Blogs

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.

South Uist (Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Deas) is an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. There are a number of sites of archaeological interest on the island, including chambered tombs, Beaker sites, a Bronze Age hoard, roundhouses, brochs, cairns, ogham inscriptions and  Viking settlements. South Uist is also the only location in Scotland where prehistoric mummies have been found. They were found under the prehistoric village at Cladh Hallan (Scottish Gaelic: Cladh Hàlainn).

The 5000 year old mysterious Late Neolithic passage tomb of Bryn Celli Ddu is a remarkable structure. The monument appears to have begun in the later Neolithic period around 5,000 years ago, as a ‘henge’ or a ritual enclosure.  It consisted of a bank (now lost) around an inner ditch, which enclosed a circle of upright stones. The ditch originally measured 21 meters in diameter. The outer edge can still be seen and a number of stones from the inner stone circle also survive.

Perth  (Scottish Gaelic: Peairt) is hosting this year's annual International Celtic Congress 2017 from July 17th to 22nd. The International Celtic Congress (Breton: Ar C'hendalc'h Keltiek, Cornish: An Guntelles Keltek, Manx: Yn Cohaglym Celtiagh, Scottish Gaelic: A' Chòmhdhail Cheilteach, Irish: An Chomhdháil Cheilteach, Welsh: Y Gyngres Geltaidd) is a cultural organisation that seeks to promote the culture, ideals, and languages of the Celtic peoples.

Haunting remains of the Arichonan township, a Scottish village cleared during the Highland Clearances (Photo: Jan Holm / Shutterstock) - complimnets of Inews

Grace O'Malley (c. 1530 – c. 1603; Irish: Gráinne Ní Mháille) was chieftain of the Ó Máille clan in the west of Ireland. The only child of Owen Dubhdara Uí Máille, the O’Malley of Umhall Uachtarach, and Margaret Ní Máille. She was commonly known as Gráinne Mhaol (anglicised as Granuaile). A proud and courageous woman, she is a well-known historical figure in 16th-century Irish history. Sometimes known as "The Sea Queen of Connacht" or even “The Pirate Queen” after she inherited her father’s significant shipping and trading business, which was sometimes described as a form of piracy.