Blogs

News from Kernow Matters To Us:

No to a cross-Tamar “Devonwall” parliamentary constituency

A second petition to sign and share please

Link to petition here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/188271

Ireland's President, Michael D Higgins, has said his thoughts are with the family of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick who died after an Irish Coast Guard helicopter crashed in the early hours of this morning. Three crew members of Rescue 116, named as Mark Duffy, Ciarán Smith and Paul Ormsby, are still missing. The Dublin based helicopter had gone to provide cover for another Coast Guard helicopter which had been helping an injured crewman on a fishing boat 150 nautical miles west of Eagle Island in Co Mayo.

Scotland’s Bòrd na Gàidhlig has published the draft of the National Gaelic Language Plan 2017-2022 for public consultation.  The purpose of this is to lay out the policy for Gaelic in the near future. The language Plan aims to strengthen the language at both the local and national levels for the next five years. Bòrd na Gàidhlig chief executive Shona MacLennan is quoted in “Holyrood Current Affairs” as follows: “What the plan does is set out the overarching aims for ensuring that Gaelic has a secure future in Scotland.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon caught most people on the hop this morning by her announcement that a new Scottish referendum on independence is being sought. It was her timing more than the announcement itself that caused surprise, as most thought it would come at the Scottish National Party’s spring conference at the end of the week. She said that she wanted the referendum to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019.

Turkish President Erdoğan is becoming increasingly dictatorial. Ever since being elected he has worked to trample on Turkish democratic rights, consolidate his powers and promote his Islamic agenda. Turkey’s remaining secular and democratic pillars, established by the Republic of Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923, are being dismantled. Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party have pushed through a referendum, to be held in April, that if successful will pool power in the hands of the president and dramatically reduce his accountability to parliament.

News from Kernow Matters To Us:

Although it did not make many headlines, last week the recommendations of the Council of Europe's Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCPNM) was published.

The Cornish people were included in this Convention back in the spring of 2014 and the report has given us all an insight into what the Council of Europe makes of the Westminster’s treatment of the Cornish National Minority.

Cwlwm Celtaidd is a celebration of the culture, music, song and dance of the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Brittany & Wales. The festival continues this weekend 9 - 12 March 2017 with a full programme of concerts, dances, workshops, street dance displays in the Town Centre and on the Esplanade today (Saturday), ongoing sessions in the bar and Beach Ceilidh planned for Sunday.  Hosted at the Grand Pavilion on the Porthcawl seafront, this family friendly festival continues at full swing.

The demand for Gaelic education is growing in Scotland's largest city Glasgow. The number of pupils in Gaelic Medium Education, where lessons are mainly taught in Gaelic, stands at 900 and the two existing primary schools are full. As reported recently in The Scotsman newspaper the growing demand for Gaelic education has led to the need for a third primary school in Glasgow. Rolls are predicted to increase to 1150 within three years and a report presented to the council’s education committee points out that a “sharp increase” in demand for places had been recorded in August 2016.

John Surtees (11 February 1934 – 10 March 2017) has died in hospital at the age of 83. John Surtees will always hold a special place in the history of the Isle of Man TT. Seen as the greatest motorcyle race in the world, the Isle of Man TT provides the ultimate test for competitors and machines alike. The International Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Race was first held on the Island in 1907.

News from Association of Bretons in New York:

Interceltic Festival in New York 

A Fest Noz in the Big Apple

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 

Doors open 6:30pm, Show starts 7:30pm

The Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th St, NYC)

Join us for an unforgettable St. Patrick's day party brought to you by BZH NY and the Lorient Interceltic Festival.

Featuring performances from: