Blogs

Whales are visiting Irish waters more frequently, with the number of minke whales in particular being seen described as "exceptional". This is a recent report from the Mannin Branch of the Celtic League which highlights an article in the Irish Times: 

TIME OF THE WHALES

Whales are arriving earlier, staying longer and being seen in greater numbers of the South and East of Ireland according to this article from Irish Times Marine correspondent Lorna Siggins:

News from Mannin Branch of the Celtic League:

Christopher Lewin has this report about a recent protest by the Scottish group Misneachd at the National Museum of Scotland:

“I was present at a protest outside the National Museum of Scotland last month concerning the lack of Gaelic in a new exhibition about the Jacobites.

The demonstration was organised by the group Misneachd, which is an offshoot of the Irish organisation which was the topic of my last article.

Media Release

Following requests from many media outlets regarding Tintagel, Kernow Matters To Us (KMTU) releases the following statement:

The ill-fated ship passenger liner RMS Titanic was built in the city of Belfast (Irish: Béal Feirste) in the northeast of Ireland (Irish: Éire). Titanic sank during her maiden voyage in 1912. At the time, news of the terrible sinking of the Titanic spread around the world and its horror has held a fascination for people every since. Titanic, whose name was derived from Greek mythology and meant gigantic, set out on its maiden voyage across the North Atlantic from Southampton on 10 April 1912.

Kernow

5 VII 2017

A Esely wheg

KMTU Secretary makes outspoken speech at Flamank commemoration

At a surprisingly well attended commemoration held in torrential rain in Bodmin and attended by many Councillors, civic dignitaries and others, 'Kernow Matters To Us' (KMTU) Secretary made a rousing speech to the assembled crowd and has been asked by many to supply the words fearlessly spoken out.

We have pleasure in reproducing the speech hereunder:

Catalonia (Catalan: Catalunya) is located on the northeastern extremity of the Iberian Peninsula. It has its own language, laws and customs. Catalan nationalist parties won an absolute majority in the 135-seat regional assembly in 2015 and voted to start the process towards independence. An independence referendum has been called for October 2017 and the question to be voted on will be: "Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state in the form of a republic?

Wearing a sprig of Bollan Bane (aka mugwort or white wort) in your lapel on Tynwald Day (the Isle of Man's National Day) has long been recognised as a colloquial protection against 'themselves' or the fairies, but the release of a new film by Culture Vannin reveals further interesting details about this long held tradition.

Tynwald Day (Manx: Laa Tinvaal), the National Day of the Isle of Man (Mannin) is held on the 5th of July. It is 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 sun god, Lugh.

Little is known of the mysterious King Galdus. However, in legend he is described as a Scottish Chief who fought the Romans. His fame was such that ancient monuments, built long before his time, became associated with him. However, there is not likely to be any connection between this historical figure and these prehistoric remains.  One of the sites is that of the two Neolithic tombs of Cairnholy, in Dumfries and Galloway in South-west Scotland.

From the Scotland Herald:

Here is a story about government officials travelling round the Highlands and Islands in the 19th century and when they arrived in one particularly remote community asked locals where their leaders were. “They are away running Canada," came the reply.

This Saturday sees the 150th anniversary of the act of the British Parliamentcoming into force, which effectively founded the country.