For ostracized populations across the globe and throughout history, stereotyping has proven not only damaging but, at times, even deadly. My work has long focused on marginalized communities and the ways they navigate the emotional and physical challenges of their lives.

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For more than seven years, I was welcomed into the Irish Traveller community. Over time, I built friendships and came to understand this unique and resilient group of people. The resulting book, MIS[S]UNDERSTOOD (Daylight Books, November 2024), looks at the Traveller population as a whole, with a particular focus on the role of women within the culture. My photographs capture both the pride and tenacity of this community, as well as the daily struggles and discrimination they endure in Ireland. Exploited socially and politically, Travellers remain one of the most marginalized groups in the country — yet my project strives to express their dignity and humanity.

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The Irish Travellers are distinct from the Roma Gypsies; genetic studies confirm they are a separate ethnic group dating back to the 16th century. They speak their own dialect and maintain strong traditions of large families, defined gender roles, and deep Catholic faith. In Ireland, they continue to face systemic barriers to housing, employment, and education. Many still lack basic services such as running water, electricity, and proper sanitation. Rates of domestic violence and suicide remain high. Within this landscape, the women stand as the cornerstone of family life. In our rapidly changing world, they struggle to keep both their families and cultural traditions alive.

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I vividly recall first meeting them at the horse fair, where young women paraded through the fields and streets, drawing the gaze of young men. They moved with intention — proud, beautiful, and confident — not simply frivolous but purposeful, seeking to carry forward centuries-old traditions of early marriage and motherhood. These women were not passive subjects; they were active participants, delighted to be photographed, eager to express their individuality and style. What I witnessed was not a spectacle but an art form, deeply rooted in their culture and sparking my own curiosity to know more.

This work is dedicated to them, with the utmost respect. I feel a deep camaraderie with the women I have met through my photographic journeys. The Irish Traveller community is changing, slowly, under the pressures of a shifting world. Yet these women remain mothers, grandmothers, wives, aunts, cousins, sisters, and friends — the heart of their families and culture. They captured my heart, and I continue to admire their resilience, faith, and style.

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I wish we were all taught from an early age that it is not only okay to be different but necessary to respect other cultures. In their world, I found a loving community — grateful for what they have and hopeful for a better future for generations to come.