About The Celtic League

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League was founded in 1961 at Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham in northeast Wales. A group of people came together, many of whom had links to the Celtic Congress (a parallel groups that eschews politics), to establish a group that would campaign on a broad agenda including political, social and cultural objectives and promote cooperation between the Celtic Nations. Those objectives have grown as the League has developed.

Though it campaigns politically the organisation is not ‘party political’ and over the years has included folk of most political persuasions - only membership of far right groups is proscribed.

The overriding political imperative is a desire for national independence for the Celtic countries – hence many nationalists are also members of the League. This is straightforward in Mann where there is one political nationalist group but in Brittany or Ireland where there are several competing nationalist agendas it is more complex.

The League has six National branches and also an International branch. Additionally it has overseas branches in England, the United States, Nova Scotia and Patagonia (Argentina).

The League is absolutely focused on maintaining its independence from any group and all its work is funded by individual membership subscriptions.

The League is absolutely committed to non violence and a resolution of the independence struggles by democratic means. It has for many years now produced a journal CARN, originally quarterly but now thrice yearly and that journal is unique in that each issue contains an article in the six Celtic languages. These days with large language promotions by some governments and also the development of broadcasting and the internet the Celtic languages get much more exposure but people need to be aware that for the first twenty/thirty years of the Leagues life the only organ consistently projecting all our National languages was CARN.

Governance of the League is straightforward National branches function distinctly but subject always to the constitution of the League. Decisions are made at an Inter Celtic AGM where the branches submit resolutions and send delegates.

The overarching body of the Celtic League is its General Council which includes a Convenor (Chairperson) General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Director of Information, Treasurer and Editor. In addition each National branch Secretary is a member of the General Council.

The Leagues work over many years has been far reaching I don’t intend to try and cover it in this article but if you go to our main website you will find detail of recent campaigns and also the structure and constitution of the League.

Our website however can only give a snapshot of recent activity and to appreciate fully what the League has done over the years you would have to visit the vast archive of material that has been deposited at the National Library of Wales and the Manx Museum Library. These files are open access.

The unique work and commitment of the Celtic League to advancing a broad agenda for the good of people in the Celtic countries by peaceful means was recognised in 2010 when we were afforded NON GOVERNMANTAL ORGANISATION (NGO) status by the United Nations.

Most of the people who established the Celtic League sadly are no longer with us but the longevity and effectiveness of the League is a testament to their ideals. There work goes on.

The links below will provide a more detailed picture of the work and scope of THE CELTIC LEAGUE.

https://www.celticleague.net/
http://celticartefacts.yolasite.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_League
http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=30

BERNARD MOFFATT

Issued by: The Celtic News

26/11/15

THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues

http://celticleague.net