In the heart of Galway City, two young women from the Irish Traveller community are using their voices to challenge stereotypes and inspire change.
Latisha McCrudden and Emma Ward are proud members of the Irish Traveller community and together host 'Mincéirs Paving the Way', a podcast that highlights the unique issues they face and encourages individuals to feel empowered and confident in using their voices for change.
It has grown to 250,000 listeners per episode, reflecting the impact of the topics they discuss.
Ms McCrudden, a second-year law student at the University of Galway, is the first in her family to attend third-level education.
She said: "I was always, kind of, an outspoken child. If I had a point to argue, I'd argue it.
"So, from a young age my family member would say, 'well, you'd be a good solicitor if you ever became one.' And I think the fact that that was said to me, I was like, 'Oh, I'd actually maybe would like that idea'."
Ms McCrudden's determination is shaped by the challenges she faced growing up.
"I took school so serious because I knew that was going to be my escape," she said.
Alongside her studies, Ms McCrudden co-hosts 'Mincéirs Paving the Way' with her close friend Emma Ward.
Ms Ward, who belongs to both the Irish Traveller and disabled communities, is also carving a non-traditional path for herself.
"Talking about what it's like to be a young, disabled Irish Traveller was really important for me. So, from the get-go, I was like, 'I need to discuss this', because you never hear that in the media," Ms Ward said.
Together, the pair cover a wide range of topics from women's rights and mental health to education, representation, and community activism.
Blending grassroots honesty with storytelling, the podcast amplifies the voices of young Irish Travellers while addressing critical issues relevant to all listeners.
"We wanted to show that within the Irish Traveller community there's diverse members. So, we wanted to cover all bases to show that there are people that deserve to have that platform," Ms Ward added.
Watch more of their story on Nationwide at 7pm today on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
