A group of Galway Traveller women are invited to have tea at the residence of the US Ambassador.
In November 1977 Elizabeth Shannon, wife of the American Ambassador visited a group of Traveller women in Galway. In return for their hospitality, she invited them to tea at the US Ambassador's Residence in Dublin's Phoenix Park.
The 13 Traveller women aged between 14 and 20 years of age attend the Fairgreen Training Centre in Galway where they are taught handcrafts, household management and job skills by Sister Brigid of the Little Sisters of the Assumption.
The women are impressed by the elegant surroundings appreciative of their host’s generosity. Ann Barrett describes the experience as,
Like a fairytale, a dream come true or something and we’re very grateful to Mrs Shannon for inviting us here, it wasn’t really what we expected.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 January 1978. The reporter is Michael Walsh.
