Biographical note

Professor Thomas Acton is Professor of Romani Studies at the School of Social Sciences, University of Greenwich, UK . He is the first person to hold a chair in Romani Studies at any university and has always believed in the practical contribution scholarship can make to providing equality of opportunity and treatment for the Roma. Amongst his many published books are: Acton, T. (ed.) (1997) Gypsy Politics and Traveller Identity; Herts: University of Hertfordshire Press Acton, T. and Mundy, G. (eds.) (1997): Romani Culture and Gypsy Identity; Herts: University of Hertfordshire Press Acton, T. (ed.) (2000) Scholarship and the Gypsy Struggle; Herts: University of Hertfordshire Press Dr. Michael Hayes works as a Lecturer (part-time) at the University of Limerick where he lectures on a number of English, History, Politics and Social Studies courses incorporating Traveller, Roma and Migration Studies. He has published a number of books about the socio-cultural history and development of a number of different (traditionally nomadic) groups within the Irish Traveller community. His publications in this area include: The Candlelight Painter (2004); Parley-Poet and Chanter (2004); Canting with Cauley (2005); A Compendium of Fairground Speech (2005); Otherness and Identity in Modern Ireland (2006) and Irish Travellers: Representations and Realities (2006). He also works in the area of Asylum and Asylum-process - in particular the policy implications and effects of present-day Asylum procedures as applicable within the EU and Ireland –Dislocation and Diaspora: The Story of the "New" Irish (2006); Otherness: Representations of the "New' Irish (2006) (He has been involved in community work with Travellers, asylum-seekers and other marginalised groups both in Liverpool, England and in Limerick, Ireland for the past twelve years.