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News from the Celtic League

The Cornish were included under the terms of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCPNM) in April 2014, following many years of active campaigning on the issue, but how successfully has the Convention been implemented in respect of the Cornish?

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

We highlighted last year in Celtic News the controversy the Westminster government had caused by insisting that the Union Flag would be displayed on all new driving licences issued in England, Scotland and Wales.

David Cameron well assuming the Scots and Welsh would roll-over sensibly stopped short of imposing this latest piece of imperialist jingoism on the North of Ireland.

The first reaction was in Scotland where stick-over Saltire flags were applied despite threats from the DVLA. Now things are spreading!

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Well after saying we don’t often just link across here is another article verbatim from Lorna Siggins Marine correspondent at the Irish Times. It’s worth recycling because its message is stark!

Lorna Siggins is well known to the League we have cooperated with her over the Submarine threat to MFVs and more recently liaised over general marine matter. She has a reputation for extremely well researched and sourced material and this is no exception

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

It is not often we simply link to an article but the story in Friday’s WalesOnline about Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood’s, and her early life is well worth a read.

It is to be hoped that Leanne can do for Plaid Cymru’s fortunes in Wales what Nicola Sturgeon has managed to achieve in Scotland.

Obviously given her background - brought up in a family that was struggling in a Labour heartland in Wales she should naturally have gravitated to the Labour Party however as she says:

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Our focus on Sophia Morrison last year and the recent wreath laying as part of Mec Vannin’s commemorations of significant figures in Manx political and cultural life encouraged Cristl Jerry of Mec Vannin to undertake some research on the collectors of Manx folk life material (links):

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

When the Queen of England paid a State visit to Ireland five years ago great emphasis was placed on the fact that the two States indeed all the British Isles people are ‘more than neighbours’

Here’s a snatch of what she said:

"Together we have much to celebrate: the ties between our people, the shared values, and the economic, business and cultural links that make us so much more than neighbours, that make us firm friends and equal partners.”

Australia Day is celebrated on January 26 each year. The public holiday of Australia Day always occurs on January 26 no matter what day of the week it occurs. Australians consider January 26 with national pride, flying the Australian flag from businesses, homes, cars and gatherings. They attend festivals, fireworks, community and sporting events or gather for family barbecues at homes, parks or on the beach.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Our report on the film to be released this year (The Siege of Jadotville) on the Irish UN contribution to the Congo peace-keeping mission has provoked quite a bit of interest and an extremely good take up in terms of page reach.

It was the first of what was to be over fifty years of peace-keeping in which Ireland’s Defence Forces have gained a reputation for professionalism and even-handedness

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Welsh Assembly have just given David Cameron a kick ‘where it hurts’ by voting to block the UK government’s trade union bill in Wales.

Assembly members said it would undermine public services, the economy and the “constructive social partnership” between workers and employers in Wales.

Instead of heeding the Welsh Assembly’s decision, the UK government is ignoring it and has said the bill will continue its progress through the Westminster parliament.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The United States Ambassador to Ireland recently visited Trinity College to view progress of a major project which will see four of the Library’s most important early medieval Irish manuscripts conserved, digitised and made available online to the public and world of scholarship for the first time.

The work is being funded by a US financial institution and it will undoubtedly through the interactivity associated with its roll out alongside other manuscripts ensure Trinity and Dublin becomes a focus for both education and research on this period.