Dev Murray reviews Mincéir, a poetic and powerful documentary that pulls focus to the Traveller community.
Mincéir (the Irish translation of Traveller) is a visually immersive and eye-opening documentary that offers a raw portrayal of both the beauty and issues faced by the Irish Travelling community. Directed by Galway-based Spanish filmmaker Teresa Lavina, the feature first aired on RTÉ One last year as part of a series exploring Irish heritage, and Mincéir certainly delivers on that mission statement.
The film weaves archival footage and mid-20th-century photography with poetry, storytelling and traditional Irish music. Lavina, known for her work on human rights and with under-represented groups, gives the community, an ethnic minority comprising just 1% of Ireland’s population, a platform to tell their own story. The interviewees are not subjects; rather, the documentary serves as a testament to the resilience of the Traveller people.
Charting the history of this marginalised community, Mincéir captures and preserves traditions and stories that are too often overlooked. Lavina highlights the lack of access Travellers have to archival material about their own nomadic and Indigenous heritage, much of which is owned or controlled by the settled population. She interweaves music, oral tradition and personal narratives into something quite special.
The interviewees, including Joe Casey, Nora Corcoran and Michael Collins (no, not that Michael Collins), talk about everyday life, cultural pride and the struggles faced by the community. Their testimony speaks about their traditions and their connection to Irish folklore, such as the fae. This is all further tackled in an article by Anne Marie Kavanagh and Caitríona Ní Cassaithe, who discuss the spiritual relationship between Travellers and the natural world.
Especially for audiences unfamiliar with this rich world, Mincéir is an important watch. This feature encourages exploration and an appreciation of Ireland’s cultural fabric and the role the Traveller community plays in preserving the Irish language, music and folklore. With a runtime of just fifty minutes, Mincéir is an accessible, educational and heartfelt film that honours the community it documents.
Mincéir is available to view on the RTÉ Player.
