Irish Showpeople have their own distinctive language, known as Parley. It vividly reflects their nomadic lifestyle, and the influences of Showpeople from other countries and cultures, with words derived from Italian, Romani, Yiddish, Cockney rhyming slang, non-standard English, Gaeilge and Irish Traveller Cant or Gammon.
Parley with Me introduces Parley to a wider audience, listing over 400 words, with their English and Gaeilge equivalents. In the multicultural Ireland of today, this compendium is an invaluable resource for intercultural courses at all levels.
Fairground Travellers, known as Showpeople or Carnival people, are part of the larger Irish Traveller community. They are entertainers in fairgrounds, the people who work in the booths and the rides. In the medieval era and for long afterwards, they were renowned as dancers, musicians, acrobats, magicians, animal-exhibitors and trainers; they are an essential part of patterns, pilgrimages, harvest gatherings, weddings and sport meetings.