, created health dangers for families.
She lived in Clondalkin for a while before moving to Tallaght. This is where she began her public work. Later, she lived in Belfast, where she kept working for Travellers' rights.
Standing Up for Rights
Starting Public Activism
In 1981, Nan Joyce's family was forced to leave their home at a halting site in Clondalkin. They moved to Tallaght, and Nan enrolled her children in school there. The local council planned to open a new road where many Traveller families lived. They did not offer the families a new place to stay, which was against the law. Some local people in Tallaght threatened the Traveller families, telling them to leave.
When the Traveller families refused to move, some locals formed a group to intimidate them. They visited the Traveller camp, shouting and carrying sticks. This scared the elderly Travellers and children. However, some other Tallaght locals supported the Travellers. A radio broadcaster named Gay Byrne also helped by broadcasting his show from the halting site. This was Nan Joyce's first chance to speak publicly about the unfairness Travellers faced.
Nan often read local newspapers. She was upset by how they showed Travellers in a bad light. She said, "I wouldn't wonder for the settled people to be against us because they were hearing nothing but bad about us." She wrote a paper explaining what Travellers needed. She delivered it to all the local newspaper offices. She also helped create the Travellers' Rights Committee. They held meetings at her home to involve more Travellers. Nan gave talks at schools, colleges, and convents. She wanted to teach people about Traveller history and culture. She and the committee led marches and protests, even outside the Dáil (the Irish parliament). In 1983, the first Travellers' rights group, Minceir Misli, grew from this committee. Nan continued her work with them.
Running for Election
The Travellers' Rights Committee chose Nan Joyce to run in the November 1982 Irish general election. She ran in the Dublin South-West area. This made her the first Traveller to try for a seat in the Dáil. She made a documentary for the BBC during her campaign to gain more support. She asked people for votes on the streets of Dublin. She received many good wishes. But some people also said mean things about Travellers. Another candidate in her area ran against her. He used an anti-Traveller slogan. Nan Joyce did not win the election, but she received twice as many votes as her opponent.
Soon after the election, Nan faced false accusations that were later dropped in court. The case received a lot of attention. Even though the charges were dropped, her confidence was affected. Many people believed she was targeted because of her activism.
Speaking to the World
In 1983, Nan attended a Trócaire seminar in Galway. She made a strong impression on her group, which included Seán MacBride, a Nobel Peace Prize winner. She was chosen to lead the group. She gave a powerful speech to thousands of bishops and humanitarians from around the world. She said, "You people are very concerned about the Third World. I think you should also be concerned about us, we are the fourth world. We live among rats in camps or caravans... our children suffer from as many diseases as the children of the Third World." She received a standing ovation. The Irish Times newspaper reported that Nan Joyce had a huge impact on the seminar.
Work in Belfast
Later, Nan moved to Belfast for several years. There, she started a group to fight for Travellers' rights. She successfully pushed for new halting sites in West Belfast. These new sites had fresh water, toilets, a playschool, and a clinic for babies. She also continued visiting schools in the area. She explained how important it was for Traveller children to learn about their own culture and heritage. Her visits helped schools include Traveller culture in their teaching materials.
Lasting Impact
Nan Joyce became one of the most well-known Irish Travellers. She was a pioneer for Travellers' rights. She helped people understand the many hidden problems that Travellers faced. The Travellers' Rights Committee she helped create led to many other groups. These groups focused on the needs of Travellers. In 1985, she published her autobiography called Traveller. This book has been studied by scholars. She was also featured in a book about influential Irish women, Mná na hÉireann: Women who Shaped Ireland, in 2009.
