Both expressions are used in Ireland. Tinker comes from fact that most worked as Tinsmiths or general metal workers. They would often call to farms and fix metal utensils etc. Often at odds with main population. They used to gather in large numbers for Puck Fair when I was young in Killorglin.Remember one confrontation in early 1980's when guards bailed out and army trucks were sent in to move caravans from street. Things have calmed down alot since. Regards, Fintan http://www.mtirishancestry.com ----- Original Message ---- From: John L. Sweeney <sweelab@enter.net> To: Ray Marshall <raymarsh@mninter.net>; Kerry List <IRL-Kerry@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 4:09:49 AM Subject: [IRL-KERRY] Subject: [IRELAND] Tinker Tribes - CLAFFEY, SHERLOCK, DRISCOLL, CASEY, CARTHY, COFFEY, McQUEEN Good Evening All: "Traveller" is an American expression. "Tinker" is what I knew for so many years and is still applied to those of us who are what we know are "Tinkers" in our homeland. Contributed by Jack Sweeney, [one of my favorite people], who still lives in Palmer, Pennsylvania. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-KERRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your free account today http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/mail/winter07.html