Looking at what IS known about Irish travelers and how actors like Minnie Driver or Eddie Izzard portray them, no doubt, is a tricky job. But how accurate is the show?
First and foremost, it is important to note that it's a fictional show and the greatest liberty taken is the "great con." That is, the Malloy family takes on the job of stealing the American dream- jobs as a lawyer or dental hygenist, a house with a yard and everyday neighbors, and even going to a private school, with fake names and social security numbers. Those are not elements often found in the Irish traveler lifestyle.
Despite the growing concern for identity theft and even the remote possibility- it is not known to have happened among travelers. What The Riches does show are some of the basic traditions.
The opening episode shows a camp filled with RVs and a close-nit community of families. When Ginny Danngian demands that the Malloys marry off Di Di to her brother as per an agreement- it follows custom of many travelers to arrange marriages for their children.
The religious references along with the superstition are also evident in the show. Cael, during the second season, camps outside the house, believing that their living in Eden Falls is stealing their souls. And Wayne symbolizes the Catholic introduction to prayer when he buries Pete. Most travelers are tied to Roman Catholic beliefs, although because few are nurtured, it becomes more superstition than strict Catholic practice.
Whether it's true that with each funeral there is a marriage, as Ginny proposes in one episode, is unfound. Funerals are held only a couple of times per year for most clans, due to the constant traveling and attempts to allow as many family members possible to attend. Family is very important to the travler lifestyle and immediate family members are more likely to become leaders in their group: fathers, sons, fathers-in-law and sons-in-law. The Riches shows discourse between Dale and Wayne when Dale discovers that his cousin's husband was chosen over him to lead the family. Cousins are typically only chosen when an immediate family member is absent, but in Dale's case, it was because he was incompetent.
As far as identity theft, travelers are often known for such tactics and have even been caught or imprisoned. Toogood was arrested on charges of trying to obtain a false id.
One of the challenges for Wayne and the family is not only be-friending outsiders, but becoming them in an attempt to create a new lifestyle outside family lines. Dmitry Lipkin, the creator of The Riches, I believe does a fine job presenting what little is known about travelers as well as posing a thrilling story-line about a very creative family.
A Few References:
Toogood/CNN/Southcoast Today/Time/Traveler History/The Riches
saying that travelers practice catholic doctrines without believing in them-- almost as though they were supersticions that you might as well adhere to "just in case" -- is actually pretty consistent with most of my catholic friends' practices.
ReplyDeletei wonder just how large of a fraction of "practicing" catholics do not actually believe in what they are doing. is this a common problem of all religions? or is there simply something inherent in the catholic church-- repititious regurgitations of ceremonies perhaps-- that causes this?
anywho, there's an excellent terry pratchett book called small gods that uses a parody of just this concept as the central theme.