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“We want all of Scotland’s children to have the best start in life. That includes providing opportunities for children to learn and improve Gaelic in their early years. Our support for Gaelic medium education is encouraging and enabling more children to learn the language and has helped to slow the decline in our population of Gaelic speakers. I am determined to do all I can to support the future of the language in Scotland" - Nicola Sturgeon

It might be three years since the Rachel Hair Trio last came to these shores, but their loyal fan base packed out the Centenary Centre in Peel to watch one of Scotland's most recognised folk bands.

Support for the evening was local duo Paul Rogers (Strengyn) and Isla Callister (Tree Cassyn) who got the concert underway with a short session of tunes with a Celtic flavour, which quickly set the tone for the concert.

If you've ever had the good fortune to dine at one of the many successful events at St James' Church in Dalby, there's now an opportunity to take some of those recipes home with you and test them in your own kitchen.

Bakers, cooks and food lovers are all invited to the launch of A Slice of Dalby, a cookery book which promises to bring you some of the best and most popular recipes, tried and tested in the cosy schoolroom of this historic building on the scenic west coast of the Island.

Paisley (Scottish Gaelic: Pàislig) is the largest town in the Scottish county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands. It is also home to Houston Kiltmakers, a fourth generation family-run business. The kilt makers have now created tartans for comic book superheroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, Batman and Superman. Next on their agenda is a tartan range for female characters including Supergirl and Catwoman.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Whatever CoMin (Council of Ministers Proceedings) and the MHKs (Member of the The House of Keys (Manx: Y Chiare as Feed) which is the Manx Parliament) kicking up a smokescreen over parking in Tynwald believe, the main item on the agenda of a lot of people on this Island is how to survive month on month. That has just got a lot more difficult for many people with the decision by Manx Gas to hike gas prices when global energy prices are probably lower in relative terms than they have been for the past three decades.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Manx Economic Development Fund: All We Can Do Is Await The Inevitable Corruption ‘Easy Money’ Attracts

No doubt Laurence Skelly was pleased at his ability to steer the legislation allowing for the establishment of the so called economic development fund (EDF) through Tynwald this week.

As we reported earlier on CL News ‘the champagne corks will have been popping’ down at the Chamber of Commerce following the news that this lunacy had been given the green light.

The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) have endorsed a campaign calling on the Powys County Council to ensure Welsh medium education be made avaialable to every student in the county. Powys is a county which sprawls north to south along the central section of the Welsh border with England. If universal welsh medium eduction should be introduced in the county it would form a language bulwark supporting the Celtic tongue in east central Wales.

Long standing folk duo, Chris While and Julie Matthews, enjoyed another sell-out performance at the Centenary Centre recently, giving ticket holders a full evening's entertainment a night to remember.

Here as part of their Autumn Tour, While and Matthews came together as a duo in 1993 when key members of the legendary folk super-group the Albion Band.

Although they have followed successful independent, solo careers, their unabated productivity has given birth to no less than ten albums as a duo.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Manx Chief Minister has been speaking about the strong relationship that has been built up with the Scottish National Party after leading a delegation to the Party’s annual conference.

He said that he has a good working relationship with SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, as indeed he had with her predecessor Alex Salmond.

The Manx Chief Minister said the conference had afforded an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest with the Scottish leader.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Everyone knows know about the Welsh settlement in Patagonia in the 19th century but details have now emerged of an earlier attempt to form a Welsh colony, i.e. “Y Wladfa”, in South America, this time in Brazil.

The attempt to create a “little Wales” occurred in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul in 1852, about 13 years before the Patagonian venture got underway. 
“Nova Cambria” (New Wales) was founded by Thomas Benbow Phillips (picture) from Tregaron who wanted to set up a community where Welsh language and culture could flourish.