More Tynwald Arrangements Concerns

This news published by the Celtic League:

More Tynwald Arrangements Concerns

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

A frequent visitor to the Isle of Man who has studied its language and culture has expressed his reservations about potential changes mooted by the Tynwald Ceremony Arrangements Committee (TCAC) in relation to the annual National Day on July 5th.

Tom Hanley from Dublin says in a letter to the Committee says:

“I am not a Manx resident, but have regularly attended the Tynwald Day Ceremonies because they represent a unique expression of a system of government offering its citizens democratic input. The fairground has historically been central to the Tynwald Day experience and the placing of charges on pitches is in my view totally out of character with the Tynwald tradition and value system your committee is entrusted with safeguarding and promoting.”

The proposed changes have already attracted comment from both Mec Vannin (the Manx Nationalist Party) and the Celtic League.

Mr Hanley is not a member of the Celtic League simply a regular visitor to Mann who has a deep affection for its language and culture. The full text of his letter to the TCAC is set out below:

“Dear Ms Lowney,

If reports are to be believed, it appears the Tynwald Ceremony Arrangements Committee have decided to introduce charges for plot spaces in the fairfield for Tynwald Day.

Your committee is encharged with not only the organisation of, but also with the safeguarding of the great traditions and values of Tynwald Day. Just as it would be unthinkable to demand entrance fees to the public to attend the public proceedings or to submit petitions, so too I believe it should be unthinkable to charge for pitch space in the Tynwald fairground.

I am not a Manx resident, but have regularly attended the Tynwald Day Ceremonies because they represent a unique expression of a system of government offering its citizens democratic input. The fairground has historically been central to the Tynwald Day experience and the placing of charges on pitches is in my view totally out of character with the Tynwald tradition and value system your committee is entrusted with safeguarding and promoting.

I know that your membership includes people who have for many years set up worthwhile pitches in the fairground that have impressed visitors like me about the uniqueness of not only Tynwald Day but the culture of the Isle of Man in general. I therefore appeal to you now to reconsider your decision to impose charges on pitch space because the amount of money you will raise will in no way compensate for devaluing the core
Tynwald value system of maximum public participation, irrespective of the financial means of participants.

I appeal to you, Ms Lowey to bring my representation before your membership, so that the current members of the Tynwald Ceremony Arrangements Committee do not cause history to record that this devaluation of the core values of Tynwald Day occurred on their watch,

Respectfully yours,

Tom Hanley

9 Whitehall Gardens,
Dublin 12
Ireland.”
Related links:

https://www.celticleague.net/news/manx-nationalists-protest-at-new-tynwa...

Full radio interview on this issue can be accessed on Manx Radio at ‘Listen again’ (link);

http://www.manxradio.com/listen.aspx

The interview is the opening item on the Thursday ‘Mandate AM’ programme (note these items are generally deleted after seven days).

J B Moffatt (Mr)

Director of Information
Celtic League

09/04/15

(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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