Though highly qualified in a number of areas, as a musician and youth worker Patricia Reilly (27) says she feels "obligated" to contribute what she can to her community, particularly its young.
Born into a family of nine children and raised in the Monaghan, Louth and Cavan area, she now lives in Athlone. Her parents still travel around while she lives in rented accommodation.
She stayed on at secondary school until 5th year, leaving at 17 "because I got an urge to go".
Though that "urge" was born of a desire to work around Travellers' issues she does say school, particularly in her earlier years, was "tough".
"I was in a number of schools and, well, you'd just be put in wherever they could find a space for you. If you were nine they might put you in with six-year-olds, as if to say, `You're not staying, so what's the point in making an effort with you?"'
She began working on a voluntary basis with the Midlands Regional Youth Services and also took personal development courses.
"When I started working with the Athlone Community Task Force I was based in Athlone. I moved into rented accommodation and though I do miss the halting sites it's unrealistic for me to live on one here.
"A lot of the Travellers who live on the site here have been there for a long time, and none of my own family is in Athlone."
Currently, she is working with the Midlands Regional Youth Services, with both Travellers and settled young people, and for the Midlands Health Board, working with Traveller children in care.
She is also doing a degree programme at University College Cork, a combination of monthly tutorials and home study in Mutual and Credit Union Business Studies.
The Midlands Health Board has begun employing Travellers to work with young Traveller children in care because, she says, "there is only so much settled people, who don't naturally have the same outlook as Travellers, can do to help them".
Among the differences in outlook, she says, is the enormous emphasis Travellers place on the extended family and loyalty to it, and on religion.
"And there are very big difficulties around identity for Traveller children in care.
"They are in the care of a `settled' society, and a lot feel they don't fit in. They're wondering, `Who am I?'. And the health board has been looking at that.
"I'm a house-parent, and the Traveller children can talk to me. They know I'll understand them. They can chat about Traveller life, watch videos about Travellers with me and feel they are still in touch with Traveller ways.
"I think there is probably an identity issue for a lot of young Travellers. The valuable traditions aren't being passed on, and I think some do feel it would be easier to deny they are Travellers.
"That is very disheartening for the older Travellers and bad for all Travellers' pride in their culture."
She "could do other jobs". And some Travellers ask her: "Do Travellers have to work only in Traveller jobs?" "But I have these skills and well," she nods conclusively, "so few of us [in the Traveller community] do. So I feel nearly obligated to use my skills for the community."