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Dublin Live

National

Katie Gallagher

'A qualified young Traveller girl will find it hard to get a job because of her surname'

Lucy Kennedy John Connors Travellers (Organization) Hughie Maughan

Lucy Kennedy said she felt sick with anger while filming her new series after witnessing the hardships of female Travellers.

In this week’s episode of “Lucy Investigates”, the presenter explores the vital role women play in their community.

Lucy said: “It’s a very different world I have to say. And it was a very interesting insight just seeing there is inequality within the Travelling community itself, but also still in 2022, a qualified young Traveller girl will find it hard to get a job because of her surname.

“I just think it is disgusting actually, and I’m quite embarrassed by it.

“And a little girl saying she’s too nervous to say she’s from the Travelling community in her school, like imagine a child having that.

“There’s enough going on in the world for little children, and I have a 10 and five-year-old, little girls I think are extra sensitive and they’ve enough going on in their little brains and hearts without worrying about being judged about where they are from. I just think it is awful.

“That actually hurt me when she said that. I felt quite sick. And angry that she would have to feel like that.

“An innocent little child. Not good, not good at all.

“It’s just very surprising that still in 2022 there is this attitude. I don’t understand it.

“And I cannot stress this enough, obviously I’ve read stories in the papers about the Travelling community getting into fights, but I’ve also read about settled people getting into fights.

“But there is something about the Travelling community that people just attack.

“And I think it is wrong.”

The Living With Lucy presenter has made a successful career of moving in with well-known faces at home and abroad with her team of cameras.

Over the past decade she has lived with everyone from reality TV’s Gemma Collins and Ireland’s hottest new Hollywood export Barry Keoghan.

But the Dubliner, 46, lists Big Brother star Hughie Maughan and Love/Hate actor John Connors as some of her favourites stays yet.

She said: “You know I’ve spent a lot of time with Travellers and I have never ever had a bad experience. I have to make that so clear.

“I had my best sleeps in Hughie Maughan’s camp. Everyone was so nice, so respectful, same as John Connors.

“Like John Connors’ granny who I adore, you would not meet a more ladylike, respectful, kind, generous women, and she holds her values so close to her heart. She’s a beautiful person.

“And it makes me feel physically sick that anybody would judge her or hurt her feelings.

“I just think it is quite surprising that we seem so accepting of other things and yet we can’t accept a child living in a caravan. But I loved filming this and going into the house with all the littles singing for me all in their Sunday best, I felt like I was back on Ireland’s Got Talent. I was in heaven.”

The mother-of-three also discussed her passion for shining a light on different people from different aspects of life through her new series.

The four parter has so far seen the stat immerses herself into lifestyles of various factions of Irish society, exploring everything from sex in the suburbs and cosmetic surgery to life online.

Crediting the cast for taking part and baring their souls on screen, the Classic Hits radio breakfast host said: “Everyone in this series, people at the play party, people undergoing surgery, people in the Travelling community, and next week is online, everyone has been so honest and open and genuine with me.

“And really opened up their hearts and I love that people trust me, because I trust them.”