The primary focus of the project is to collect and preserve music, songs and stories of the Traveller community in Ireland. The initiative is being led by Thomas McCarthy, himself a member of the Travelling community, and a renowned singer, having been the recipient of TG4's Gradam Ceoil Amhránaí na Bliana 2019.

The Thomas McCarthy Collecting Project will ensure that the music, songs, stories and the richness of tradition of current generations of Traveller musicians will be preserved and made accessible to future generations of the Travelling community and the Irish traditional music community at large.

The Irish Traditional Music Archive is delighted to work with Thomas McCarthy and provide him support throughout the project, assisting with field recordings and the preservation of the collected material. The project is kindly funded and supported by The Arts Council of Ireland.

Philomena Daly and Thomas McCarthy