The End of Nomadism. Irish Travellers in England

by Sebastian Hesse

This body of work documents a vanishing lifestyle on the British Isles: The culture of the Irish Travellers, nomadic people who originated in Ireland, but mainly live in England now. The last resort of their way of life in England is the horse fairs, especially the two most important ones: Stow-on-the-Wold and Appleby.

International attention and awareness were raised in 2011 when England’s largest Travellers Camp, Dale Farm in Essex, was evicted and 80 families were sent into an uncertain future. This story shows everyday life on Dale Farm before the eviction, the eviction drama itself and the pockets of the traditional Travellers’ lifestyle, especially the horse fairs, that are much more than just trading places.