Blogs

News from the Celtic Legue:

I highlighted our concerns expressed via the General Secretary to the EU about the activities of so called super trawlers that fish globally but have been particularly active in a stretch of waters spanning North Scotland – the West of Ireland – to West Africa.

Some countries are tackling this type of predatory attack on their resources. Large countries like Australia and small comparatively poor countries like Palau whose attempts to tackle aggressive illegal fishing by Chinese fleets I highlighted recently (links below).

Just a few hours ago Barcelona won the Spanish football Copa Del Rey final 2-0 against Sevilla at Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid. It was a proud moment for the Barcelona fans who waved Estelada flags to celebrate the victory. The pro-Catalan independence flags have become a common sight at Barcelona’s home matches in recent years during an upswing of separatist sentiment in Catalonia which is situated to the north-east of Spain.

Prestatyn is a seaside town on the Irish Sea coast of north-east Wales. Evidence points to the location of the present town having been occupied since prehistoric times. Prehistoric tools have been found in the caves of nearby Craig Fawr. The Romans were stationed in the area. The Normans built a castle here which was destroyed by Owain Gwynedd in 1167. In the 19th and 20th centuries the town became a popular seaside tourist destination.

News from the Celtic League:

The General Secretary of the Celtic League has written a strongly worded protest to the EU Fisheries Commissioner about the untrammelled exploitation of global fishery resources by EU conglomerates.

The EU legitimises the destruction of fish stocks often using its economic clout to pressure smaller countries such as those of West Africa to allow its trawlers access.

Standing proudly in the Manx Musuem (Manx: Thie Tashtee Vannin) for over a century the skeleton of The Irish Elk has had pride of place. Over recent months Manx National Heritage (Manx: Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin) the organisation responsible for protecting and promoting the Isle of Man’s heritage and culture, has undertaken detailed study, cleaning and conservation work on the Giant Deer. Much of this significant work has been tackled by Manx National Heritage’s conservator Chris Weeks.

News from the Celtic League:

The French courts have dealt another blow to attempts by the family members of those lost on the Breton trawler Bugaled Breizh to get justice in France.

Eleven years of efforts to get some closure and explanation via the French system came to an end when the Appeal Court in Rennes rejected an application.

News from the Celtic League:

Whale watching is a growing eco-tourism asset globally and in recent years its potential has been recognised around the shores of these Islands.

Mann has had its basking shark project for many years and more recently Ireland has been actively promoting its so called ‘Atlantic Way’ project down the West coast from Donegal to Kerry an interaction of tourism, the stunning coastline and marine life.

Now in its eleventh year, Praying the Keeills Week invites everyone to participate in one of the many events lined up for what has become a unique part of the Manx calendar.

A keeill is the local name which describes a Christian chapel, many of which were built between the eighth and twelfth centuries across the length and breadth of the Island.

In a show of solidarity with their Celtic cousins in Cornwall both the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) supported an Early Day Motion in the UK Parliament against cuts to funding for the Cornish Language. The move comes as a response to an announcement from the UK Department for Communities and Local Government that Cornwall will no longer receive £150,000 a year to promote and support their ancient Celtic language.

The US Festival of Arts and Culture Celebration Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising continues at the John F Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The festival which is part of the global celebration of the Easter Rising is running from May 17–June 5, 2016. Under the title IRELAND 100: Celebrating a Century of Irish Arts & Culture, the event highlights Irish culture and its relationship to America.