Blogs

There's a further treat in store for those dedicated readers who have been following Maria Darnoult's series about the Waverley family, with the third volume, entitled Discord, now in print.

The Irish Independent recently reported that the number of pupils being taught in Irish at the Primary level has reached record levels in the recent academic year. Cited were new figures published by the Irish Department of Education that show almost one in 12 schoolchildren at the primary level are receiving their education through Irish. The latest data represents a 27% increase over the past 18 years (A total of 45,278 students across 247 primary schools were taught through the medium of Irish in the recent school year - an annual increase of 1.5%).

Below are excerpts of the recently published review of “The Gaelic Athletic Association and the War of Independence”, by Tim Pat Coogan. The review appeared on the website “The Irish Catholic":

Media release from Culture Vannin:

Brian Stowell’s Autobiography

Gaelg as Fishig: Skeeal my vea

Culture Vannin is privileged to announce the publication of Brian Stowell’s autobiography - Gaelg as Fishig: Skeeal my vea – which is the final work produced by this prolific author of Manx and which is published in the year he sadly passed away.

Fèis Blas - Blas Festival 2019 begins on Friday. The nine day event will be staged in a variety of venues across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.  Since its inception in 2005 Blas (Taste) Festival has become an important event in the calendar for communities across the area. When the music, songs, language and culture of the Highlands are celebrated. Information on the Festival programme and artists performing can be obtained from the Blas Festival 2019 website.

Image: from Blas Festival facebook page.

If you're looking for a gift with a local flavour which also helps the on-going work of an Island charity, then here's the opportunity to pop into any branch of Crossroads Care to pick up your copy of next year's calendar and their Christmas cards.

With the festive season on the horizon and the uplifting sound of music and song to warm our winter evenings, there's an opportunity to enjoy a magical, Manx Christmas at the Gaiety Theatre in Douglas.

Manannan's Winterfest, which made a successful debut at the same venue last year, will showcase a range of talent from across the Island (and one or two from further afield) who will represent a cross-section of top performers from a number of genres.

It is said that the Cornish have a long history of expressing their distinctive identity, with a steadily increasing identification and promotion of a Celtic dimension since the late nineteenth century, and there's no better way to experience this than the annual festival known as Lowender Peran.

MEDIA RELEASE FROM CULTURE VANNIN

Who will you choose as your Manx cultural hero?

November is the time to get your nominations together for the ‘Reih Bleeaney Vanannan’ Manx cultural award. Named after the seagod Manannan, this annual award is made to an individual or group who has made the greatest contribution to the Island’s culture. A small group of judges from various Manx cultural organisations gather together in December to make the decision, with the winner usually announced in January.

The Celtic League have an interesting article on the new inquest about to take place in Cornwall on the sinking of the Breton trawler Bugaled Breizh. The League has long campaigned on the issue of the dangers posed to Motor Fishing Vessels (MFVs) by military submarine activity. The Celtic League has monitored and recorded possible accidents between fishing vessels and military submarines over many years and has estimated that no less than 20 boats have been lost together with the lives of over 150 fishermen.