Our Story

Southside Travellers Action Group (STAG) organisation was founded in 1984 by Travellers and settled people in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown supporting and representing Travellers at local and national level. It envisions an Ireland where Travellers' rights and distinct cultural identity is acknowledged and respected. It seeks to realise its vision through the design, development and delivery of a number of integrated programmes which respond to the needs of Travellers in Dun-Laoghaire–Rathdown, operating in the context of social inclusion and community development and guided by the principle of Traveller leadership/participation. It employs 36 staff and 20 trainees of 70% of which are Travellers based in Southside Travellers' resource centre in Sandyford Industrial Estate and caters for approximately 140 Travellers living in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.

All our work and our programmes provide options and availability to Travellers from the age of 10 years and upwards, specific occasional youth programmes are delivered throughout the year to under 10’s. We provide and give the opportunity for Travellers to engage and avail of our services. Our unique programmes are designed, delivered and created to ensure that all our work has a cultural Traveller led approach to ensure effective participation and access is achieved through programmes in education, employment, heath and youth programmes.

Core Programmes and supports

• Local Training Initiative (LTI TASK) Fetac QQI Level 4 employment Skills

• Travellers Health Unit  (THU) Primary Health  Care (PHC)

• Community Employment  Scheme  (CE)

• Children’s & Young Peoples programme (CYPP)

• Accommodation, Community & Advocacy support outreach programme (CLO)

 

About Travellers (Mincéiri)

 

The Traveller population in Ireland is currently estimated at 40,000, which is less than 1% of the overall population.   Our own language and oral history date us back to pre-Celtic Ireland.  Our language, known as Gammon or Cant, depending on family dialect is also referred to as Shelta or the third Celtic Language. 

 

Mincéir is our word for Traveller.  In addition, written records from the 5th Century document travelling tin smiths, tanners, musicians, bards, weapon makers, and horse dealers – all travelling trades’ people, again with connections to our language.

 

Up until the 1960’s Travellers in horse drawn Barrel topped Wagons and tents would have been a common sight on the roads and crossroads, travelling tinsmiths, traders, fortune tellers and renowned singers and musicians but as a direct result of policies devised from the 1963 Government Commission Report these customs have all but disappeared.

 

After a campaign that spanned over 30 years driven by dedicated activists from both Traveller communities and the settled community, Travellers were officially recognised as a distinct ethnic group within the Irish nation on the 1st of March 2017.  

 

 

 

 

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Vision Statement

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'' A resilient, vocal and empowered Traveller community in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown where Travellers provide leadership to their community and reach out to the wider community of Travellers in Ireland.''

 

Mission Statement

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'' An inclusive and dynamic organisation providing a wide range of programmes and services to meet the needs of Travellers and which advocates for the inclusion of the Traveller community as a recognised and valued ethnic group within Irish society.''