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50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday

Bloody Sunday happened on 30th January 1972 in the Bogside area of Derry, in the north of Ireland. British soldiers belonging to the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (1 PARA) shot 26 unarmed civilians during a civil rights protest march. Fourteen people were killed, thirteen outright, while another man died of his injuries four months later. Some of the victims were shot when attempting to flee from the soldiers, others were shot while trying to help the wounded. Some protesters were injured by rifle butts and rubber bullets, while two were run down by army vehicles.

Campaign continues for the return to Isle of Man of the Chronicles of the Kings of Mann and the Isles

The Chronicles of the Kings of Mann and the Isles were written in Latin in 1261 or 1262. They record, year-by-year from 1016, the significant events in Manx history of that time. There has been a long standing campaign for the return of the Chronicles of the Kings of Mann and the Isles to the Island. The manuscript is currently being 'held' (for want of a better word), in English hands at the British Library in London. Recently the campaign gained new publicity when a questionnaire was circulated on the subject.

Nigel Crowe receives the RBV Manx cultural honour award 2022

Media release from Culture Vannin:

Nigel Crowe receives the RBV cultural honour

21 January 2022

Edinburgh commemorates150 years since the death of Greyfriars Bobby

Recently commemorations were held to mark 150 years since the death of Greyfriars Bobby. The story of the dog whose devotion became famous across the world. It is centred in Greyfriars Kirkyard the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann). Greyfriars takes its name from the Franciscan friary that was on the site, where the monks used to wear grey habits, and was dissolved in 1560. The churchyard was subsequently founded in August 1562.

Irish Government Aims To Make St Brigid's Day National Public Holiday from 2023

The Irish Government is reported to be working on a proposal to establish a new bank holiday for St Brigid’s Day on 1 February. The St Brigid’s Day bank holiday is to be permanent and to take effect in 2023. Saint Brigid (Irish: Naomh Bríd) is one of Ireland's patron saints, along with St Patrick and St Colmcille and is the only woman patron saint. There has been a debate for many years on the origins of Brigid. She shares her name and a number of the same attributes as the Celtic goddess Brigid. There are many supernatural events, legends, and folk customs associated with her. 

Hoard of ancient 2,000 year old Celtic gold coins found in Brandenburg, Germany

Discovered by a volunteer archaeologist in Brandenburg state in northeastern Germany. An ancient hoard of Celtic coins that were minted more than 2,000 years ago. The coins are curved  and are the first known Celtic gold treasure in Brandenburg. Wolfgang Herkt initially discovered some of the treasure near the village of Baitz in 2017 and reported it to the Brandenburg State Heritage Management and Archaeological State Museum (BLDAM). BLDAM archaeologists then uncovered more coins bringing the total hoard to a total of 41.

Culture Vannin Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary

Media release from Culture Vannin:

CULTURE VANNIN CELEBRATES ITS 40th ANNIVERSARY

13 January 2022

Throughout 2022, Culture Vannin will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the founding legislation which has helped it celebrate Manx culture and cultural heritage in the Island and across the world.

The cultural charity, based in St Johns, is celebrating 40 years of the founding legislation that created the Manx Heritage Foundation that is known as Culture Vannin today.

Witches of Scotland call for public apology to those accused of witchcraft between the 16th and 18th Centuries

The Witches of Scotland are undertaking a campaign for a statement from the Scottish government making a public apology to those accused of witchcraft in Scotland between the 16th and 18th centuries. The campaign seeks a legal pardon for the estimated 2,500 people convicted and executed under Scotland's Witchcraft Act. The law was in force from 1563 until 1736. It has been estimated that of the 4,000 accused of witchcraft over that period 85% were women. 

Hunterston B Closure a Step Nearer To Making Scotland Nuclear Free

Hunterston B nuclear power plant in North Ayrshire, Scotland has been shut down for the final time. Construction of Hunterston B began in 1968 and reactors 3 and 4 began operating in February 1976 and March 1977. It has been generating electricity for 46 years which is two decades after its anticipated lifespan. Plans had been made to operate Hunterston until 2023, however hairline cracks found in graphite bricks prevented this. Each of the two reactor cores is made up of 3,000 bricks.

Campaign To Block Blair Knighthood Highlights Need For Celtic Rejection of British Honours System

Over one million people have now signed a petition to have ex-British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair stripped of his knighthood. He was given a Knighthood last week. There are however, also plenty of people who believe the whole honours system as it stands in Britain should be abolished, seeing it as a relic of feudalism. Suggesting that Knighthoods and all other royal accolades be replaced with a civic award of some description. 

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