Blogs

News from the Celtic League:

The Celtic League has written a series of articles criticising the use of areas within the Celtic countries being used for military practice. They draw attention (see below) to the compliance of the Manx government in these exercises and the need for the Welsh government to raise objections. The repercussions of the military training, exercises and weapons testing taking place is at present being felt by the killing and maiming of tens of thousands of men, women and children in Yemen by Saudi forces:

It has been confirmed by Ireland's Department of Justice that a plan to provide an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at a disused hotel in Rooskey, Co Leitrim, has been abandoned. Since it was announced that it was to become a reception centre for asylum seekers, the Shannon Key West Hotel has been damaged in two arson attacks over the last three months. The department has said that the decision not to proceed with the project was due to difficulties with the lease agreement between the owners of the hotel, and the operator renting it.

Saint Patrick is the primary patron saint of Ireland and Saint Patrick's Day was oberved yesterday 17 March, which is said to be the date of his death. Celebrated inside and outside Ireland as a religious and cultural holiday, it is also a celebration of Ireland and all things Irish. Patrick was a 5th Century missionary, who came from Roman Britain and first arrived in Ireland as a slave. Patrick tells us he came from an area called Bannevam Taburniae.

‘Only one previous terror attack in country relatively free from such incidents’.

Leaders in the Celtic countries have been swift in their condemnation of a terrorist attack in New Zealand. Both the Irish President, Michael D Higgins, and Manx Chief Minister, Howard Quayle MHK, have issued statements (see links below):

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/chief-minister-pays-trib...

The late Nigel Kneale is considered to be the Island's most successful radio, television and film scriptwriter, subsequently immortalised by his creation of the cult BBC TV science fiction series Quatermass during the 1950s. But a rarely heard play entitled The Road, recently aired on BBC Radio 4, revealed another side of his work.

He was born in Dalton in Furness in 1922, but the Kneale family returned to the Isle of Man six years later, when his father, a journalist, joined his brother to run the Mona's Herald.

Made by a MacIntyre piper more than 800 years ago the 'Faery' bagpipes of Kinlochmoidart, are thought to be the oldest Highland pipes. The legend is that the MacIntyre piper had a dream where a “faery” (fairy) came to him and said: “Heat up your poker until it’s white hot and pierce the bottom of your chanter side to side and it will make the sweetest sounding pipes in Scotland.” The chanter is the part of the bagpipe upon which the player creates the melody. The 'Faery' bagpipes are said to be the first with two holes. 

The West Highland Museum has added to its already renowned collection relating to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause. A collection of rare Jacobite relics has been given on long term loan to the Museum by a Scottish distiller. The Drambuie Collection was accumulated by the McKinnon family, who owned Drambuie for 100 years. Drambuie is a liqueur made from Scotch whisky, honey, herbs and spices. The link with Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) came after the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

The blossoming of early snowdrops often provides a lifeline into better days, with early birds scouring sheltered gardens and country nooks for signs of change in the final days of winter.

I’m thinking about nostalgia the subject having been broached by a Manx Radio interviewer this week asking me about nationalism and Mec Vannin.

Right on cue a small strong buff envelope drops through the letterbox with a US postmark. I’m intrigued used as I am to the gas, electricity or telecom bill with a variation when Alfred Cannan MHK and his chums at the Income Tax Division undertake their annual ‘extortion’.

Members of the Irish Defence Forces and An Garda Siochana who have died on peacekeeping duties were remembered at the inauguration ceremony for a memorial garden at Wexford Barracks last month.

Ireland's Minister of Defence paying tribute to those ‘who sadly did not come home’ said:

“During my time as Minister for Defence, I have seen first hand the contribution that Irish Defence Force personnel are making to peace and security in the regions where they deploy.