Australian Celtic Festival 2021 has Special Focus on Ireland and Isle of Man

The Australian Celtic Festival is an annual event that celebrates the Celtic nations. Brittany (Breizh), Cornwall (Kernow), Ireland (Éire), Isle of Man (Mannin), Scotland (Alba) and Wales (Cymru) feature strongly in the Festival. There is also a recognition that other Nations have a Celtic history and so the Australian Celtic Festival continues to recognise all Celtic heritage  Each year up to twenty different Scottish Clans and representatives from the Celtic Nations turn out in force to hold their annual Celtic ceremonies and spectacles. The Festival also normaly draws large crowds. Whilst celebrating all of the Nations there is always a focus on two or three specific countries each year on a rotation basis. The only exception to this is Scotland, which is solely featured when its turn comes. This is due to the strong connection of Scotland to the town and area in which the Festival is held, Glen Innes in New South Wales. The town is named after Major Archibald Innes who was born in Scotland. In addition to the flags of the Celtic countries being flown at the ceremony, those of Australia and the Australian Aboriginal Flag which represents Aboriginal Australians were raised. 

This year's Australian Celtic Festival was held on the 1st and 2nd May and the special focus was on Ireland and Isle of Man. The organisers managed to hold a somewhat scaled down festival this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, having had to cancel last year’s event. In spite of this the festival drew the crowds to enjoy the music, markets and celebrations. The festival was opened by Owen Feeney, Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney. Master of Cermonies was Judi Toms, Chair of the Australian Standing Stones Management Board with the Mayor of the town also welcoming visitors. Emilie Ryan sang the Irish and Manx national anthems in Irish and Manx respectively. Members of Australian Manx as well as Irish societies were present along with those from the other Nations. A letter of Manx greeting from Alastair Kneale, President  of the London Manx Society (Manx:Yn Cheshaght Manninagh Lunnin) was also read out. London Manx has a long standing close relationship with the Festival. 

This year there was also a special emphasis on the culture and folk tradition of both Ireland and the Isle of Man and this was reflected in the exhibitions and performances. Some events took place in venues around the town of Glen Innes. The main site of the Festival is the remarkable National Monuments to Australia's Celtic Pioneers. Comprising 40 granite monoliths. The standing stones have a circle of 24 stones representing 24 hours of the day. Three central stones, four cardinal stones marking true North, East, South and West, and seven stones marking summer and winter solstices. Such a huge stone monument is probably the first of their kind anywhere in the world for over 3,500 years.

Image above: Owen Feeney, Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney opening the festival.

Images below: Manx and Irish flags. Owen Feeney and Judi Toms at opening ceremony. Music and dance performance. Picture of The Australian Celtic Stones National Monument. With thanks to Steve Toms for the photographs.