Blogs

Mount Stewart is a 19th-century house and garden in County Down (Irish: Contae an Dúin) in the north-east of Ireland, which is now owned by the National Trust. Archaeologists have recently discovered a hidden 12th Century motte-and-bailey castle on the estate, which is situated on the Ards Peninsula (Irish: Leithinis na hArda).  There was considerable Norman intervention in this area in the 12th century resulting in the  building of a number of castles and priories. 

In 2017 the Loch Ness Monster has had more official sightings than any other year this century. The most recent sighting was on 2 November 2017. Dr Jo Knight from Lancaster University and her nine-year-old son photographed  what appears to be a fin or similar at 11.25 am from a cruise boat on a visit to the Loch.

In this article in Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin it is reported that Denis Halliday, a former Irish UN official is to return the Presidents Medal he had recieved at Ireland's NUI university in Galway in the west of Ireland. This is in protest at the award of an honorary degree by the University to former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Enda Kenny. Denis Halliday's actions are due to what he sees as Enda Kenny's failure to protect the neutrality and peacekeeping ethic of the Irish Defence Forces: 

This month Elsie Inglis (16 August 1864 – 26 November 1917) will be honoured for her achievements during World War One at events planned by the Scottish Commemorations Panel. Elsie Inglis was an innovative Scottish doctor, suffragist, and founder of the Scottish Women's Hospitals. The centenary of the death and funeral of Dr Elsie Inglis will be marked on 26 and 29 November respectively in Edinburgh. There will be an Act of Remembrance at Dean Cemetery on 26 November and a Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles Cathedral on 29 November, where there is a plaque to commemorate her work. 

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed on 11th November in many countries around the world. For most people the day is significant in that it brings to mind those that died and suffered in the First World War. Originating in Europe it became a global conflict that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to mark the end of hostilities at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

A video installation called Y Milwr Amharod (The Reluctant Soldier) has been beamed on to the front of the National Library of Wales (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru). It commemorates the 100th anniversary of the death of Welsh war poet Hedd Wynn, the Snowdonia shepherd who was killed on the opening day of the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, just days after being sent to the front line.

Peterhead (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann Phàdraig) is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Peterhead was founded by fishermen and became a significant fishing and trading port. Given its history it was an appropriate place for the launch of another ship at the end of May 2017. This time it was a toy Playmobil pirate ship launched by two brothers Ollie and Harry Ferguson, aged eight and five. It carries a message asking anyone who finds the boat, named Adventure, to put it back into the sea.  

The so-called Paradise Papers are revelations that are placing a spotlight on the tax affairs of some of the wealthiest people and companies in the world. In particular their use  of jurisdictions with low or zero-tax rates as a means of tax avoidance. At this stage the allegations from the media has focused on tax avoidance rather than tax evasion. While tax avoidance involves companies and people using legal ways to reduce their tax bill, tax evasion is an offence and involves illegal ways of paying less tax than required.

Ireland has joined a growing list of countries that ban the use of wild animals in circuses. Many Irish local authorities already do not allow public land to be used by circuses featuring wild animals. Michael Creed, Irish Minister for Agriculture has signed new regulations which bans the use of wild animals in circuses and which will come into effect from 1 January 2018. The Minister said:

These images were published by the BBC. They were sent in by those witnessing natures light displays of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) across northern and central Scotland on Tuesday night. At this time of year when artificial Christmas lights are being switched on in some great displays around the world, nature likes to remind us who can really do it better!