Blogs

Simon Coveney, Ireland's Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Foreign Minister has summoned the Israeli ambassador to a meeting to express Ireland’s “shock and dismay” after the killing of 59 demonstrators with more than 2,700 wounded during protests along the Gaza border yesterday.

News from the Celtic League:

Figures released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland prove conclusively that 50% of investigations into ‘legacy killings’ are targeted at republicans.

There has been a major furore in recent months stoked by military figures. Some British politicians including Ministers and retired senior army figures are suggesting that cases against former soldiers were being pursued disproportionately. These ‘lobbyists’ want a dispensation or limitation on prosecution so that alleged British Army murderers can get of the hook.

News from the Celtic League:

If there is one thing Ireland is noted for its rainfall the Atlantic westerlies make sure the country gets a good drenching. Consequently when it was suggested over a decade ago that water might need to be piped from the River Shannon in the West to supply Dublin City most people thought it was an elaborate hoax.

However the project is still live and indeed it seems that serious consideration is being given to piping water - using huge pipes the largest ever used in Ireland - from ArdnaCrusha on Lough Derg all the way to Dublin.

Two important proposals are now being looked into following concerns raised by locals and groups supporting them in regard to the replacement ferry service to the island of Toraigh. Toraigh, is 14.5 kilometres (9.0 miles) off the north-west coast of County Donegal (Contae Dhún na nGall) in the north-west of Ireland. The people of Toraigh had mounted a very high profile campaign against a 40 year old vessel, Queen of Aran, becoming the replacement ferry imposed on them by the Department of the Gaeltacht. Significant safety and reliability concerns had been raised.

News from the Celtic League:

Earlier this month Ireland's Defence Secretary. Paul Kehoe attended two events over a four day period that could not have been farther removed from each other.

News from the Celtic League:

Celtic News reported periodically on the controversy surrounding the proposed new airport at Nante (Notre Dame des Landes) plans for which were abandoned this year.

Nantes is of course the old Capital of Brittany and was an integral part of the country prior to its ‘hiving off’ by the French to the department of Loire-Atlantique.

News from the Celtic League:

Emmanuel Macron President of France strives to portray a new image of French politics but when he turned up in Noumea, Kanaky (New Caledonia) earlier this month nothing had changed.

Old style French colonialism holds sway as the territory is about to vote later this year on self determination and the political elite in Paris want the ‘status quo’ to prevail.

Gŵyl Ganol Haf  Dinbych - Denbigh Mid Summer festival organisers have decided to make this years festival a month long event. Starting on June 1 of June the decision to extend the length of the festival is to give everyone the opportunity to see the best of Denbigh (Welsh: Dinbych). This will be the fifteenth year of the festival which has a range of planned activities. It is non-profit with most of the over 30 scheduled events being free and where there is an entry fee it is to contribute towards the running of the festival.

News from the Celtic League:

Campaign groups are expressing concern that deaths in prison are not being investigated ‘quickly or rigorously enough’ according to a report for BBC Cymru this week:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-44072973

With the Year of Our Island initiative encouraging everyone to get out more and explore the Isle of Man, there's a great opportunity this month to discover more about a rare, architectural gem in the south of the Island and its valuable contribution to rural life.

Kentraugh Mill will be open once again as part of the annual National Mills Weekend, which celebrates the remarkable history of milling heritage in its many forms and includes both windmills and watermills across the length and breadth of the British Isles.