Blogs

Jules Molyneaux from Crieff, Perthshire (Scottish Gaelic: Craoibh, Siorrachd Pheairt), a pupil at Ardvreck school, has become the youngest person to climb the Matterhorn. The 11 year old undertook the climb with his father Chris. The mountain is in the Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It is 14,692 feet (4,478 metres) high and is one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. The Matterhorn is considered to be one of the most dangerous peaks in the World.

Loch Arkaig (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Airceig) is a beautiful freshwater loch in Lochaber, Scotland. It is approximately 12 miles in length and lies 140 feet above sea level, the maximum depth is some 300 feet. To the south of the loch is Loch Arkaig Pine Forest and consists of two areas of native Caledonian pinewood: Glen Mallie and the Gusach (Gaelic for ‘pinewood’). This normally peaceful setting has become something of an internet sensation, particularly over the last five weeks. The stars of the show are three osprey chicks.

An issue common to both the Irish and Welsh tongues, which has gotten attention recently, is the erosion of traditionally stable linguistic zones as the result of property development.

In 2008 the Isle of Man Post Office Manx: Oik Postagh Ellan Vannin) issued a set of stamps to celebrate the links among the Celtic nations. The set of stamps were presented at Lorient Interceltique Festival in Brittany that year. The eight stamps featured the National flags of Ireland (Éire), Scotland (Alba), Isle of Man (Mannin), Wales (Cymru), Cornwall (Kernow), Brittany (Breizh), Galicia and Asturias.

Tynwald Day (Manx: Laa Tinvaal), the National Day of the Isle of Man (Mannin) is held on the 5th of July. It is traditionally when the government for the Isle of Man go to Tynwald Hill to read a summary of the laws passed over the last year. Although the Tynwald fair and ceremony is this year taking place tomorrow and has been scaled down due to the coronavirus pandemic.  The reading is given in Manx Gaelic and English. The artificial hill, which is thought to have started as a Bronze Age burial mound, is made up of four circular platforms.

Mount Everest is Earth's highest mountain above sea level and the current official elevation is 29,029 ft (8,848 m). It is named Everest after a Welsh man George Everest, who was born in Crickhowell (Welsh: Crug Hywel) on 4th July 1790. There is an item about this on the History of Wales Facebook page marking the anniversary of his birth. The article is printed below. The name of the mountain in Nepali is Sagarmatha सगरमाथा; inTibetan it is Chomolungma ཇོ་མོ་གླང་མ and this Tibetan name translates as "Holy Mother".

Born on this day 1790 in Crickhowell,

Speaking at the Downing Street press briefing, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that: "Instead of quarantining arrivals from the whole world, we will only quarantine arrivals from those countries where the virus is sadly not under control."  The result is that people travelling from a named list of 59 places and 14 British overseas territories will not have to quarantine on arrival in England unless they have travelled through a place which is not exempt.

NEWS RELEASE FROM CULTURE VANNIN: 

The Voyage of Odin’s Raven now online

The story of sailing of a Viking longship from Norway to the Isle of Man 41 years ago is one of the most unusual and fascinating Manx tales of modern times.

Now it is available online thanks to a full reading of a wonderful account written by a member of the crew.

This news item (below) was published on the The History of Wales Facebook page. It records the infamous Blue Books' report. A disgraceful and direct attack on the Welsh language and culture. It spurred on the movement for Welsh self-government. A movement that is as relevant now as it ever was with ever increasing calls and growing support for an independent Wales:

"The Treachery of the Blue Books.

On this day 1847, the infamous 'Blue Books' a report on the state of education in Wales were presented to the Government.

Ailsa Craig (Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid or Aillse Creag) rises out of the seas of the outer Firth of Clyde to a height of 1,109 ft (338 m). It lies nine miles offshore from the coast of South Ayrshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Deas) in the west of Scotland. Ailsa Craig geologically is all that remains of a volcanic plug from an extinct volcano and is 2.5 miles (4 km) in circumference.