The Outside Boy

Back in the late 1980s, when I was studying Irish Folklore in college, I distinctly remember my fascination with the subject of Irish Travellers. So when Ron Hogan tweeted about Jeanine Cummins‘ debut novel, The Outside Boy, and I found out it touched upon the life of Travellers, I was immediately interested in finding out more. Thus, this email interview. Cummins describes her debut novel in this informational video (posted above).

Tim O’Shea: How much research did you have to do about Irish Travellers before embarking on the book?

Jeanine Cummins: A lot. I already had a basic knowledge of the travelling community, just from living in Ireland, but most of my ideas about them were informed by the stereotypes that exist in the mainstream Irish culture. I didn’t actually know any travellers. So when I first began my research, I read everything I could find by, and about, travellers. And then, after tons of reading, I went to Ireland, and met lots of travellers and spoke with them about their experiences. They were fascinating people, and for the most part, very warm and welcoming.

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