Co-director of Pavee Point Ronnie Fay has said that only a minority of Travellers have not adhered to public health guidance in relation to Covid-19 and the majority of the community have been "exemplary".
Ms Fay told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that Pavee Point does not condone breaches of the guidelines and it is "unacceptable" to have large gatherings throughout the pandemic.
However, she said that the spotlight focuses on large attendances at one event like a funeral or wedding and that stigmatises and vilifies the entire Traveller population.
Ms Fay said that some Travellers have not attended their children's weddings and grandparents have not seen their grandchildren for some time.