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NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Manx Economic Development Fund: All We Can Do Is Await The Inevitable Corruption ‘Easy Money’ Attracts

No doubt Laurence Skelly was pleased at his ability to steer the legislation allowing for the establishment of the so called economic development fund (EDF) through Tynwald this week.

As we reported earlier on CL News ‘the champagne corks will have been popping’ down at the Chamber of Commerce following the news that this lunacy had been given the green light.

The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) have endorsed a campaign calling on the Powys County Council to ensure Welsh medium education be made avaialable to every student in the county. Powys is a county which sprawls north to south along the central section of the Welsh border with England. If universal welsh medium eduction should be introduced in the county it would form a language bulwark supporting the Celtic tongue in east central Wales.

Long standing folk duo, Chris While and Julie Matthews, enjoyed another sell-out performance at the Centenary Centre recently, giving ticket holders a full evening's entertainment a night to remember.

Here as part of their Autumn Tour, While and Matthews came together as a duo in 1993 when key members of the legendary folk super-group the Albion Band.

Although they have followed successful independent, solo careers, their unabated productivity has given birth to no less than ten albums as a duo.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Manx Chief Minister has been speaking about the strong relationship that has been built up with the Scottish National Party after leading a delegation to the Party’s annual conference.

He said that he has a good working relationship with SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, as indeed he had with her predecessor Alex Salmond.

The Manx Chief Minister said the conference had afforded an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest with the Scottish leader.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Everyone knows know about the Welsh settlement in Patagonia in the 19th century but details have now emerged of an earlier attempt to form a Welsh colony, i.e. “Y Wladfa”, in South America, this time in Brazil.

The attempt to create a “little Wales” occurred in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul in 1852, about 13 years before the Patagonian venture got underway. 
“Nova Cambria” (New Wales) was founded by Thomas Benbow Phillips (picture) from Tregaron who wanted to set up a community where Welsh language and culture could flourish.

Members of the World Manx Association met in Peel recently for one of their social get-togethers in the historical Sailors' Shelter on East Quay, with an opportunity to chat with friends and learn more about the Isle of Man.

President of the association, Leslie Hanson, had organised a presentation of a DVD written, directed and presented by Charles Guard entitled Manx Mines and Minerals - The story of mining in the Isle of Man.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

“It happened in Wales but it could have happened anywhere that suited the expediency of the British State. The nationals of the Celtic countries were aborigines to be ignored or used!”

Tryweryn and what happened there should matter to all the Celtic countries because it is symptomatic of the contempt which the Westminster government had at the time for the Celtic Nations in the 1950s and 60s.

They were places to be used and places to dump things that you did not want in your own backyard.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Ten years ago Liverpool was told ‘they can keep their apology’ - today the decision to flood the Tryweryn valley is still as controversial!

It is still an emotive issue is Wales and you can still see signs today in parts of North and mid Wales reminding Welsh people of the sense of outrage felt when the Welsh speaking community in the Tryweryn Valley was submerged to provide a reservoir to service Merseyside

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The status of Cornish people as a National Minority has been recognised formally by the United Kingdom. See this link for a statement from the Department of Communities and Local Government:

https://www.gov.uk/…/cornish-granted-minority-status-within…

Also link here for an interview with the BBC given by Loveday Jenkin, deputy leader of Mebyon Kernow the Cornish nationalist party: