Instructor: Dr. Zara Browne is an anthropologist who dedicated her doctoral research to the Irish Traveller community of Murphy Village in North Augusta, SC. She specializes in “nomadic” and separatist communities. Zara's work in Murphy Village has been featured in multiple news sources, such as The Post and Courier and Augusta Today. Description: Who are the Irish Travellers living in Murphy Village? The purpose of this course is to explore the history and culture of a community that lives “down the street” from us but remains a mystery. In four course sessions, you will learn about the cultural implications of the word “Gypsy,” the history of the Irish Travellers in Ireland, and how the Irish Travellers came to settle the historic “camps” in the United States where they live today. The course will delve into the significance of Aiken, North Augusta, and other local places to the Murphy Village community. You will learn about the cultural aspects of Irish Travellers, such as religion, superstition, and kinship. Finally, we will examine how media sources and rumors impact the relationship between the Irish Travellers and the mainstream community.