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News from The Celtic League:

A former British soldier is to stand trial following a killing in the North of Ireland forty years ago.

A court bid aimed at stopping the prosecution of a former British soldier has been rejected, amid a political controversy over whether other veterans should be handed an amnesty.

Dismissing a defence application to stay the prosecution of pensioner Dennis Hutchings, a judge in Belfast said he was satisfied the defendant, from Cawsand Torpoint in Cornwall, could receive a fair trial.

Fairburn Tower stands near to the village Muir of Ord (Scottish Gaelic: Am Blàr Dubh) in the Highlands of Scotland. The building was built in 1545 by Murdo Mackenzie on land left to him by King James V of Scotland. The building is now in a very fragile state and could be at risk of collapse. Now there are plans by The Landmark Trust, a building conservation charity, to restore the tower house and bring it back into use. 

Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) decision to license the slaughter of 300 ravens in Perthshire has been widely condemned. A petition to prevent the raven cull has now gained nearly 30,000 signatures. Scottish Natural Heritage have authorised the culling of ravens in Perthshire as part of a five year experiment to see if the breeding of another species of birds would improve if there were less ravens around.

Bravehound is a Scottish charity that supports former servicemen, women and their families. On their website they state "dogs can help heal invisible wounds" The charity provide training and dogs to support veterans, some of whom have post-traumatic stress, mental health issues and physical injury. One man who has told his story is Army veteran Paul Wilkie who thinks that his dog, Irma, saved his life.

Thousands of Scottish independence supporters marched through the streets of Glasgow today. Some estimates put the turnout at 90,000 and the march left Kelvingrove Park at 11:30 and ended with a rally on Glasgow Green. It is one of a series of such events being held across Scotland by the pro-independence organisation All Under One Banner.

Early May sees Helston town celebrate the much-awaited coming of spring and passing of winter in its own unique and colourful way. Flora Day, as it is known, is always held on the 8th unless that happens to fall on a Sunday or Monday, in which case it is held of the Saturday before.

The news that Prince Charles' Duchy of Cornwall will get a £8.7million grant from Cornwall Council along with a loan of £7.1m to fund a road to its housing development in Newquay has provoked anger and outrage in Cornwall.

The Council's Cabinet has agreed to provide the £8.7m which will plug a funding gap for the Newquay Strategic Route (NSR) which will serve the Duchy of Cornwall's Nansledan development. The heir to the throne visited the "urban extension" development in March.

As we enter the merry month of May we can also welcome an exciting new, free event in Peel, which will bring together a number of Gaelic and Norse traditions in a dramatic and exciting representation entitled the Boaldyn Fire Festival.

News from Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Mannin Branch Celtic League:

‘Cultural’ v ‘Political’ Nationalism It's a Complex Issue

I saw this item recently on Manx Radio and was struck by the reference to Aeglagh Vannin established by Mona Douglas being set up to inspire a generation of ‘cultural’ nationalists:

In Ireland it is not unusual to have place names associated with a particular warrior, hero or deity. They can often be linked to those magnificent ancient stories involving the Gaelic gods of the Tuatha Dé Danann. However, place names do not always come from magical times and legends from long ago. Some have a brutally real meaning that point to a site of particularly negative more recent events. Take for example Misery Hill in Dublin, the name of a street that now stands in the redeveloped and  fashionable Dockland area of Dublin.