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A large Pictish stone carving has been uncovered during a road building project in Pertnshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) in Scotland. The carving features a walking figure with a distinctive hairstyle and holding a spear.  The weapon is typical of spears used in the mid first millennium AD. Contractors stopped works in the area to allow archaeologists from Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust and Culture Perth & Kinross to inspect the stone and the site of its discovery.

The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland and was founded between 1410 and 1413. It is in the town of St Andrews (Scottish Gaelic: Cill Rìmhinn) which on the northeast coast of the historic county of Fife (Fìobha). The university occupies historic and modern buildings located throughout the town, including St Salvator's Chapel. Noted as a rare and beautiful example of Late Gothic architecture it was founded in 1450 as a part of Bishop James Kennedy's College of the Holy Saviour. The University has two collegiate chapels.

The Welsh Language Society is in the forefront of the struggle to preserve, promote and protect the Celtic tongue of Wales. The group define themselves on their web page with these words:  “Cymdeithas is a group of people who seek equality of access to the Welsh language and campaign positively in a non-violent way for rights of people in Wales to use the language in every aspect of everyday life."

News From the Welsh Language Society:

Cyhoeddwyd gan Anhysbys ar Iau, Hyd 12th am 10:15 yb (October 12, 2017)

In late 2015 Galway City in the west of Ireland declared itself to be a bi-lingual city giving equal status to Irish alongside English.  It was ironic that the City Council made the effort considering Irish is already the official language of Ireland. But it was a welcome development nevertheless and based on the latest news from Galway the 2015 declaration has had a beneficial effect on the local economy.

A unfinished portrait believed to be of Mary, Queen of Scots has been found beneath a 16th Century painting. The hidden drawing was discovered by conservator Dr Caroline Rae from the Courtauld Institute. An X-ray revealed the image underneath the 1589 portrait of Sir John Maitland, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, painted by Dutch portrait artist Adrian Vanson for Mary's son King James VI, two years after she was executed. The Maitland painting is part of a National Trust collection and went on display this weekend at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh.

Pen Dinas is the name of a large hill by the village of Penparcau, on the coast of Ceredigion, Wales. It is the site of Pen Dinas Iron Age Celtic hillfort which overlooks the sea from a ridge between the Rivers Rheidol and Ystwyth, and stands above the town of Aberystwyth. Enclosing an area of 3.8 hectares, defined by massive rampart and ditched defences, this is one of the largest and most important hillforts in west Wales. Excavations of the site, between 1933-37, pointed to intermittent occupation during the Iron Age.

The land area of Scotland is 30,414 square miles (78,770 km2), with the mainland of Scotland having 6,160 miles (9,910 km) of coastline. The physical features of Scotland having been formed by the action of tectonic plates, and later erosion arising from glaciation. The beauty of the towering mountains, shimmering lochs, deep glens and rolling hills owe much to the force of ice that sculptured Scotland's landscapes during the last 'Ice Age'. Wearing it down, the smoothing and shaping of bedrock, transporting and depositing rock debris.

Ireland’s 2018 Budget is getting mixed reviews when it comes to funding for the Gaeltacht and Irish language initiatives.

The construction of a 40 metre high wind turbine has been halted near a Neolithic cairn in Co Down (Irish: Contae an Dúin) in the northeast of Ireland. The development has been paused for 28 days due to fears that the development would have a visual impact on the integrity of the 5,000-year old site and was in breach of planning policy. The Neolithic Round Cairn on Knock Iveagh, a hill outside Rathfriland (Irish: Ráth Fraoileannin), dates back to beyond 3000BC. Measuring 100ft in diameter and 10ft tall it was used as a burial place and for ritual. 

Press release from Culture Vannin:

Over 90 ways to talk about the weather in Manx!

Culture Vannin is pleased to announce the release of over 90 animated Gifs in Manx that relate to our wonderful, variable and often challenging weather.