Biografisk notat

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 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. His publications examine the literary representation and development of a number of different socio-cultural-groups within the (traditionally nomadic) 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 Life (2005); Otherness and Identity in Modern Ireland (with Thomas Acton, University of Greenwich, London) (2006); Counter-Hegemony and the Postcolonial "Other"(with Thomas Acton, University of Greenwich, London) (2006) and Irish Travellers: Representations and Realities (2006). His primary research interests include Creative writing, postcolonial literatures, nationalism, Irish Republican history, and the representation of "Marginal" and Diaspora literatures and identities - Postcolonial Identities: Constructing 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.