Laois Traveller Action Group (LTAG) launched their first ever Traveller Cookbook on Tuesday last, December 17, at Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise.
Women within the Laois Travelling community worked very hard over the last six months to produce this book
It is full of traditional, every day, hearty recipes, stories of times gone by and photos of the women as they cooked the meals.
Jules Fitzpatrick, Community Development Worker at LTAG who headed up the traveller cookbook project in LTAG gave a speech at the official launch and thanked LOETB Community Education Department who worked collaboratively on this project.
Ms Fitzpatrick also thanked Laois Partnersship for the hire of the kitchen and to all the board members and staff of LTAG for their ongoing support.
More than anything however, Jules Fitzpatrick thanked the eleven traveller women who ‘gave their all to this book, who captured the heart and soul of their traditions, recalling the ways of many years ago, sharing recipes that are welcome in any household’.
Noreen Donoghue, one of the eleven traveller women featured in the cookery book, spoke at the launch.
She said that being involved in the Laois Traveller Action Women’s Group for the past six years has enabled her and many women to take part in many courses including crafts, wellbeing, cooking, mental health and much, much more.
She said: “To say we were nervous was an understatement.
“We thought – how will we do it? It will never work, we won’t have it done in time, but we were wrong”, laughed Ms O’Donoghue.
Noreen thanked the LOETB, LTAG, Ryan Dunne, Communications tutor, Ann Devitt and Janice as well as Olga from Laois flower embroidery for designing the log and making their aprons and to note-taker Katlyn Hamil.
The biggest thanks of all was given by Noreen to Jules Fitzpatrick as she noted that the project would not have been possible without her.
If anyone would like a copy of the book, limited copies are available at the Laois Traveller Action Group office in Portlaoise, located at Bridge Street, Portlaoise.
 launched their first ever Traveller Cookbook on Tuesday last, at Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise.){kind=link}