Spunout, an Irish youth information and support platform, has just announced the arrival of its latest project – a new podcast, titled Mincéirs: Paving the Way, dedicated to amplifying the voices of younger members of Ireland’s Traveller community as well as discussing pressing community issues.
The newly launched podcast, which hit Spotify and Apple Podcasts on Thursday, June 6 in commemoration of Traveller Pride Week, features Emma Ward and Latisha McCrudden as its hosts.
Ward is a freelance journalist and content creator, as well as an activist for the Irish Traveller and disabled communities. Ward frequently takes to TikTok and other platforms to share her journey, thoughts, and activism with the world.
McCrudden is a 19-year-old law student at the University of Galway. Similarly part of the Irish Traveller community, McCrudden’s activist work is more focused on politics and finding a better way forward for her community.
Together with Spunout, Ward and McCrudden hope to use the Mincéirs: Paving the Way podcast to “shine a light on the experiences and challenges faced by young Travellers in Ireland” and promote “a sense of empowerment and community”.
In a press release announcing the podcast’s debut, Spunout shared: “Mincéirs: Paving the Way creates and curates engaging, insightful episodes that break down barriers by highlighting the commonalities between young Travellers and non-Travellers.”
By featuring stories from trailblazers within the community, it additionally hopes to inspire listeners to combat racism and promote inclusivity in Ireland.
In a statement following the podcast’s release, Mincéirs: Paving the Way co-host Emma Ward said: “I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity to co-host this empowering podcast, to have great conversations with many amazing diverse people in our community and to be able to share my own experiences as a disabled Irish Traveller woman.”
Ward continued: “I hope this gives listeners a deeper understanding of my community and to know that there’s so much goodness within the community despite the negative impact of social media, I hope each and every listener enjoys our hard work”.
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The first episode of Mincéirs: Paving the Way is available to stream now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Titled ‘My Experience of Racism in Sport as an Irish Traveller’, it sees Ward and McCrudden discuss the prejudice McCrudden endured while participating in karate training.
New episodes of Mincéirs: Paving the Way are set to release on a three-week schedule and feature a number of special guests such as Traveller Counselling Service founder Thomas McCann, Senator Eileen Flynn, human rights advocate Rose Marie Maughan, and playwright Rosaleen McDonagh.
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