Blogs

The Massacre of Glencoe (Scottish Gaelic Mort Ghlinne Comhann) took place early in the morning of 13 February 1692. One of the most beautiful places in Scotland Glen Coe (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Comhann) takes its name from the River Coe that winds and tumbles its way through the glen. It is hard for those who visit this area of great beauty today to think that it was the site of such a treacherous act of murder and brutality against the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe.

Moat House in the Scottish town of Dumfries (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Phris) is said to be the Georgian townhouse and garden that inspired novelist and playwright JM Barrie to write Peter Pan. Its future has now been secured after funding has been found to continue a restoration project that will see the creation of a centre for children’s literature and storytelling. Work is due to begin within months, that will see the creation of permanent and temporary exhibitions, a children’s library, education workshops, a cafe and a shop. A “Neverland Discovery Garden” will also be developed.

Turning the ballot box into a weapon in the struggle to advance the Irish Language, Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) are calling on Ireland's voting public to action.  Focusing on Galway, the campaign on behalf of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht (#GaelVota) is being put forward in the run-up to the general election. The Gaelic League made the following announcement:

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Just ten days after I highlighted the use by French politicians and their families of the Isle of Man ‘well regulated’ financial services sector to set up secret bank accounts 15 years ago another scandal is rocking the French establishment and the Isle of Man is in the frame again.

In an article to mark holocaust day I reported on the use made by Francois Mitterands son of the Islands banking services to carry on arms trading deals in Africa which ultimately cost thousands of lives. I said:

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Banc d'Arguin National Park according to the Wikipedia entry is a:

“Nature reserve that was established to protect both the natural resources and the valuable fisheries, which makes a significant contribution to the national economy, as well as scientifically and aesthetically valuable geological sites, in the interests of and for the recreation of the general public. The park's vast expanses of mudflats provide a home for over two million migrant shorebirds from northern Europe, Siberia and Greenland.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

A query about suggested languages cooperation has come to the Celtic League from South Africa and the Afrikaans language society at Stellenbosch University.

The approach from Frederik R. van Dyk, the bodies Executive Director, is set out below:

"I write to you as a representative of an Afrikaans language society, Adam Tas Students' Society, from Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape of the Republic of South Africa.

Preceding the annual general meeting of Agan Tavas, (The Campaign for the Cornish Language), held at Murdoch House, Redruth on Saturday 6th February the Pewas Perghyryn, (The Michael Palmer Award) was presented for the second time.

 The award is for new literature in Cornish or outstanding translation work and was given by the Palmer family in memory of Michael who was a prodigious writer of  stories in Cornish. The name of the award reflects Michael's bardic name.

A new Manx-Irish dictionary has been compiled by Professor Kevin Scannell with a PDF version online. The focus of this work is for Irish speakers who want to learn Manx Gaelic.

The British press has been reporting this week that the infamous aristocrat Lord Lucan has been officially declared dead. This comes nearly 42 years after the playboy gambler disappeared following the murder of his children’s nanny in an unsolved mystery.

There has been a stunning victory for Scots Gaelic in the Scottish Parliament.  Under the 2016 Education Bill approved yesterday, Scotland’s local authorities will be required to provide a public education in Gaelic if requested by parents. This statute applies even if the area has no history of Gaelic speaking.  In reaction, Scotland’s Bòrd Na Gàidhlig has issued the following statement hailing this historic breakthrough for the Celtic tongue of Scotland: