If Hazel Could Talk is a community based cultural project rooted in Traveller traditions, environmental knowledge and lived experience. The project is led by Galway Traveller Movement in collaboration with artist Debbie Reilly and centres on hazel wood, a material traditionally associated with wisdom, protection and shelter. Through shared making and storytelling, participants explore themes of identity, heritage, memory and connection to place.

The project will take place in Ballinasloe during summer 2026. A series of eight workshops will engage Travellers living in the Ballinasloe area, providing hands on learning in traditional and contemporary skills including ethical harvesting of hazel, working with natural materials and traditional construction techniques.

A key outcome of the programme will be the collective making of a traditional Traveller shelter tent, also known as a wattle tent. Historically, Travellers camped in these tents along roadsides, and their construction reflects an important aspect of Traveller cultural heritage. Recreating this structure allows participants to reconnect with intergenerational knowledge while reflecting on its relevance today.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.