Blogs

Housing for locals crisis continues to grow but what is being done to protect a protected National Minority - the Cornish?

Since our last circular, our in box and social media has been full of messages from people from right across Cornwall who are simply being priced right out of their homeland. Some have had their homes sold by their land lords and been thrown out to allow for marketing of the houses for holiday makers.

From The Celtic Language News:

"This small victory is perhaps the expression of a more profound ideological shift in French society. Today, few understand the government’s obsession for maintaining a hierarchy between languages. The most evident discriminations toward minority languages are deemed unfair and the more the State mistreats these languages, the more support they gain within the population."

The Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) has many sites of great archaeological significance that are quite remarkable for an island of approximately 33 miles long by 13 miles at its widest point. The earliest traces of humans on the Isle of Man can be traced back to the Mesolithic Period, after the ice sheets melted following the end of the last glacial period. In this part of Europe that would have been about 11,000 years ago. Small flint tools of stone or bone were used during this period some of which can be found in collections at the Manx Museum (Manx: Thie Tashtee Vannin). 

Boxers Brendan Irvine from Belfast (Irish: Béal Feirste) and Kellie Harrington from Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath) will carry the flag for Ireland (Irish: Éire) at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Tokyo. They are both members of the 116 strong Team Ireland athletes competing in the games.  Boxing traditionally is one of Irelands most successful Olympic sports with 16 of the 31 Irish medals having been won by boxers.

A series of high visibility actions occurred across Kernow (Cornwall) today, Sunday 18th July, 2021 and targeting main junctions and the busiest roads, Cornish Patriots continued in sending out a clear message, notably that Cornwall could do far better free from Westminster's corrupt and dysfunctional rule.

At many places, the Cornish patriots were joined by their brothers and sisters from 'Yes Cymru' (Yes Wales) who are holidaying in the Duchy.

Walter Scott (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish historical novelist, poet, playwright. Many historians consider him to be the inventor of historical fiction. His works include the novels Ivanhoe, Rob Roy, Waverley, Old Mortality, The Heart of Mid-Lothian and The Bride of Lammermoor. Born in Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann). He was one of nine children, six of which did not survive. A childhood bout of polio in 1773 that left him lame, the results of which are said to have has a significant impact on his on his life and writing.

There is no doubt that the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin), situated as it is the middle of the Irish Sea, was a strategically very important place during the years of Norse Viking rule. The Viking interventions began along the northern and western coast of Scotland and into the Irish Sea in the 8th century AD. The Isle of Man fell under Viking control in 1079 with the Vikings settlers integrating into the existing Celtic community. Many on the Island are proud of having a mixed Gaelic and Norse ancestry and culture.

In the days that lead-up to the UEFA European Football Championship final between Italy and England there was no doubting who many in Scotland favoured. As witnessed by the mocked-up image of Italy manager Roberto Mancini as Scottish hero William Wallace as depicted in the film Braveheart (1995) and printed on the eve of the final in the Scottish newspaper The National. The image was also quite a hit with the Italian media.

Hundreds gathered at Llyn Celyn in Gwynedd, Wales on Saturday to protest against high house prices and second home ownership in Wales. It comes as local young people are being priced out of the property market and second home ownership reaches record highs in a number of parts of the country. This second and holiday home ownership in some areas is also undermining Welsh language communities. It was revealed this week that almost half of all homes sold in Dwyfor Meirionnydd during 2020/21 were to be used as a second home.

The UEFA European Football Championship Final between Italy and England is being played on Sunday 11th July. This map probably gives a good indication of which team those outside England would like to see win.