This piece forms part of a collection compiled by learners and recent graduates across Ireland’s academic institutions. As the sole Irish Traveller in a rural Roscommon primary school, I always sensed that I wasn’t entirely the same as my classmates. A vivid memory of this feeling was my First Holy Communion, where, following community tradition, I wore an extravagant dress and arrived in a Hummer; a stark contrast to my peers.
The numerous hurdles encountered during my upbringing, instead of deterring me, served to spur me on. Despite being faced with adversity, I achieved a high score of 550 points in my Leaving Certificate and broke family tradition by enrolling into university. Now 19, I’m embarking on my second year at the University of Galway, reading Law.
Both my grandmother, married at 15, and my mother, wed at 17, were deprived of the same educational opportunities I have. My grandmother was particularly emphatic about the importance of education for a better life.
A strong sense of community and a deep love for family are values that are central to the culture I adore. My grandparents have enjoyed a marital journey of 55 years and have been a second pair of parents to me. As the first child in my family, I lived alone with my parents for ten years until my sister Tulisha was born.
Growing up was incredibly challenging, plagued by domestic abuse, the only sanctuary was school – it offered me a safe haven. I yearned for school reopening post vacations, it was my relief from the troubles at home. Given the challenging circumstances of my upbringing, I knew I had to have a fallback and education became that safety net. Propelled by a feeling of destiny, I’ve always been motivated to move ahead in life.
One of the driving forces behind my passion and enthusiasm was a childhood health scare. When I was just nine years old, I started experiencing migraines, which turned out to be caused by a tumour growing on my skull’s left side. I underwent an open biopsy to remove the tumour at Beaumont Hospital. I was later diagnosed with fibrous dysplasia, a disease that weakens all body bones, post-surgery. My surgeon, during my operation, asked if I had any queries and I questioned when I could return to practicing karate. Karate has been a part of my life since I was four years old and I now have a black belt. This sport has been my haven during numerous difficult periods in life. In my teenage years, due to all the trauma I experienced during my formative years, I struggled with mental health issues. However, I was fortunate to find support in Pieta House when the trauma surfaced.
I take immense pride in being Irish, which is one thing I absolutely relish about my country. The strong sense of national pride was first felt when Katie Taylor bagged an Olympic gold and the entire country was brimming with joy. I appreciate the more everyday aspects of Irish living. Engaging in conversations with the elderly in my village during my childhood, enjoying a hearty serving of bacon and cabbage, sipping a well-brewed cup of tea prepared by my nanny the old-fashioned way, are some of those. She follows a traditional method where she carefully places the teabags in a massive pot and leaves it to infuse on the stove. Though it might take a bit longer, the taste was always worth the wait.
As for my future plans, I intend to nominate myself for the local elections in 2028. I’m personally passionate about issues like mental health, and the rights of Travellers and women and plan to campaign on these issues.
Ireland’s issues with prejudice, whether it be against women, immigrants, those of colour, or individuals like me from the Traveller community, is something I cannot ignore. Despite receiving huge support from teachers and friends, I have still felt the brunt of discrimination from some societal sectors. Being from the Traveller community often means being stereotyped, wrongfully blamed, and stigmatised whenever one participant chooses to act against the law. It feels unjust. Criminality is not exclusive to any community, including the settled community, but we are unfairly painted with the same brush.
However, I’ve also witnessed positive shifts in the past ten years, with instances such as Eileen Flynn being a Seanad member and Martin Beanz Ward becoming a public figure, leading to better inclusivity. Ours is a community that is growing in diversity, with previously non-existent representation in spheres such as the LGBTQI sector. We also have a growing number of allies, as evidenced when we received equal support from both settled individuals and Travellers for our Traveller experience podcast, Mincéirs: Paving the Way. This is indeed a sign of progress.
As a person full of ambition and curiosity, I strive to indulge in various extracurricular activities to learn more about everything, be it climate change or law. In the long run, I aspire to explore family law and even politics by running in the 2028 local elections, where I intend to focus on issues like mental health, rights of women, and those of Travellers.
Born into unfair societal circumstances, some individuals must exert more effort to break free and achieve success. I want to break this cycle and lead by example, to create a brighter future for myself, despite being a domestic abuse survivor and a person struggling with mental health. Although I’m from an ethnic minority, I don’t want labels to define me – I am first and foremost Latisha. I am set on achieving my goals in life and, in doing so, I hope to contribute towards making Ireland a better place for everyone.
Engage in dialogue with Róisín Ingle. This discussion is an instalment in a sequence of talks and had been modified for coherence and brevity. Tune into Latisha McCrudden’s podcast, Mincéirs: Paving the Way, which she presents alongside Emma Ward, accessible through spunout.ie.