The Celtic Culture and Language of Cornwall On The March

The web site “This Is Cornwall” is reporting under the headline “More Than £1Million Spent on Cornish Funding”, that the Cornwall County Council are drafting an annual funding proposal to support the Celtic tongue of Cornwall.  Quoting from the article which describes past and current efforts by the Cornish County Council to fund the language: “More than £1Million has been spent since 2006 on promoting and developing the language that has almost disappeared. Cornwall Council is currently putting together a bid for another £400,000 a year from central government for the next three years, with the Council adding £100,000 a year.” This development is another Marker pointing to the growing tide of broad support for the revival of the Cornish language.  The article goes on to quote a Spokesman for the County Council in support of the funding: “There is an emphasis on education, where work has taken place with a large number of schools to introduce the Cornish language via a range of projects, short courses and in some cases more sustained provision working in local studies”.

This follows on news reports late last month, including this from the “Western Morning News” under the headline,  “Mebyon Kernow Road Show Re-Ignites Campaign for Cornish Assembly”, which points to a campaign being launched by the Cornish National Party (Mebyon Kernow) in support of a Cornish Assembly.  This campaign was kicked off in the Cornish city of Truro, which serves as the administrative centre of Cornwall. The establishment of a Cornish Assembly will have a positive impact on the revival of Celtic Cornwall, and its language.

Mebyon Kernow (MK) is an active political party which is making progress in building representation in City and Council government in Cornwall.  As reported in the 23 November Transceltic Blog,  Cornish National Party Poised or Electoral Breakthrough – Champions of The Cornish Language and Celtic Identity,  if the MK were to emerge as an influential voice on the Cornwall County Council, given its support for a Cornish Assembly, there would be enormous implications for the future of the Celtic identity and the Celtic language of Cornwall.  This is in the context of the recent statement issued by the Celtic League calling on the United Kingdom to recognise the Celtic nation of Cornwall under the "European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities".

The MK is the principal driver for a Cornish Assembly, a proposed regional Assembly along the lines of that enjoyed in Northern Ireland and Wales.   The following is a policy statement from the MK web site linked below, which shows the MK to be champions of the Celtic culture and language of Cornwall:

 Mebyon Kernow exists to win greater recognition for the historic nation of Cornwall and the rights of its people. It is leading the campaign to win greater powers for Cornwall through the creation of our own legislative Cornish Assembly.  MK members work hard to protect Cornwall’s unique identity, its language, traditions and its distinct constitutional position. They have been instrumental in numerous campaigns including those for increased signage in the Cornish language, and for the Cornish people to be protected through the Framework Convention on National Minorities. They have also played leading roles in the fight against Coalition plans for a Devonwall parliamentary seat and the “Pasty Tax.”

·         MK councillors will represent the only political party campaigning for the recognition of Cornwall as a distinct national community for all forms of governance and administration.

·         MK members will support increased investment in the Cornish language (Kernewek) and all aspects of Cornish culture and heritage.

·         MK members will continue to call for a full Inquiry into the Duchy of Cornwall and Cornwall’s ambiguous constitutional relationship with the Crown, and the contradictions between our constitutional status and current administrative arrangements.

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Mebyon-Kernow-roadshow-ignites-campa...

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/1million-spent-Cornish-Language/story-20...

https://www.mebyonkernow.org/articles/article.php?id=34