Blogs

Recently 'Transceltic' reported on an Irish-speaking employee who was reported to have been forced from his job after the management of the business demanded that he use the English language. This news item was widely reported and generated a wide range of responses.

News from the Celtic League:

The Breton site ‘Support the Reunification of Brittany’ has a tribute to an activist for the Breton language and campaigner for reunification of the historic Breton State who has died:

“KENAVO MARTIAL MÉNARD - A last "Kenavo" to one of Brittany's best linguists and Breton militants. (12/9/2016)

“Brittany said a last farewell to the 64 year old passionate advocate of the Breton language and of a Reunified Brittany, today, in the small village of Lanrelaz/Lanrelas in eastern Brittany.

News from the Celtic League:

The earlier post which referred to the annual slaughter of pilot whales in the Faeroes Islands reminded me of the casual way in which society still exploits the marine environment either for food stocks or in the case of the seal slaughter in Canada for fashion.

With the Isle of Man's General Election taking place on September 22nd 2016 the Manx Wildlife Trust (Manx: Treisht Bea-Feie Vannin) has called on prospective MHK's to make a stand for the environment. The election is for the The House of Keys (Manx: Y Chiare as Feed), which is the Lower Branch of the Isle of Man parliament, Tynwald (Manx: Tinvaal).

The General Election on the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) will be held on September 22nd 2016. The election is for the The House of Keys (Manx: Y Chiare as Feed), which is the Lower Branch of the Isle of Man parliament, Tynwald (Manx: Tinvaal). The Keys is made up of 24 members who represent 12 constituencies. The members of the House of Keys (MHK’s) are directly elected by the people of the Isle of Man once every five years. All 24 seats will be up for election. 

News from the Mannin Branch Celtic League:

The Chamber of Commerce were to the fore recently issuing entreaties about voting wisely to the hoi polloi. The reaction was so hostile that the admin side of the IOMToday Comments section had to ‘ride to the rescue’ and effectively damp down criticism.

The Chamber also helpfully has a section on its web pages providing advice for us ‘thicko’s’ amongst the electorate as to the sort of questions we should press candidates on if any pop up on our doorsteps.

The link is here:

The annual National Famine Commemoration took place today at Glasnevin Cemetery, in Ireland's capital Dublin. Irish President Michael D Higgins unveiled a Celtic cross memorial to Ireland's one million Famine dead following the failure of the potato crop. At the height of the Famine more than 60 funerals a day were taking place at the cemetery. Glasnevin was one of Ireland's largest Famine burial sites.

The Swedish folk dance group Sunnerbogillet recently completed an exchange visit as guests of their long-term friends in the Manx Folk Dance Society, with time in their schedule for joint displays at the Quarter Deck in Port Erin and Laxey Square.

Members of the Manx Folk Dance Society travelled to Ljungby in southern Sweden during 2015, where they visited the Europeade Folk Dance Festival in the town of Helsingborg, on the Baltic coast.

News from Kernow Matters To Us:

Introduction

One of our steering group members, Tony Leamon, has released the following letter to the local press and media. It has also been sent for the attention of Sam Hartley at the Boundaries Commission, an unelected Civil Servant who apparently feels that in publicly declaring 'Devonwall' as being inevitable, has completely ignored the wishes of our people, our Cornwall Council and elected Councillors, our Cornish Gorsedh as well as over ruled our elected MPs, Parliament, House of Lords and democratic process. 

The damage done to Scots Gaelic culture by the Highland Clearances in the 1700’s and the efforts to reclaim what has been lost continues into modern times. Part of this renewal is a revival of traditional Scottish Step Dancing.