The Irish Tinkers: The Urbanization of an Itinerant People

viii+212 pages with photographs, charts, tables, appendix, bibliography and index. Octavo (9" x 6") bound in original publisher's pictorial wrappers. This work traces the emergence of an ethnic group from within a culturally homogeneous population. It first describes the economic and social forces within Irish society which led to the growth of an itinerant population, known as the "Travelling People," "Travellers" or "Tinkers." During various periods in Irish history, sedentary Irish have been forced to adopt a nomadic existence. Many craftsmen became itinerant when the demand for their services was not great enough in one area to permit them to remain settled. Peasants and laborers were also forced to become itinerant as the result of widespread evictions, unemployment and famine. And occasionally individuals, who because of problems such as alcoholism or illegitimacy were stigmatized by settled society, sought refuge on "the road." Secondly, this paper examines the process by which itinerant Irish developed a common ethnic identity as Tinkers. At first their identity was based only on their shared nomadic lifestyle. But gradually it was strengthened through their growing physical and social isolation from settled Irish society, and simultaneously through their increased contact, intermarriage and identification with other itinerants. Condition: Corners bumped, some light soiling else a very good copy.