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Gaelic festival of Imbolg and Saint Brigid's Day

February 1st marks the traditional day of the Gaelic festival of Imbolc or Imbolg. It is also known as Saint Brigid’s Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Bríde, Scottish Gaelic: Là Fhèill Brìghde, Manx: Laa’l Breeshey). Most commonly it is held on 31 January–1 February. It is a Cross Quarter Day, midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Historically it widely observed throughout Ireland (Irish: Éire), Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) and the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin).

Devil’s Porridge a remarkable museum with a sinister name coined by Arthur Conan Doyle

The unusually named Devil's Porridge Museum in southern Scotland explores the history of  World War One, World War Two and the Cold War. It commemorates HM Factory Gretna, the largest munitions factory in the world during the First World War and explores the wider history of the Solway Coast during the Second World War and beyond.

Saint Dwynwen and the Sacred Fish

Yesterday, 25th January, many in Cymru celebrated St Dwynwen’s Day. While people around the world look forward to Valentine's Day on February 14th, in Wales they have already celebrated their own patron saint of lovers Saint Dwynwen. St Dwynwen’s Day (Welsh: Dydd Santes Dwynwen) falls on 25th January every year and she is the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine. Dwynwen - whose names translates to "she who leads a blessed life" - still enjoys great popularity throughout Wales, particularly in her home of Anglesey (Welsh: Ynys Môn).

Celebrating Robert Burns National Poet of Scotland 25th January 2021

Many of the celebrations of Scotland's national bard Robert Burns will be held online in 2021 due to coronavirus restrictions. Robert Burns was born in the scottish village of  Alloway (Scottish Gaelic Allmhaigh) on January 25, 1759. The eldest of the seven children of  William Burnes (1721–1784), a tenant farmer from Dunnottar in the Mearns, and Agnes Broun (1732–1820), the daughter of a Kirkoswald tenant farmer.

FilmG Gaelic film contest sees record number of entries

Despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic the Gaelic short film competition FilmG  has seen a record number of entries. It has been undertaken on-line in 2020. This is the competition’s thirteenth year, which is run by MG ALBA and Skye-based media company CGS, to encourage the growth of Gaelic media talent. FilmG has developed into an important platform for many people now working within the Gaelic TV and film industry.

The coming of G7 to Cornwall

Most will have heard that Carbis Bay has been chosen as the venue for the G7 Summit to be held from 11th - 13th June 2021.

The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental organization consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The heads of government of the member states, as well as the representatives of the European Union, meet at the annual G7 Summit.

Labour Party idea of federalism not the answer for the Celtic nations

The Labour Party’s idea of federalism offers little hope for the people of the Celtic nations. In many ways it is too late for Labour to play the federalism card and particularly in Scotland it is not likely to stem the hemorrhaging in their support. Their decline has been quite startling. Once Labour in Scotland, before the growth of the Scottish National Party (SNP), dominated political life. Now Labour’s leader in Scotland, Richard Leonard, has just quit the post after three years.

Dunnottar Castle encapsulates much of Scotland's history

Dunnottar Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Fhoithear) stands on a rocky headland in the northeast of Scotland. Surrounded by steep cliffs above the North Sea only a narrow strip of land gives access to the Castle. Although it is not known when the first fortification was built on the headland, evidence of Picts living on the sea stack of Dunnicaer, just north of the castle, has been found by a team of archaeologists from the University of Aberdeen. Carbon dating shows this to be the oldest Pictish fort ever discovered dating to the 3rd century AD.

Remembering Sophia Morrison a Champion of Manx Culture

Sophia Morrison (24 May 1859 – 14 January 1917) was a Manx cultural activist, folklore collector and author. She was a founder member of Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh (The Manx Language Society) and played an important role in the Celtic revival in her Manx homeland and throughout the Celtic world.  She was an enthusiastic collector and recorder of all things related to Manx culture, including the island's ancient Gaelic language, its folklore, tales and music. In doing so this great patriot did not view her work as just a means to preserve the past.

Remembering tragic loss of the crew of Scottish fishing boat Solway Harvester twenty years ago

It was on the 10th January 2000 that the fishing boat Solway Harvester set out from Kirkcudbright (Scottish Gaelic: Cille Chuithbeirt) in south-west Scotland. They fished off the Manx coast until the following day 11th January and planned to set sail home. Due to the stormy conditions they sought refuge in the shelter of Ramsey Bay (Manx: Baie Rhumsaa) on the northeast coast of the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin). Facing gale force winds of Force 9 nothing further was heard of the vessel until an emergency beacon was picked up later that day. 

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