The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, yesterday urged both the Traveller and settled communities to speak to each other more in order to break down prejudices.
Speaking in Ennis, Co Clare, Dr Walsh said: "One of the constant difficulties between the Traveller and settled communities is very often lack of awareness or lack of knowledge of each other, that we don't communicate together or simply talk to each other.
"Very often, the way to break down prejudice is to try to get to know each other better."
As part of National Traveller Focus Week, Dr Walsh was speaking at the West County Hotel in Ennis to launch a new Traveller newsletter.
This was also part of the implementation of the The Strategy for the Co-ordination of Public Services to the Travelling Community in Clare 2005-2008.
The strategy aims to strengthen the culture and self-governance capacity of Travellers in Clare.
It also aims to enhance their quality of life and identify and address gaps in the provision of public services.
On the high unemployment rates and lower life expectancy in the Traveller community, Dr Walsh said: "There is no doubt there is a long way to go, but up until now, we thought very little about anything except accommodation."
