Emmett McIntyre's blog

Councillors representing the Scottish Highlands have been publicly urged, at the behest of the Highland Council (Comhairle na Gailhealtachd) to learn Gaelic.  According to a recent article in the Lochaber News, less than 10% of the 80 Councillors representing Highlands’s districts can speak Gaelic. The call for Councillors to receive Gaelic instruction comes in connection with the introduction of a language plan required by statute.  The article quotes Hamish Fraser, Chair of the Highland Council Gaelic Implementation Group, who represents the 11th Ward on the Isle of Skye, as being hopeful that as many of his colleagues as possible would attend the training.

The Celtic League is an inter Celtic organization that has campaigned for the political, language, cultural and social rights of the Celtic Nations since 1961. The League have posted an article to its January 2013 "Latest News" feature section on the Leagues' website entitled "2012 – New Year Review". This article surveys developments during 2012 that impact the preservation, protection and promotion of Celtic culture in the Six Nations. Below are the highlights of the “2012 – New Year Review”.  The complete text can be found on the Celtic Leagues’ website linked below.

In the news recently were the results of the 2011 Welsh census, which indicate an unexpected drop in the number of Welsh speakers.  It is reported that the 2001 census registerd 20.5% as Welsh Speaking whereas the 2011 census reported a drop to 19 %. 

British Members of Parliament (MPs) are signing up for Cornish lessons according to this article in Cornwall's Western Morning News. It is further being reported that those taking classes include three MPs with Cornish constituencies, plus one Scottish Nationalist and a member of Plaid Cymru.