Residents of Southill in Limerick take a stand on the presence of Traveller traders in the neighbourhood.
For a couple of months, residents of Southill have been agitating for the removal of Traveller traders from the area. They accuse of the Travllers of causing litter, ruining the playing fields and generally making a thorough nuisance of themselves.
Southill residents believe Limerick Corporation has turned a blind eye to the problem. They have started an action campaign which sees residents from the Dublin Road, Southill and Roxboro Road districts blocking off roads. This protest is designed to force some action, and, under police protection, Limerick Corporation workers have removed some of the caravans from the area.
Michael Lipper an independent Teachta Dála classifies the Traveller traders as wealthy businesspeople. He thinks they are destroying the character of the area and the amenities developed by Limerick Corporation. In doing so, they are,
Treating the whole area and the area with contempt, with utter contempt.
Traveller Noel Martin believes that the claim by the residents that they are objecting to wealthy traders and not ordinaryTravellers means nothing in practice.
They are picking on the wrong targets.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 22 August 1980. The reporter is Michael Walsh.
