Blogs

This news published by the Celtic League:

MOD: Fallon Pressed on Forces Drug Use

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

It is twenty years since the Celtic League first raised the issue of drug and substance abuse in the British Armed Forces. Initially there was a reluctance to admit to the problem but eventually in 2008 there was a more open policy adopted and the MOD even agreed (via then Defence Minister Des Browne) to take up on a Celtic League suggestion (see quote in letter below).

This news published by the Celtic League:

Scotland: ‘Smeargate’ More Protests and Court Action

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

There will be another silent protest about the failure of former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael to stand down from his position as MP for Orkney and Shetland in Kirkwall at 1pm today.

Protesters plan to gather for 30 mins in a protest which will be silent. They have stressed it is non-Party political and anyone can attend.

This news published by the Celtic League:

Mann: ‘All Quiet on the Prestwick Front’

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

No news yet about how the British Military ‘Reserve Forces’ initiative (FR2020) in the Isle of Man is going, although the media blitz (pun) has been intensive and IOM newspapers are lapping up the advertising. (It’s good to see some of the Isle of Man’s Defence Contribution coming back into the local community?)

This news published by the Celtic League:

Alba: Fair Isle Tanker Incident Highlights MCA Weakness

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

This morning a large oil tanker, the MV Emerald Spirit, was left without engine power and drifted for an hour in the Fair Isle Channel she was on passage to Norway.

Fortunately the weather was good, the vessel soon restarted, and the incident resolved quickly and quietly.

On 28th May 1865 the sailing ship Mimosa set out from the port of Liverpool. On board were 162 Welsh people who were sailing across the Atlantic to set up Y Wladfa Gymreig (The Welsh Colony). In the 19th and early 20th century the government in the Argentine was encouraging emigration from Europe to populate the country outside the area of Buenos Aires. Most of the passengers were from slate-quarrying and agricultural communities in North Wales. The travellers took 60 days to reach their destination.

An inquest into the deaths of three army reservists will begin on Monday June 1. Llandudno man Craig John Roberts, 24, Edward John Maher and  James Dunsby, both 31, collapsed during an army training exercise. On July 13, 2013 on one of the hottest days of the year, as temperatures reached 29.5C (84F), emergency crews were called to Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons in Powys, Mid Wales when six soldiers had collapsed suffering heat exhaustion. Witnesses said they had seen soldiers looking exhausted and pleading for water during the gruelling exercise.

The 2015 Urdd Eisteddfod has been described as a great success. Increased numbers came to this years Eisteddfod with a total of 88,607 visitors between Monday 25th and Saturday 30th May. The event has created an increased interest in the Welsh language in the Caerphilly (Welsh: Caerffili) area which organisers are determined to build upon.  Next year’s Eisteddfod will be held in Flintshire (Welsh: Sir y Fflint) between May 30 and June 4. For news on this years Eisteddfod see the urdd,cymru website.

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Lucy Ward, made her debut on the Isle of Man at the Centenary Centre in Peel in the intimate setting of the Atholl Room, courtesy of Jonno Promotions.

But it was Ramsey based guitarist Malcolm Stitt who kicked off the concert with a selection of tunes reflecting his own career, which included being a founder member of both Deaf Shepherd and the young Gaelic band Tannas. He has also appeared on numerous albums involving many bands, including Boys of the Lough and Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, who were recently at the Centenary Centre.

This news published by the Celtic League:

Kernow: ‘Nation or Country’ Responses

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Kernow Branch: replies being received following report submission ‘County, Duchy, Nation or Country?’

This news published by the Celtic League:

Ó Bradaigh Summer School: Focus On Contemporary Struggles

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Ruairí Ó Brádaigh Summer School takes place on June 6th in Roscommon. The theme of this, the second one, will be to place contemporary struggles in Ireland in the context of 1916 (see below).