Geels Lampa A Ela (The Hope Collective)

Galway, Ireland

Rubōg Ela / Hope Box.

Often, on the occasions that families and individuals involved within the community diverge, due to a wide array of situations, such as marriage or fresh adventures, a kind gifting of heart filled items was and remains common. This act often included items of both practical nature as well as those of a symbolic, sympathetic connection and an apotropaic quality.

Kept as mere kind kin and kindred shared tokens or utilised as items of everyday use, the gifting of a bundle remains within use, although often unnamed, among the Travelling community. What is enclosed within this Rubōg Ela are items that were gifted up or mentioned when the question of, “What would we give to the wider community?” was stated:

Collection:

Blessed beads
That every day can start with a blessing.

Rolled candle
That you will never be without light or the warmth of good company

St Philomena Cord
To never lose the ties that connect us as a people.

St Brigid’s Brit Brat
For health, healing and care.

Winifred’s Well Water
Strength against the woes of life

Branch of a Sacred plant
To have the ability to move and bend with the winds of life

A found coin
That you will never be without luck nor prosperity.

A wooden flower
That that your days will never be without beauty.

Contributions from:
Contributions are from Traveller Community Members with a sustained and long term connection with County Galway, however as a nomadic people the boarders and lines of counties and associated localised identities are very often approached from a different angle and understanding.

Contributors:
Katherina Ward
Bob Mongan
Margaret McDonagh
Daniel Delaney
Winnie Sweeney
Mary Reilly
Oein DeBhairduin