Blogs

Interesting article here from Bernard Moffat, Public Relations Officer for Mannin Branch of the Celtic League. It follows the news that a group called Isle of Man Freethinkers are donating copies of a book called 'What is Humanism? How do you live without a god?' to schools on the Isle of Man:

‘Give Me A Child At An Impressionable Age'

As if life for Island schoolchildren isn’t confusing enough they are according to this article in the newspaper going to be gifted a tone or two by a body called Isle of Man Freethinkers.

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) is an Irish and international amateur sporting and cultural organisation. They focus mainly on promoting Gaelic games, including the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders. The Association also promotes Irish language, music and dance. The GAA yesterday (May 28 2017) officially opened a new stadium, McGovern Park, in the English city of London.

A new opinion poll undertaken by YouGov for the campaign group YesCymru has shown that a quarter of the Welsh public favour independence for Wales. This surge in support rises to a third if the Conservatives increase their majority in Westminster when the UK General Election takes place on June 8. The figures reveal a major change in the views of the Welsh electorate.

The Urdd National Eisteddfod is one of Europe’s largest youth touring festivals with over 15,000 children and young people competing. This years event is being held in Bridgend, Taff-Ely between 29 May - 3 June 2017. It is a festival that celebrates the Welsh language, culture and talents of the young people of Wales. More information can be seen on the Urdd Eisteddfod website.

A group of humanists,atheists and agnostics on the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) has donated copies of the book 'What is Humanism? How do you live without god?' to Manx schools. The first of its kind it is aimed at the new curriculum for upper primary and lower secondary school children. The book examines how humanists respond to fundamental questions about morals and ethics, the origins of life, religion and the state. It looks at how people without belief in God live moral and fulfilled lives, with respect for humankind and the universe? 

Aberdeen (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Dheathain) is a city in the north-east of Scotland. The island of Vanna is on the northern coast of Norway, about 1,118 miles (1800km) away. So it was with some surprise that a local Aberdeen football club got a message from Johnny Mikalsen, who is a shopkeeper in Vanna, saying that he had their football. The Banks o' Dee youth team can regularly see their footballs going over the fence of their ground and dropping over into the nearby River Dee. Once that happens it is just accepted that they are lost.

Early yesterday morning (May 26 2017), dragons Dewi and Dwynwen, saw their eggs hatch in the grounds of Caerphilly Castle. Two beautiful baby dragons were brought into the world. The twins are the latest addition to Cadw's family of dragons along with their parents, Dewi and Dwynwen. Brought to life by Cardiff-based prop designers Wild Creations, the twin boy and girl dragons (yet to be named)  and Dewi and Dwynwen, which weigh two tonnes each, were sculpted and moulded before being cast and built out of fibreglass.

News from Irish Branch of the Celtic League:

Saturday’s Lá Dearg in Belfast was an historic day by all accounts.  Irish language speakers and supporters marched for their rights, for equality and for justice through the streets of Belfast with the demand that an Irish Language Act be introduced in the Six Counties.  An estimated 12,000 people attended, mainly from the Six Counties, but with strong contingents of support from Irish speakers from Gaeltacht regions and the Twenty Six Counties.

The President and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland have both condemned the terrorist attack that deliberately targeted children and teenagers attending a concert in the English city of Manchester last night (22 May 2017). At the time of writing twenty-two people have been killed and at least 59 people injured in a terrorist bombing during an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena. Some of those in hospital have life threatening injuries.

Our contemporary lifestyle may have brought additional benefits to Island life, but for one annual summer visitor from Africa it has made a significant impact on their much needed habitat.

The Manx Ornithological Society, in conjunction with Manx BirdLife, have now joined forces under the banner of Swift Action to assess the breeding population of the swift, and monitor current numbers after a visitor from Tasmania noted a decline in the local population in comparison to a previous visit and suggested setting up a project to help them.