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There is no doubt that the big winners in the Irish general election, held on 8th February 2020 has been Sinn Féin. When all first preference votes are counted, the republican party has taken 24.5% of the vote, compared to 22% for Fianna Fáil and 21% for Fine Gael. The election was for Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. At the election 159 of 160 Dáil Éireann seats were contested, with that of the Ceann Comhairle (speaker/chairperson) being re-elected automatically.

The Massacre of Glencoe (Scottish Gaelic Mort Ghlinne Comhann) took place early in the morning of 13 February 1692. One of the most beautiful places in Scotland Glen Coe (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Comhann) takes its name from the River Coe that winds and tumbles its way through the glen. It is hard for those who visit this area of great beauty today to think that it was the site of such a treacherous act of murder and brutality against the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe.

On Sunday 15 March 2020, The Scots College in Bellevue Hill is hosting the Sydney Highland Gathering. The venue is at the Scots College, 53 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill 2030. Gates open at 11am and entry is free. Visitors are promised an exciting day of Pipe Band Competitions and Highland Dancing Competitions, Highland Dancing, traditional Scottish Highland games events including carrying the stones and toss the caber.

Media release from Culture Vannin:

STEPHEN MILLER RBV

Stephen Miller’s scholarship and dedication to Manx folklore and culture over many decades are recognised in the award of the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan this year.

Today 7 February 2020 is Dydd Miwsig Cymru - Welsh Language Music Day. This annual event is a celebration of all forms of Welsh Language music. All types of musical genre are included from indie, rock, punk, funk, folk, electronica, hip hop or anything else. There is a growing popularity in music being made in the Welsh language. Welsh language music is also being hailed as a great resource for learners of the language, by using song lyrics to add to their vocabulary.

The Welsh Government sponsored orgnisation Natural Resources Wales (Welsh: Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru) has revealed that it has received another application from  EDF Energy to dump up to 780,000 tonnes of potentially contaminated sediment off Cardiff Bay.  EDF Energy wants to deposit sediment dredged as part of building work for the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.

There are many wildlife organisations working throughout the Celtic lands and waters that do a tremendous job in trying to protect endangered species. They bring together volunteers from across the communities in which they live who are interested in the conservation of wildlife. One such group is the Yn possan Manninagh son craitnaghyn (Manx Bat Group) and they have a very distinctive logo (see below) of a bat in Celtic design flying over a map of the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin). Craitnag is the Manx Gaelic name for a bat.

The 2020 Irish general election will be held on Saturday 8 February 2020. It will be held at a time when Ireland's electorate have become increasingly dissatisfied with the present Fine Gael administrations inability or even unwillingness to deal with a number of important issues including health care, housing and crime. The election was called following the dissolution of the of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland.

Local author, Derek Winterbottom, has written several books concerning different aspects of the Isle of Man, but he has now focused his attention towards two remarkable women who devoted their lives to an all consuming passion.

Both Sophia Morrison and Mona Douglas undoubtedly played a crucial role in the survival and continuity of the Island's language, folklore and other traditional elements of Manx life; but here we have a book which brings them together in printed form and explores their lives on an intimate basis.

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSP; Scottish Gaelic: Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, BPA) have today backed a Government motion calling for the Scottish Parliament (Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba) to have the power to hold another independence referendum. MSPs voted by 64 to 54 in favour of the Government's motion, with no abstentions that argued "a referendum should be held so that the people of Scotland can decide whether they wish it to become an independent country".