Blogs

St David is the Patron Saint of Wales and March 1st is St David's Day. The first of March is recognised as a National Day throughout Wales. It is also a day of celebration for Welsh communities throughout the world and the Welsh flag with Y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon) is proudly raised. The flag of Saint David (Baner Dewi Sant) normally a yellow cross on a black field, also plays a central role in the celebrations. The date is tradionally seen as the date that Saint David died in 589.

The “Europe’s Lost Frontiers” research team, along with the Institute of Technology Sligo, University College Cork,  researchers from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and the Irish Marine Institute, are at present undertaking a survey, using the Irish Marine Institute RV Celtic Explorer, to explore the extensive prehistoric submerged landscapes of the Irish Sea.

Soaring demand for spots at Glasgow’s two Gaelic Medium primary schools is just another sign of the Celtic Tongue’s resurgence in Scotland’s largest city.  Glasgow City Council have announced plans to open a third primary school to cope with overcrowding at the existing two Gaelic primary schools. The new school is being termed as a temporary “Annexe” to accommodate the overflow.  However, the Glasgow City Councils “Gaelic Language Plan 2018 – 2022” calls for the establishment of a third fully functioning Gaelic primary school.

Congratulations to Scotland's Rugby Union team who have defeated England 25 - 13 in the Six Nations Championship today. In a thoroughly deserved victory Scotland outplayed and outfought England. As always it's a pleasure to see England defeated by any of the Celtic nations.

Picture courtesy of Scottish Rugby facebook page

Article from Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin highlights concerns about munitions that have been dumped around the Celtic coasts. The article points out that Beaufort Dyke, a deep sea trench between the north-east coast of Ireland, south-west of Scotland and north from the Isle of Man, contains a staggering one million tonnes of discarded munitions: 

SOMETHING NASTY IN THE WATER

The 2018 crime novel festival Granite Noir is getting under way in Aberdeen today and runs from Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th February 2018.  The festival has been organised by Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA), who describe the event on their website : "Over three days we’ll explore the enduring appeal of stories that plunge us into the heart of darkness - where morality is ambiguous, motives complicated, and even heroes harbour devastating secrets".

Scottish Gaelic has been erased from history to the extent that most people with Gaelic ancestry are unaware of their own linguistic and cultural heritage. Gaelic revitalization is about overcoming the damage done through miseducation, discrimination, and stereotypes, and passing the language and culture on in homes, communities and classrooms to ensure its future use. People are revitalizing Gaelic today in Scotland, Canada, and around the world.

Stormy conditions have hit Scotland over recent weeks. Snow and high winds have been causing disruption and during awful conditions on 14th February the ruined castle of Caisteal Maol on the Isle of Skye was damaged by a lightning strike. It smashed the top off one of the two main standing parts of the ruin. In what a witness described as an unnerving combination of lightning, thunder, violent wind and wet snow. There then came a loud thunder crack and a massive fireball. In an instant the floodlights that illuminate the ruin's walls were extinguished.

The Institute of Cornish Studies, based at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus will be running a free public event on St. Piran’s Day (5th March) showcasing the research that some of its postgraduate cohort are presently working on.

Pirantide Events - Fly the unsullied flag of Piran & Cornwall high in the run up to our National Day (March 5th)

Seasonal events all over listed here, more than ever:

https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/stpirans.html

and here: