Horse drawn carriages and horse drawn Caravans were very much a common sight in Ireland in post W.W.2 years ( and in my childhood ) but were mainly used by Irish gypsies / travelling communities The caravans were beautifully crafted by very skilled carpenters whom at the time mostly were illiterate but were truly gifted with there hands Some of there creations were absolute works of art the attention to detail and artistic signage and decoration was second to none they looked majestic the main colors were usually mail box red and Emerald green . The caravans were covered with a weatherproof canvas / tarpaulin arched roof which had to be waterproof and was cool in summer and warm in winter , They were deceptively spacious and very often it was the bed room for the parents and the babies the older off springs slept in tents usually pitched very close to the caravan an open wood / peat fire provided heat and all the cooking and hot water was cooked and boiled on the fire the family washing was normally strewn on the nearby bushes and trees to dry They were always very happy people who sang and played music every night and told stories by the fireside , they were nomads who chose the life of the road they loved there freedom and some of there history related back to the days of British occupation when they were evicted from there humble homes Most of the menfolk of those communities were tin smiths , cobblers , bards , and chimney sweeps whom provided there services to the settled community , Alas over the years through by laws imposed on the Irish travelling community regulations on education , hygiene health and safety the Irish travelling communities are no more.........Horse-Drawn Caravan (Courtesy of Kilvahan Horse Drawn Caravans) 610 x 396 | 58.3KB independenttraveler
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 23:28:51 +0000
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