BBC Ignore St Piran Celebrations – Again!

This news published by the Celtic League:

BBC Ignore St Piran Celebrations – Again!

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Members of Kernow branch of the Celtic League are annoyed at the BBCs failure once again to cover the St Piran’s day celebrations.

This report from Kernow branch Convenor Michael Chappell:

‘The BBC who are not known for their sympathies towards Cornwall and the Cornish unless seen through the eyes of potential second home buyers or those able to afford to eat at the Duchy’s expensive eateries and whose past programmes have often mocked the indigenous Cornish, have caused further upset by ignoring the massive celebrations of St Piran, now widely recognised as the National Saint of Cornwall, not only in Kernow but further afield amongst the Cornish diaspora despite marking those of the other Celtic Nations.

Accordingly, Cllr John Gillingham of the Branch has lodged a formal complaint with the Corporation in the following written communication sent to them text below:’

“The BBC One Show:

When St Andrew’s day, St David’s day, St George’s day and St Patrick’s day, the national days for the Scots, Welsh, English and Irish respectively, fall upon a weekday they get extensive coverage and celebration on the One Show. St Piran’s day (5th March) does not get any mention despite it being the national day of the Cornish when thousands of people take to the streets of Cornwall in celebration.

As you are no doubt aware the Cornish are protected from discrimination by public bodies and the media as they are recognised by the UK government as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities alongside the Irish Welsh and Scots.

I have asked the One Show for several years running, including this year, to include St Piran’s day but have not received a reply. I believe that this lack of inclusion does constitute a breach of the Framework and of equality law in the UK.”

Footnote: The Isle of Man does not have a formal Saints Day but even the normally lack lustre BBC North West, which ‘serves’ the Island, manages a report on the annual Tynwald Day National Holiday – even if it is mainly focused on the neo-colonial pageant on Tynwald Hill!

J B Moffatt (Mr)

Director of Information
Celtic League

11/03/15

(Please note that replies to correspondence received by the League and posted on CL News are usually scanned hard copies. Obviously every effort is made to ensure the scanning process is accurate but sometimes errors do occur.)

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