As part of the ongoing Traveller Pride Week 2024, the winners of this year's Traveller Pride Awards have been announced at a special ceremony at the Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin.

The awards aim to highlight the accomplishments and talents of members of the Traveller community across various fields, including arts, sports, community leadership, advocacy, and more.

With Maïa Dunphy on MC duties, today's ceremony kicked off with music from acclaimed singer, and former Hot Press cover star, Sharyn Ward. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman, also addressed the audience – and emphasised the important of amplifying lesser heard voices in Irish society.

Among the winners were young Galway musicians Peter (PJ) Mongan and Francis Ward, who received the Music Award.

"Peter trained and successfully became a professional Music Educator with Music Generation Galway City," Traveller Pride Week's description reads. "Francis has supported younger and older generations to perform at open mics as a host musician.

"Both PJ and Francis have overcome stage nerves, and fear of judgement, and thrown themselves into new and challenging learning experiences to spread the joy of Irish folk and traditional Traveller songs and music throughout their community and beyond."

Misleór Festival, presented by Galway Traveller Movement, was also recognised for its work in celebrating nomadic cultures – receiving the Arts and Culture Award.

See the list of winners below:

• Education Award: Pamela Culloty
• Arts and Culture Award: Misleór Festival
• Sport Award: Nadine Cawley
• Intersectionality Award: Annmarie Sweeney
• Young Person (12-18) Award: Cindy Collins
• Young Person (18-25) Award: John Cawley
• Music Award: Peter Mongan and Francis Ward
• Enterprise/Employment Award: Aaron O'Loughlin
• Community Award: An Tearmann, Traveller Women's Group, South Tyrone
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Maureen Ward

Traveller Pride Week is organised by national Traveller organisations, including the National Traveller MABS, the Irish Traveller Movement, Involve Youth and Community Services, Pavee Point, the Parish of the Travelling People, Exchange House Ireland, Minceirs Whiden and the National Traveller Women’s Forum.

You can see the full programme of events for Traveller Pride Week 2024 here.