GREAT PHOTOJOURNALISM

Great Photojournalism

Karin Zackari

Being a lackeen

A reportage about the life and family of Marie, a girl of the subcultural minority Travellers in Ireland. In the travellers own language Cant a lackeen is a young woman. Her life is centred around the homes of the big extended family, marrying young, having kids and caring for religious and cultural traditions.

Marie McDonagh, 19, will be married in March. © Karin Zackari

Nell, mother of four, pre-school teacher. Married when she was 17, used to live in a caravan but now in a house for 20 years.

At pre-school playing an singing with one of her nephews in her lap and another crawling on the floor.

Marie changing her nephew Thomas

Marie feeding her niece and nephew, Ciara and Thomas. Â© Karin Zackari

Virgin Mary is important to the catholic women. Arch angle Michael, seen to her right, is the main saint of Marie's family.

Michael and his mother Shirely, sister-in-law to Marie, in the sitting room © Karin Zackari

Cousins playing in the backyard of their grandparents house.

Ciara with the pre-school at a playcentre at the shoppingmall.

Ciara, granddaughter of Nell and niece of Marie wants to be a make-up-assistent when she grows up. With red ribbons in her hair she can't be overlooked.

Marie dressing her niece and nephew, Ciara and Thomas Â© Karin Zackari

Marie is a trainee at the pre-school where her mother is the teacher. © Karin Zackari

At a special training centre for travellers women can take courses such as in hairdressing. The unemployment rate is high but more women than men educate themselves when finnished with high-school.

Cloe at her caravan at a halting site. A halting site is a place set up with permanent facilities for mobile homes.