Blogs

News from the Welsh Language Society/Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg: The following is from the organization’s web site (linked below):   

We have called on Assembly Members to make a new year's resolution to use more Welsh in the Assembly, following the release of figures showing that use of the language in the Assembly Chamber dropped in 2015. Our research shows that only 11.8% of the contributions made in the Chamber in 2015 were in Welsh, compared with 12.7% in 2014. 

The 3rd Annual Florida Keys Celtic Festival will be held January 8th through 10th.   The festival will take place in Marathon situated half way between the mainland and Key West.  The entertainment line-up for the 2016 Festival includes Celtic bands Albannach, Rathkeltair, The Screaming Orphans, Marcille Wallis & Friends, West of Galway and the Police Pipe and Drum of Florida. 

This year the annual festive gathering returned to Peel with a selection of Manx musicians to whet everyone's appetite on a dismal winter evening.

Traditionally held between Christmas and New Year, the night's entertainment was compéred by local man Greg Joughin of the Mollag Band at the Masonic Hall. Predictably the concert was a sell out with a line--up of singers and musicians performing at the venue from across the Island.

This years Illiam Dhône commemoration took place on 2nd January 2016 on Mannin (Isle of Man). The event is co-organised by the Manx branch of the Celtic League and Mec Vannin, the Manx Republican Nationalist Party. This years speeches were given in Manx Gaelic by Isla Callister and in English by Peter Crellin. The wreath in memory of Illiam Dhône was laid by Manx musiciam Tom Callister with opening and closing remarks to the ceremony being made by Bernard Moffatt, Director of Information of The Celtic League.

Please may I request that the following petition created by Denzil Monk, a Bard of Gorseth Kernow and a former Cornish language pupil of Clive Baker be signed and circulated as widely as possible? When our Bards act, we must rally and support them!

TO: DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA & SPORT

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

We are still attempting to locate rare footage of inter-Celtic involvement in the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 Easter rising that came to light some years ago. This year’s 100th anniversary gives it a new impetus.

The Easter Rising had an influence however far beyond Ireland and indeed the other Celtic countries as Australian historian Daniel Leach recorded in an article some years ago. He said:

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

I see the most distant branch of the Celtic League in the Welsh speaking area of Argentine (Patagonia) have posted a neat card sending New Years greeting to all in tri-lingual form, Welsh, Spanish and English!

Patagonia Facebook link here:

https://www.facebook.com/Patagonia-Celtic-League-469180103…/

BERNARD MOFFATT

Issued by: The Celtic News

30/12/15

THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

Despite atrocious weather conditions, a number of hardy souls braved incessant rain to join gatherings across the Island for the traditional Hunt the Wren on St Stephen's Day (Boxing Day).

Although other cultural pursuits may have lapsed over the years, this annual procession of dancers and singers, accompanied by a bush of evergreens and other more colourful decoration, parade through the streets and lanes of some of the main towns and villages of the Island.

The following was posted in the December 2015 Newsletter of the Cornish Language Partnership (MAGA).  MAGA defines itself as follows on their web page: “The Partnership includes language organisations, local authorities and a number of other organisations who have come together with the aim of promoting Cornish and developing it further in Cornish life. The programme of work it is undertaking is funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government and by Cornwall Council." 

News from the Cornish Language Partnership/MAGA

News from the Gaelic League – Calls For Support of the Irish Government for the Irish Language and Gaeltacht