Martin Ward is unique in the Travelling community. He is the only Traveller public representative in the State and while this might appear a heavy burden, it is one he is proud to bear.
The 40-year-old father of seven was elected a member of Tuam Town Commissioners in June 1999.
Ironically, his achievement meant the only Traveller public representative in the State at that time, Ms Ellen Mongan, lost her local government seat to him. He is convinced it was cross-community support which sealed his election.
The main issues facing the Traveller community, as he sees them, are housing and discrimination.
Mr Ward was himself a victim of discrimination when, shortly after he was elected to the Tuam town board, he was refused a drink at a local function. However, he says the problem was quickly solved, and he has not had any difficulty since. "It's water under the bridge," he says.
He resents discrimination against Travellers. When incidents are brought to his attention he believes in tackling them "discreetly". He feels more is achieved in finding out the reason for the discrimination and negotiating between the parties than in dashing to a radio station or newspaper "looking for headlines".
Martin feels, however, that negative attitudes towards Travellers are finally changing. He believes the arrival in the State of thousands of refugees and the highlighting of discrimination against them has helped the cause of Travellers.
However, the contrast between how refugees and Travellers are accommodated by the State has raised questions among Travellers. Mr Ward says some refugees are being put up "in the best hotels" while some Travellers are living in "Third World conditions".
He adds quickly: "I'm not pointing the finger at refugees. They have suffered hardship and are entitled to be looked after, but the Government should get its act together and look after Travellers also and put in place the five-year Traveller accommodation plans which have been drawn up for all areas."
Martin knows what it is like to live in poor accommodation. He grew up on the roadside but fondly recalls nights of story telling and singing around camp fires. People were much more content then, he says, and had to earn a living making, in many cases, tin cans. He fears this craft is dying out and Traveller culture is being eroded.
When he was six he and his parents and 14 brothers and sisters moved into a house. He attended a local national school but never went to secondary school. However, in 1994 he returned to full-time education and got a certificate from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in youth work studies.
Now a youth worker with the Tuam Travellers' Education and Development Association, which reached the final of the AIB Better Ireland Awards in 1997, he strives to get young Travellers to realise the importance of education, training and work.
There were only four years in his adult life when he didn't have a job. Those were the years of recession and he recalls the frustration of hanging around. "Boredom is a terrible thing," he says.
He encourages young Travellers to get work so they won't be perceived as lazy. Work also means they will have less opportunity to get into trouble.
"It's sad to see so many young people, Travellers and settled people, hanging around and not doing their best to get a job. If young people don't get work now they never will because we don't know how long the Celtic Tiger will last."