She doesn't drink, she doesn't smoke, but Maureen Ward can never be quite sure if she will get into a nightclub or a pub. From Loughrea, Co Galway, she lives in Tullamore, works in Galway city and has also spent time in Birr, Co Offaly, since Christmas.
"Oh, and when I applied for this job I was in Ballinasloe," she laughs, but she knows exactly where she will be voting on June 11th. "It is one of the first things I do when I move; I make sure I am on the register."
And if any candidates are in doubt, those present at an open day hosted by Maureen and her colleagues in the Galway Travellers' Support Group last Friday will have disabused them of the notion that Travellers have no interest in local government. In fact, several of those present displayed more knowledge of the workings of local authorities than even sitting councillors themselves; and had experienced prejudice and intolerance at first hand.
Maureen, who works as a community and outreach worker with the support group, is rarely surprised at the reaction to her surname, for instance. "Yes, see you did it too," she pointed out politely to this reporter, in response to a reference to the much publicised Ward-McDonagh traveller feud.
In fact, the conflict which is said to have led to the death of a Traveller at a funeral in Co Sligo earlier this month involves a small group of people, and the peace agreement brokered in Tuam by Chief Supt Bill Fennell last September is regarded as a success.
"Most of us know very little about the row - just as most settled people wouldn't know about such an incident that might happen down their street." Last week, as part of the group's local election strategy, Maureen co-chaired several meetings in Galway city at which sitting and new candidates were invited to give their views. The open forums were aimed at outlining the main issues affecting Travellers. The first, held in Westside Community Centre, was attended by new candidates only, with apologies from two sitting councillors, including the mayor.
The second, in Ballybane Community Centre, attracted eight candidates in total.
"Good healthy dialogue," is how Margaret O Riada, a member of the group's management committee, described both. Education, health, housing and continued discrimination were the main issues raised; the Travellers' representatives called for support for the Equal Status Bill, and stressed the need for their cultural identity to be recognised.
One of the common mistakes made is that all Travellers share the same interests in relation to accommodation, Maureen Ward pointed out. "In fact, some seek group housing, some prefer transient sites, some prefer permanent sites. The Galway Travellers' Support Group is carrying out a study of accommodation needs, and one of the big problems is overcrowding, and the fact that extended families are being forced to split up to suit bureaucracy."
Another issue is lack of consultation on planning, location and design of halting sites and group housing. "If there was consultation at the early stage, there wouldn't be problems later," Maureen said. "Yet when we do voice criticism, it is as if we are ungrateful and are not allowed to complain."
The group's checklist for the local elections includes a request for inclusion on Galway Corporation's Traveller accommodation consultative committee. It says that recycling is an important aspect of the Traveller economy, and therefore Traveller accommodation should be provided with storage areas for scrap. And it says that Travellers should be involved in tenant participation training schemes and residents' associations.
There is much more on the list, and much stress on changing attitudes and the need for education - of the settled community in relation to Travellers as an ethnic group.
Among those in attendance at Friday's open day were the Fianna Fail senator, Margaret Cox, and Fine Gael TD and councillor, Padraig McCormack. Both were given a warm reception, and seemed in no hurry to leave. Throughout, no points were scored in relation to one local election issue - the ratification of Mayo Fine Gael councillor John Flannery, by his party, after his acquittal in the recent court case relating to the Incitement to Hatred Act.
After the acquittal, Mr Flannery declined a request to apologise.
The group has urged all Travellers to use their franchise on June 11th and has already conducted intensive voter education training with the Dublin-based Vincentian Partnership for Justice. On June 8th, it will be holding a street campaign to raise awareness about issues affecting the Travelling community.