About

Who are Mincéirí Port Láirge?

Mincéirí Port Láirge (formerly known as Waterford Traveller Community Development Project) is the only Traveller led organisation in the City and County of Waterford.

We were established in 2002 and aim to contribute to the improvement of quality of life, living circumstances, status, and participation of Travellers through working for social justice, greater solidarity, development, equality, and human rights.

Mincéirí Port Láirge is a registered charity and managed by a Board of Trustees who employ a staff team. We are a proud community organisation set up by Travellers and Settled allies, for Travellers.

Our work covers a wide range of activities and issues:

  • Accommodation
  • Health Promotion
  • Family Support Advocacy
  • Education and Training
  • Employment
  • Traveller History and Heritage

We also support and work in solidarity on broader national campaigns and liaise closely with our sister projects throughout Ireland on many issues.

Our work is guided by the principles of community development:

  • Human Rights
  • Empowerment
  • Anti-Racism and Anti-Sexism
  • Collective Action
  • Inclusion
  • Transparency
  • Respect for all

We are funded by a number of government agencies:

  • The Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
  • The Department of Health
  • Waterford & Wexford Education & Training Board
  • Waterford Area Partnership

This funding supports the delivery of national programme goals in Waterford, such as the National Traveller and Roma Integration Strategy (NTRIS) and the National Traveller Health Action Plan (NTHAP).

Mincéiri Port Láirge is a member of the Irish Traveller Movement, the National Traveller Women’s Forum, the National Traveller Network and the Irish Network Against Racism.

Locally, we are members of the Waterford Traveller Interagency Group, the Local Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, the South Eastern (CHO 5) Traveller Health Network, and the Waterford Public Participation Network (PPN).