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Today, 21st May, is the feast day of Saint Collen. Saint Collen was a  monk born in c.600 and the Welsh town of Llangollen takes its name from him 'gollen' being a mutation of "Collen". He is said to have arrived in Llangollen by coracle and to be descended from the Kings of Gwent. St Collen died on 21 May, at sometime in the early 7th century and was buried in his chapel, which for many centuries was located immediately to the west of the present medieval church of St Collen in Llangollen.

Nicola Sturgeon First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party  has said that the debate on independence of Scotland will restart in the coming weeks. Her comments were made ahead of the publication of the report of the growth commission, set up in 2016 and due to be published next week, it will make recommendations on monetary and other policy options for an independent Scotland. 

Waldo Williams (30 September 1904 – 20 May 1971) was born in Haverfordwest (Welsh: Hwlffordd). He was one of the leading Welsh-language poets of the 20th century, a Christian pacifist, anti-war campaigner, and Welsh nationalist. He used his bardic name Goronwy. His early childhood was spent in Mynachlog-ddu, where his father was the head teacher of the primary school.

On May 17th members of the infamous Spanish Civil Guard undertook action in the Southern Basque Country to seize the property and possessions of former Basque prisoners.

The operation is sanctioned by the Spanish Courts with much hyperbole about continuing a crackdown on persons linked to the now disbanded ETA armed liberation movement.

However of the fifty persons targeted only 10 had any links to ETA and the others had been convicted of offences such as street protest.

The Battle of Ballon took place on 22 November 845 when Breton forces led by Nominoë, Duke of Brittany defeated the Frankish army of  Charles Le Chauve (13 June 823 – 6 October 877) who was the King of West Francia and grandson of the Emperor Charlemagne. Nominoë (d. 7 March 851) was the first Duke and later King of Brittany from 846 to his death and is also known as Tad ar Vro ("father of the country").

It is shocking that two years into a new Manx government and a Tynwald that has seen a ‘churn’ of over 50% in membership poverty and deprivation in Mann are getting worse.

This is best illustrated by the fact that the Isle of Man Foodbank with increased demand for the food aid it supplies is moving to new larger premises.

A spokesman for the body speaks about the increasing demand and the factor of what he terms ‘poverty within employment’ where folk who are gainfully employed can still not manage to meet basic needs for food because pay levels are so low:

The Manx media report on a visit by a number of French warships to Mann it's one of a regular series of such military jollies in the Port of Douglas and the vessels Officers were entertained by local civic dignitaries and the Islands English Lt Governor.:

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=40624&headline=French%20Navy%20...

Caergwrle Castle (Welsh: Castell Caergwrle) is a fortification in the town of Caergwrle, Flintshire (Sir y Fflint), close to the English border. It was built by Dafydd ap Gruffydd (1238 - 3 October 1283) between 1277 and 1282.  It is one of the castles of the indigenous Welsh princes built in order to defend their land from invasion.

News from the Celtic League:

The placing of a giant ‘NO’ sign by campaigners opposed to abortion in Ireland on the side of Ben Bulben mountain has prompted protest from the Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

The sign is 100 foot high and made out of plastic cladding. It has been erected with the landowners permission.

The National Trust’s Women and Power programme was created to mark the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act, which first gave some women the vote. The National Trust is a charity that aims to preserve and protect historic properties as well as historic landscapes, historic urban properties, and nature reserves  Over the year they have been exploring the stories of the women (and men) from the places it manages, who fought both for and against female suffrage through new exhibitions, podcasts, art installations and other events.