Alastair Kneale's blog

News from the Celtic League:

As the Isle of Man government were given the go ahead by Tynwald to secure the sealink to the United Kingdom via a purchase of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company a new fast craft sea link between the Celtic countries was also secured.

The Irish Times this week reported on the new ‘Dublin Swift’ HSS which  entered service last month and will link Dublin Port with Holyhead in Wales - a sailing of just two hours:

News from the Celtic League:

The value of the Council of Europe (CoE) and its statements are called into question in this report on BBC Northern Ireland:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44116786

News from the Celtic League:

Figures released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland prove conclusively that 50% of investigations into ‘legacy killings’ are targeted at republicans.

There has been a major furore in recent months stoked by military figures. Some British politicians including Ministers and retired senior army figures are suggesting that cases against former soldiers were being pursued disproportionately. These ‘lobbyists’ want a dispensation or limitation on prosecution so that alleged British Army murderers can get of the hook.

News from the Celtic League:

If there is one thing Ireland is noted for its rainfall the Atlantic westerlies make sure the country gets a good drenching. Consequently when it was suggested over a decade ago that water might need to be piped from the River Shannon in the West to supply Dublin City most people thought it was an elaborate hoax.

However the project is still live and indeed it seems that serious consideration is being given to piping water - using huge pipes the largest ever used in Ireland - from ArdnaCrusha on Lough Derg all the way to Dublin.

News from the Celtic League:

Earlier this month Ireland's Defence Secretary. Paul Kehoe attended two events over a four day period that could not have been farther removed from each other.

News from the Celtic League:

Celtic News reported periodically on the controversy surrounding the proposed new airport at Nante (Notre Dame des Landes) plans for which were abandoned this year.

Nantes is of course the old Capital of Brittany and was an integral part of the country prior to its ‘hiving off’ by the French to the department of Loire-Atlantique.

News from the Celtic League:

Emmanuel Macron President of France strives to portray a new image of French politics but when he turned up in Noumea, Kanaky (New Caledonia) earlier this month nothing had changed.

Old style French colonialism holds sway as the territory is about to vote later this year on self determination and the political elite in Paris want the ‘status quo’ to prevail.

News from the Celtic League:

Campaign groups are expressing concern that deaths in prison are not being investigated ‘quickly or rigorously enough’ according to a report for BBC Cymru this week:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-44072973

News from the Celtic League:

Within weeks of being elected President Emmanuel Macron was being lowered onto a French Navy ballistic missile submarine ‘Le Terrible’ of the coast of Brittany. Its reported he was present on the vessel when it dived and simulated a missile launch. Macron ‘a la’ Trump also made sure his perilous descent had an airing on his twitter feed (see pic). This man is more a ‘showman’ than a Statesman

News from the Celtic League:

NATO's military exercise ‘Joint Warrior’ held last month over a two week period appears to have passed off without incident although in the past the exercises have provoked protests from fishermen and environmentalists.

Joint Warrior exercise are usually held twice yearly however this year apparently the Highlands and West of Scotland will get a respite because with NATO forces committed fully to the defence of Western Europe it appears they will not have enough capacity to ‘play soldiers’ in the Autumn.