These fascinating pictures capture the daily lives of traveller families on the outskirts of Dublin, giving a rare glimpse into their often closed-off world.
Belgian photographer Sebastiaan Franco took these photographs while spending two years living with the Keenan and Collins families on their site just outside Ireland’s capital.
He said he gained the traveller families’ trust by ‘essentially becoming one of them’ over the two-year period after initially being considered an ‘intrusive outsider’.
Images show families holding parties, drinking in pubs and attending funerals while others show people getting dressed up for lavish christenings and weddings.
During his time with the traveller community, Franco witnessed many rights of passage, as well as the highs and lows of the community living on the outside of society.
Franco photographed a man named Paddy receiving a phone call to say his brother had died, as well as witnessing families taking part in hunting, hauling scrap metal and celebrating the result of a bloody bare-knuckle boxing match.
Patrick and Christy are pictured bare-knuckle boxing at an undisclosed location near Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland
Bride Cherise was photographed arriving for her wedding day in Galway. Belgian photographer Sebastiaan Franco took a series of photographs while spending two years living with the Keenan and Collins families
Young boy, Ned, is pictured at Ballinasloe Horse Fair in County Galway, which dates back to the 18th century is one of the largest and oldest horse festivals in Europe
A man named Paddy is pictured flashing an antique revolver during a party in his trailer on his family’s traveller site just outside Dublin
A young man is seen here hauling scrap copper along Dunsink Lane near the traveller site where Franco stayed over a two- year period
Fields and scrapyard can be seen here behind Dunsink Lane in Finglas, Dublin, as a carthorse wanders around the old Nissan Micras and Vauxhall Corsas
Two men can be seen burning scrapped copper in a pile on Dunsink Lane near their traveller site, as one man prods it with a piece of plastic
John, Pikey, uncle Paddy, Paul and Martin are pictured (above) playing cards in one their trailers on the site in Finglas, Dublin
Pallbearers and mourners can be seen attending the funeral of a man named Bimby at Ballgriffin Cemetery in Coolock, Dublin
Martyboy is seen here at the top of Croagh Patrick. The mountain is climbed by many travellers as penance or to bless the sick and the dead
Bimby’s funeral at Ballgriffin Cemetery in Coolock, Dublin, where family gathered to pay their last respects to their loved one
Young James, Big James (wearing a traditional Mexican hat) and Joseph Collins can be seen pictured (above) in Avila Park
The trailer of Davy ‘Handsome’ in Finglas as dusk begins to fall in Dublin. Photographer Sebastiaan Franco said that although traditional stereotypes of traveller life are there, the reality is ‘not as black and white as the community is made out to be’
Brothers John-Paul and Martyboy are seen here drinking some beers and enjoying the last days of summer in Avila Park
(Left to right) Paddy, Martin, Giggsy, Nic Nac, Thomas and Ciaran are pictured during celebrations at the pub in Dublin
![Paddy Keenan is picture (above) smoking in his trailer. Franco said: 'They [the traveller community] took me in and showed me basically everything that goes on around the site, shared everything they had and never asked for anything, as an outsider that's an amazing privilege'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/12/11/20896992-7675849-image-a-40_1573556450339.jpg)
Paddy Keenan is picture (above) smoking in his trailer. Franco said: ‘They [the traveller community] took me in and showed me basically everything that goes on around the site, shared everything they had and never asked for anything, as an outsider that’s an amazing privilege’
Uncle Paddy is pictured in the heart-wrenching image after receiving a phone call informing him that his youngest brother had passed away
A dog owned by a man named ‘Small Peter’ is pictured sitting on an old sofa with a zimmer-frame next to it outside St Joseph’s Park in Dublin
Davy ‘Handsome’ is seen here near his home in Finglas. Travellers are a traditionally nomadic community and have a population of around 40,000 in Ireland so they are considered an ethnic minority
Johnny Keenan is pictured (above) feeding his three dogs in the morning. Franco said he found ‘acceptance into a marginalised community’ and that he ‘became part of the family, showing those human moments people tend to overlook’
Young and old can be seen getting ready for Communion day in Finglas. One little girl has got dressed up for the occasion
Biddy Collins is pictured singing old songs at the campfire as the family sit around and children watch on at the site in Finglas
Communion day (pictured above) in Avila Park. Irish travellers, sometimes known as Pavee, and Scottish travellers are descended from nomadic people in Ireland and Britain
Ciaran and young David are seen here playing football in Avila Park, Finglas, and four dogs also run around and try to join in
A boy can be seen sitting on top of a bonfire pyre of old fences, mattresses and wooden crates on Halloween, as the the site prepares for their celebrations
A bonfire night fire on Halloween is pictured (above). The images are from Franco’s book, Anasha, which is a word in the Shelta or Cant language used to point out something out of the ordinary
Photographer Sebastiaan Franco captured the bloody aftermath of the bare-knuckle fight which took place near Mullingar, County Westmeath
Some travellers taking part in ‘lamping’, a form of hunting for wild animals such as rabbits and hares with greyhounds during the autumn
Young girls wearing white dresses after getting ready for Communion day in Avila Park. Franco spent two years living with two families at the site in Dublin
One of the families during christening celebrations on the traveller site in Finglas. An Instagram cut out is being passed around by the women
Mary-Lou is seen here with her newborn son at the family trailer in Finglas – a northwestern suburb on the outskirts of Dublin
Michael and Bull’s Paddy can be seen here larking around with a shopping trolley in Cara Park. The title of Franco’s book, Anasha, has different meaning and ways of writing as the word has never really been written down according to rules or grammar
Nic Nac can be seen (above) walking outside his house in Avila Park, Dublin, at night while his dog waits on the pavement
Martin ‘Bull’s Tail’ Collins sitting in his trailer on the family site. The Shelta language that some travellers speak derives from a mixture of English and Gaelic translations
Bridesmaids seen getting ready for a wedding in Avila Park. Traveller weddings are extravagant celebrations, guided by centuries-old religious and cultural traditions that are still adhered to to this day in their close-knit and closed off societies
Martyboy and Rasher are pictured (above) drinking in the car at night. Franco’s two-year project was welcomed by Ireland’s President Michael Higgins, who has long advocated for travellers’ rights
Dina is pictured here before heading to the church on her wedding day. Travellers traditionally get married at a young age, typically in their late teens or early twenties
A large crowd is pictured gathered at Cara Park to cheer on their man Patrick as he heads off to his bare-knuckle fight
Best men can be seen here getting ready for a wedding. It is thought the term Anasha, comes from the Cromwellian settlement of Ireland in 1649
The wedding party celebrating the recent nuptials during celebrations in Galway with guests dancing and enjoying the post-ceremony party
Avila Park, Dublin, can be seen here as a dog crosses the road. While living in clans, travellers in the past would move across the country selling their wares or finding work with farmers to earn a living before moving on
Giggsy (centre) and Martin (right) can be seen (above) celebrating after the result of a recent bare-knuckle boxing match
A cross and rosary for John ‘Johnman’ Joyce, who was found dead, can be seen here on Dunsink Lane near the family’s site