Blogs

Ireland's voters went to the polls in a general election in February 2020. No political party received a majority, although Sinn Féin the Irish republican political party made significant gains. As a means of excluding them from power, the two centre-right Irish political parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, eventually agreed to form a coalition government with the Irish Green Party. The Greens had gained some electoral support largely because of the growing concerns and awareness about climate change.

Although this year's Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering was set to be a virtual celebration, the relaxation of social distancing and an extensive return to normality has resulted in the addition of some live events.

A selection of 'food and folk' sessions will take place at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas each lunchtime, profiling each of the Celtic nations.

Wales (Welsh: Cymru) has long been the poorest country that makes up the so called United Kingdom (UK). There are an increasing number of people in Wales who point to the country being part of the UK as a major block on Welsh economic development. One of the key arguments for Welsh independence is that Wales has remained a relatively poor country in what is a wealthy part of the world.  It is clear that beyond the UK, countries of comparable size to Wales and smaller are flourishing. 

Media release from Culture Vannin:

More creative projects underway as part of Culture Vannin’s #treisht2020 scheme

The first round of #treisht2020 projects launched by Culture Vannin was so successful that it has been repeated. The scheme re-purposes grant and development money from cancelled events and projects, offering creative projects primarily to freelancers who need the work, with the option for original ideas to be proposed.

My Celtic League colleague Patricia Bridson forwards more background to the 1973 Fo Halloo Ballaleece railway bridge daubing which occurred on Tynwald Day (July 5th) of that year.

My Celtic League colleague Patricia Bridson forwards more background to the 1973 Fo Halloo Ballaleece railway bridge daubing which occurred on Tynwald Day (July 5th) of that year.

The Royal Navy was at fault in an incident two years ago when a nuclear submarine almost collided with a Stena Ferry on passage between Britain and Ireland.

The MAIB has finally published a report which found that:

A magnificent Cornish Breton collaboration in which Cornish speaking Bard, Mick Paynter from St Ives, translates and speaks the late Yan Ber Kalloc'h's famous poem written in Breton. Yan was born on the island of Groix, near Quimper, on July 24, 1888 and died in April, 2017.

Cape Breton Island is today home to world’s only Gaelic speaking population outside of Europe. The 2011 Canadian census reported 1,300 Gaelic speakers, with an additional 2,000 enrolled in Gaelic language programs around the province. The Celtic tongue of Nova Scotia is experiencing a remarkable comeback and the credit in large part can be attributed to role played by the by the Gaelic College in nurturing a culture and language which has made its way back from the precipice.

The Masks, offered in Nova Scotia and Capre Breton Tartan, are made at the Collegee by Gaelic Speakers. 

In 1965 a memorial chapel was built as a memorial to the drowned Welsh speaking village of Capel Celyn. Capel is Welsh for chapel, while celyn is Welsh for holly. The memorial chapel is now about to have conservation work undertaken. Capel Celyn was located to the north west of Bala in Gwynedd, in the Afon Tryweryn valley in the north of Wales.