Blogs

Cooish 2019 – Press Release

The Cooish Manx Language Festival sees a number of events over the 1st and 2nd of November that enables people to enjoy and use Manx Gaelic.

The last few years have seen a dramatic increase in interest towards the language and throughout the year there are events where both young and old can use some Manx.

The Cooish provides an ideal opportunity for everyone to engage with, speak a little (or a lot of Manx) and find out more about this remarkable cultural asset that we have in the Isle of Man.

On the 25th November 2019 at Truro Crown Court there is to be a new two week legal inquest to establish the facts behind the sinking of the Breton fishing vessel, the Bugaled-Breizh (Sons of Brittany).

One of the sons of the lost fishermen will also be there to testify.

The five-strong crew of the Bugaled Breizh drowned when it went down off the Cornish coast in January 2004.

Crew members' families claim a submarine was responsible, but that has been denied by British authorities and rejected by French courts.

All will be aware that local tax payers are being forced to underwrite and pay for the massed tourism which hits Kernow each year and even the Chief Constable, Shaun Sawyer has pointed out that it is simply not fair that local people should have to pay to provide extra policing (and other) services to the tens of thouands of holiday makers.

Now Police Commissioner Alison Hernandez has gone to Westminster with a delegation of councillors, MPs and police representatives from across the police force area to hand in a bid for extra funding.

With new and exciting ideas in the pipeline for the redevelopment of the basement displays in the Manx Museum, it will bring to a close the much-loved Folklife Gallery, which has been on permanent display since the 1950s and remains largely unchanged.

The Folklife Gallery is a gentle reminder of a bygone age on the Isle of Man, evoking memories of a mainly rural setting.

Interesting article from the Celtic League about Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's recent meeting with UK PM Boris Johnson. More specifically the location of the meeting which was at Thornton Manor close to Capenhurst. Capenhurst was the site of a past shady British surveillance operation to monitor communications between the UK and Ireland. Including routine Irish diplomatic exchanges and commercial business deals. Celtic League article below:

"VARADKAR JOHNSON MEETING - SOMEONE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOUR!

A Pictish standing stone with unique carvings has been discovered in an old burial ground near Dingwall (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Pheofharain) in the Highlands of Scotland. The 1,200-year-old standing stone has carvings never before seen on a Pictish stone. The discovery of the stone was originally made by a member of North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NOSAS) and was then referred via a regional archeaoligist to Historic Environment Scotland and the Pictish Arts Society.

The below response from Natural England has been received in response to our email of 4th October, 2019. Other individuals and groups have also written to the said quango!

In accordance with the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, it is important that we stand up fully and clearly for our indigenous rights afforded us by the Convention.

Jackson, Tess <Tess.Jackson@naturalengland.org.uk> 8 October 2019 at 18:42

London Manx Society (Manx: Yn Cheshaght Manninagh Lunnin) held their Mhelliah Service at St Bride's Church in London's Fleet Street on Monday 14th October. This was followed by a celebration lunch in the nearby Punch Tavern in Fleet Street. The Society was thrilled to be joined by the Manx Bard Zoë Cannell  who had travelled from the Island and presented two poems, one of which was the first time it had been heard in public.

The Mòd, a festival of Scottish Gaelic language and culture organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Gaelic Association), is underway this week in Ghlaschu (Glasgow). Mòd Ghlaschu - Mod Glasgow runs until Saturday 19th October 2019. Yesterday a new Gaelic festival in Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) was announced at the Mòd.

The Scottish National Party (SNP; Scottish Gaelic: Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba) conference 2019 is underway in Aberdeen (Obar Dheathain). Taking place between the 13th - 19th October it comes at a time when a new opinion poll finds support for Scottish independence has risen to 50%. Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party has made it clear she wants to hold a new Scottish referendum on independence in the second half of 2020. However, the current UK government has repeatedly refused to countenance allowing a new independence vote.