Growing Up On The Road

Incredible black and white pictures give rare glimpse into the lives of the ‘sweet but tough’ kids of Irish travellers

Photographer Jamie Johnson captures intimate snaps of travelling families

A LITTLE girl smoking a candy cigarette and a child waving a machete are among the incredible pictures taken of travelling families by photographer Jamie Johnson.

The snapper was given unique access to the Irish travellers at the Ballinasloe Horse Fair and Festival, in October.

Advertisement
The two boys are pictured playing with plastic guns at the fairCredit: Jamie Johnson

She said: "Travellers come from all over the Ireland and Europe to connect, sell puppies and ponies, and marry off their children.

"I watch the police harass many of my young friends for just walking around. I heard well-dressed Irish women call them 'trash' loudly as they walk by.

"These kids are sweet but tough as this is the only lifestyle they know."

Advertisement

Last week a heartbreaking set of photos showed the vulnerable children paraded as freaks in the Victorian era.

A tot plays a toy gun while his little sister plays with make-upCredit: Jamie Johnson
Dressing to attract men is part and parcel of teen life and one girl sports a necklace with the word f*** on itCredit: holly.partridge@the-sun.co.uk
A cute little lad sits in a bowl for a washCredit: Jamie Johnson
Advertisement
A lad with a mohican and a star shaved into his headCredit: Jamie Johnson
Jamie described the children's faces as timelessCredit: Jamie Johnson
The photographer was invited into the families' livesCredit: Jamie Johnson
Two lads play with the family dog outside their caravanCredit: Jamie Johnson
Advertisement
Girls help each other with make-up at the fair, where they may be married offCredit: Jamie Johnson
Kids pose outside a Romany caravanCredit: Jamie Johnson
Wearing a flat cap and dapper suit this lad could have been snapped in the 1940sCredit: Array
A cheeky chap with freckles proves photogenicCredit: Jamie Johnson
Advertisement
Teenage girls may meet their future husbands at the fairCredit: Jamie Johnson
Horses are an integral part of the traveller's lifeCredit: Jamie Johnson
A tot clings on to his dad's leg outside the caravanCredit: Jamie Johnson

RELATED STORIES

dome 'n dusted
Eerie photos show remains of 82,000-seater Pontiac Silverdome left to rot after it was abandoned four years ago
Eye spy
Can YOU spot the tiny differences? Only the most eagle-eyed challengers can pass this tricky test
Reggae or not
Vibrant photos show what life in Bob Marley’s Jamaica looked like during the 1980s dancehall scene
THE CRUELLEST SHOW ON EARTH
Heartbreaking black and white photos show vulnerable kids and adults paraded as ‘freaks’ in Victorian England
machibet777.com