Alastair Kneale's blog

The Labour Party’s idea of federalism offers little hope for the people of the Celtic nations. In many ways it is too late for Labour to play the federalism card and particularly in Scotland it is not likely to stem the hemorrhaging in their support. Their decline has been quite startling. Once Labour in Scotland, before the growth of the Scottish National Party (SNP), dominated political life. Now Labour’s leader in Scotland, Richard Leonard, has just quit the post after three years.

Sophia Morrison (24 May 1859 – 14 January 1917) was a Manx cultural activist, folklore collector and author. She was a founder member of Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh (The Manx Language Society) and played an important role in the Celtic revival in her Manx homeland and throughout the Celtic world.  She was an enthusiastic collector and recorder of all things related to Manx culture, including the island's ancient Gaelic language, its folklore, tales and music. In doing so this great patriot did not view her work as just a means to preserve the past.

It was on the 10th January 2000 that the fishing boat Solway Harvester set out from Kirkcudbright (Scottish Gaelic: Cille Chuithbeirt) in south-west Scotland. They fished off the Manx coast until the following day 11th January and planned to set sail home. Due to the stormy conditions they sought refuge in the shelter of Ramsey Bay (Manx: Baie Rhumsaa) on the northeast coast of the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin). Facing gale force winds of Force 9 nothing further was heard of the vessel until an emergency beacon was picked up later that day. 

Blein Vie Noa (Manx Gaelic)

Bliadhna Mhath ùr (Scottish Gaelic)

Bliain Nua Fe Mhaise (Irish)

Bloavezh Mat  (Breton)

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda (Welsh)

Bledhen Nowyth Da (Cornish)

Today (21st December) Keir Starmer, the leader of the British Labour Party, made his much hyped speech on YouTube about devolution plans under under any possible future Labour government. Although purporting to voice Labour's commitment to delivering a wave of devolved government across the Britain, it was really a desperate attempt to sabotage any desire for independence by the Scottish people.

A man has appeared at the Isle of Man Courts of Justice (Manx: Quaiylyn Cairys Ellan Vannin) after a bizarre and dangerous crossing across the Irish Sea from Scotland to the Isle of Man. Dale McLaughlan aged  28 from Irvine in North Ayrshire made the journey on a jet ski despite having never driven one before. The Scottish coast is the closest in distance to the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) of all its neighbouring countries. The Point of Ayre (Manx: Kione ny Hayrey) is the northernmost point of the Isle of Man being just 16 miles (26 km) south of Burrow Head in Scotland.

Tonight the Ellan Vannin Memorial Service took place in the Our Lady, Star of the Sea & St Maughold Catholic Church on South Promenade in Ramsey, Isle of Man (Manx: Rhumsaa, Mannin) at 6.30pm. The service remembered those who perished on this day, December 3rd, in 1909 when the Isle of Man Steam Packet ship SS Ellan Vannin sank in the Irish Sea. 

The Christmas lights are being turned on in ceremonies and celebrations in the Isle of Man (Manx Gaelic: Mannin) over recent days. The most recent being in the town of Peel (Manx: Purt ny h-Inshey) where people thronged the town streets and a fireworks display was held. The Isle of Man scrapped social distancing rules on 15th June, the first in the British and Irish Isles  to do so. A relaxation that has since allowed for the opening of restaurants, cafés and pubs, and the reopening of gyms.

Wake up and smell the coffee! When the English refer to "Great Britain" they mean "Greater England". There has been some shock expressed over recent days that British Airways wished the England rugby team “good luck” in the rugby match against Wales today 28th November. But is it that much of a surprise?

Standing on its original site in the churchyard of St Adamnan's Church in the Parish of Lonan (Manx Gaelic: Skyll Lonan) on the Isle of Man (Mannin) is a very beautiful Celtic Cross. It is one of a number of Celtic Crosses in the churchyard that date back to the 5th century. One of the early Keeils (a Manx Gaelic word for a church), St Adamnan's Church is on the site of an earlier keeill dating from the 5th century. Often simply referred to as "Lonan Old Church" it was originally known in Manx as Keeill ny-Traie, or "the chapel by the shore" and is on the eastern side of the Island.