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March 17th is both a religious holiday and a day of celebration for Irish people and those with an Irish connection around the world. Saint Patrick's Day festivities in 2021 are more retrained than normal in many places due to the coronavirus pandemic. For many this year it will be a day of quiet contemplation about the Saint himself and his works. Saint Patrick is the primary patron saint of Ireland and Saint Patrick's Day is oberved today 17 March, which is said to be the date of his death.

Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar has apologised and retracted a claim that Sinn Féin has no Protestants as senior politicians. Sinn Féin is an Irish republican political party dedicated to the reunification of Ireland and an end to British jurisdiction in the north of Ireland. It is the joint largest party in the Dáil and the second-largest party in the Northern Assembly. Mr Varadkar made his remark that Sinn Féin had no Protestant politicians in the Dáil (Irish parliament) or in the Northern Ireland Assembly when speaking on RTÉ Radio's News At One programme.

There is an article published today by the Celtic League about the murder of Pat Finucane. In 1989 Pat Finucane (39) was shot dead by loyalists at his home in north Belfast. It happened in front of his wife Geraldine, who was also injured, and their children Michael, Katherine and John.  It was found that loyalist paramilitaries were acting in collusion with the British government intelligence services. It is not the only such case of murders by loyalist gangs said to be acting with the alleged connivance of British security agencies.

Eurolang PRESS RELEASE:

News from Culture Vannin:

Keirdlannyn, loayrtyssyn as brastyllyn ayns Gaelg as Yernish! 

Workshops, talks and classes in Manx and Irish! 

From The Celtic Language News:

On this day, 7th March 1921 two Limerick (Irish: Luimneach) mayors were brutally murdered by RIC Auxiliaries. The mayor of the city, George Clancy, was shot at his home in front of his wife in Castleview Gardens, close to the River Shannon. At around the same time, his predecessor as mayor, Michael O'Callaghan, was also shot dead at his home nearby. Both men were aged in their early 40s, nationalists, Irish speakers, volunteers, and GAA members.

Gool Peran Lowen dheugh why oll! - Happy St Piran's Feast Day to you all!

(We at KMTU also say, don't forget question 10 - Country of birth - tick 'elsewhere' - write in 'Cornwall' ! Let's send out a clear message!) - now that media release......

Media Release from Cornwall Council:

Spread the word this St Piran’s Day that the Cornish can identify as Cornish on the 2021 Census

Thursday, March 04 2021

On this day, 4th March in 1824 William Hillary’s vision for a service dedicated to saving lives at sea became a reality. Initially known as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, its name subsequently changed to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Motivated by the selfless aim to save lives, it has saved some 140,000 lives since its foundation, at a cost of more than 600 lives lost in service.

Saint Piran’s Day is celebrated each year on 5th March as the national day of Cornwall.

Saint Piran, or ‘Perran’ as he is also known, is famed for his mythical discovery of the precious metal tin.

Saint Piran is the patron saint of tin-miners and Saint Piran’s Day was originally observed as a ‘tinner’s holiday’ by the numerous tin-miners of Cornwall.

Whilst other Cornish saints have been feted as ‘the patron saint of Cornwall’, Saint Piran is most commonly associated with this accolade and the flag of Saint Piran is now also recognised as the Cornish flag.