An Irish woman made history yesterday at the United Nations in New York when she became the first Traveller to make an address there.
Nan O'Brien, a mother of nine from south Dublin, made a speech at the organisation's headquarters to mark the UN's international day for the eradication of poverty. She addressed UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and diplomats from around the world.
Ms O'Brien, who cannot read or write, works part-time and as a volunteer for the Southside Traveller Action Group based in Sandyford. She was invited to New York by ATD Fourth World, an international human rights organisation.
She told the UN she was not just talking for Travellers "but for people on social welfare, people with no proper education, people with disabilities, everyone who is poor and doesn't have a voice".
"We need to let people know that they can stand up for themselves, that they have the rights and that they can do it for other people," she said. "The problem for me is I was let down in my own country - there was no education for me. So I can't read or write, though I'm trying.
"I don't want to be on social welfare but, for most jobs, you need to be able to read and write, and there's a lot of barriers and discrimination too because I'm a Traveller."
Ms O'Brien was accompanied to the UN by Damien Peelo, the co-ordinator of the Irish Traveller Movement.
