Blogs

In the days that lead-up to the UEFA European Football Championship final between Italy and England there was no doubting who many in Scotland favoured. As witnessed by the mocked-up image of Italy manager Roberto Mancini as Scottish hero William Wallace as depicted in the film Braveheart (1995) and printed on the eve of the final in the Scottish newspaper The National. The image was also quite a hit with the Italian media.

Hundreds gathered at Llyn Celyn in Gwynedd, Wales on Saturday to protest against high house prices and second home ownership in Wales. It comes as local young people are being priced out of the property market and second home ownership reaches record highs in a number of parts of the country. This second and holiday home ownership in some areas is also undermining Welsh language communities. It was revealed this week that almost half of all homes sold in Dwyfor Meirionnydd during 2020/21 were to be used as a second home.

The UEFA European Football Championship Final between Italy and England is being played on Sunday 11th July. This map probably gives a good indication of which team those outside England would like to see win.

We're very sad to learn about the death of Professor Ken Mackinnon, a friend and mentor to many readers here and father of Gàidhlig sociolinguistics. 

Ken is well-known throughout the Gaelic world and beyond for his groundbreaking work on Gaelic language use and policy.

Not only will he be deeply missed in Alba but also in Kernow. 

During the WW2 London Blitz Ken, as a boy, was evacuated to Cornwall. 

His stay instilled a lasting impression on him as well as an enduring love for Cornish language and culture. 

Saint Morwenna is a late 5th century early 6th century Celtic saint whose feast day is 8th July. She was born in Wales (Cymru) and is the brother of St. Nectan (c. 468 AD - c. 510 AD). Morwenna is the eponymous patron saint of Morwenstow (Cornish: Logmorwenna) in the north of Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow).  Morwenna is said to have been the daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog, a legendary 5th-century King of Brycheiniog which was an independent kingdom in the South of Wales in the Early Middle Ages.

In the semi - final of the UEFA European Championship being played tomorrow (7th July 2021)  Denmark are playing England. Aigh Vie Danvarg - Good Luck Denmark!

In the semi - final of the UEFA European Championship being played tomorrow (7th July 2021)  Denmark are playing England. Aigh Vie Danvarg - Good Luck Denmark!

Tynwald Day (Manx: Laa Tinvaal), the National Day of the Isle of Man (Mannin) is held on the 5th of July. It is traditionally when the government for the Isle of Man go to Tynwald Hill to read a summary of the laws passed over the last year. The reading is given in Manx Gaelic and English. The artificial hill, which is thought to have started as a Bronze Age burial mound, is made up of four circular platforms. It is said to have been a meeting place for the Celtic midsummer assembly. Hence there is a large Celtic Cross on the site representing the Celtic god, Lugh.

Link: https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/19410063.cadgwith-fisherman-tommy-phillips-denied-home-despite-cornwall-house-prices/

The Welsh Government withdrew eligibility for Economic Resilience Fund support from shooting businesses for being “related to blood sports” last month. The Welsh Government’s £500 million Economic Resilience Fund was established to support businesses in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. The decision to refuse to support shooting related businesses has predicably come under fire from British Association for Shooting and Conservation. They state that the Welsh Government has a “complete lack of understanding” of the importance of shooting to the Welsh economy.