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Brittany Looks To Scottish Referendum Vote

Breton flag

As Scotland moves ever closer towards the referendum on Scottish independence, it is not only the people of Cornwall and Wales who are looking with interest at the outcome. Breton’s are also looking at how they can move towards such a vote. Brittany with its deeply rooted culture, language and identity needs the opportunity to have its say on Breton independence. The issue is also heightened by the coming 2014 referendum on independence for Catalonia. Many in Brittany also look at smaller Celtic nations such as the Isle of Man, which clearly benefits from having autonomy and managing their own affairs. Their example dismisses those who are foolish enough to argue that countries like Brittany, Cornwall and Wales are too small for self-rule.

Welcome Support for Scottish Gaelic Online Language Resource

Scotland’s government has given funding of £2m for an online Gaelic dictionary. Source material for a digital archive containing 30 million words has already started.

Sabhal Mor Ostaig UHI,Skye’s Gaelic language centre, is managing the project called Faclair na Gaidhlig. It will be in partnership with Aberdeen, Glasgow, Strathclyde and Edinburgh universities. Bord na Gaidhlig the Gaelic national body has been supporting the work for a number of years with contributions of £75,000 per year.

Celtic Cornwall

The Scottish referendum vote for independence is being looked at with interest by the other Celtic nations. This is also the case in Cornwall. Cornwall is recognised as one of the six Celtic nations and takes its place in both the ‘Celtic League’ and the ‘Celtic Congress’, along with Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man and Brittany.

The Cornish Language Revival - Helston Town Council Promotes the Cornish Tongue

The popular webpage "thisiscornwall." reports that the Helston Town Council have adopted a Cornish Language Policy.  It was reported that,  "Helston Town Council took an extra step to make sure it uses Cornish on official paper work and at Public events." 

Irish Minister Issues Statement on the Progress of Irish Language Plan

The Irish Language interest webpage, Gaelport.com, reports that the Irish Minister of State for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Irish Speaking Area of Ireland), Dinny McGinley, has issued a status report on the progress to date against the goals for the revival of the Irish language contained in the Government's "20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030".

Pan Celtic Unity - Irish President Welcomed To Scottish Hebrides Island of Iona

The Irish Independent reports that the President of Ireland, Michael Higgins, Irish speaker and champion of of the Irish tongue, has visited the Scottish Hebrides island of Iona. "President Higgins was welcomed to the Island by Scottish Culture and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslup who said the visit was a fitting way to celebrate Scotland's links to Ireland."

The 2013 Commemoration of the Battle of St Aubin du Cormier (Breton: Sant-Albin-an-Hiliber)

On Sunday July 28th 2013 the cultural associations Koun-Breizh, MAB and Identity-Breton are inviting people to attend a rally to commemorate the Battle of St Aubin du Cormier. Historical flags of Brittany can be brought to this commemoration which takes place at the Memorial to the Bretons, route de Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier to Combourg / Sens-de-Bretagne commencing at 15:00. 300 m from the memorial place, the ground Koad Sev Pall is open from 12am for picnicking!

Ulster Gaelic Athletic Association Promotes the Irish Language

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), which represents all counties in the Province of Ulster, have announced a collaboration with the University of Ulster. The GAA is an athletic association of the sports of Hurling, Gaelic Football, Camogie and Handball. 

Scottish Gaelic in Cape Breton - Reversing the Decline

Dr. Emily McEwan-Fujita, a Research Associate at the Gosebrook Research Insitute for Atlantic Canada Studies at Saint May's University in Nova Scotia, has published a study on the history, current state and on-going efforts to reverse the decline of the Scots Gaelic language in the Candian Province of Nova Scotia. The article is entitled "Gaelic Revitalization Efforts in Nova Scotia: Reversing Language Shift in the 21st Century" and will appear in an upcoming publication "Celts in the America's", edited by Michael Newton. The article details the efforts under way to "revitalise" the Scottish tongue in Nova Scotia.

The Celtic Language of Brittany Suffers the Malign Indifference of the French Government

Breton, the Celtic language of Brittany, is the topic of an article on the language interest website "Freelang".  The article highlights the decades old campaign of discrimination against the Breton language by the French Government. Paris has refused to ratify the "The European Charter For Regional or Minority Languages" and by doing so deprive Breton speakers of the rights and priviledges protected by the Charter.

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