Alastair Kneale's blog

Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin draws attention to an article in the Irish Times on Irelands Deep Atlantic:

‘Dive Ireland’ Docu Preview And Talk On ‘Ambassadors Of The Deep'

Lorna Siggins marine correspondent on the Irish Times has a feature on a new documentary to be shown on RTE in April. Its entitles ‘Ireland’s Deep Atlantic’ and it was previewed at a meeting of Ireland’s diving fraternity at there ‘Dive Ireland’ conference at the weekend.

There were a range of other presentations and a photographic competition.

Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin draw attention to an article in the newspaper Irish World that reports on a study of dead whales, dolphins and porpoises in Ireland, which found that nearly one in 10 were found with marine debris in their systems:

MARINE WASTE MAY BE CAUSE OF UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF CETACEAN STRANDINGS

Marine waste and microplastics could be the cause of a record number of whale and dolphin strandings. This report in the Irish World newspaper speculates:

Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin have consistently raised the issue of over fishing, dangers to marine mammals by current fishing practices and the enormous damage caused by the use of Super trawlers. In this latest article they point out that fish stocks in the sea are not inexhaustible. The time for international action on the issues raised is long past:

MANY TRACES SIMPLY SAY ‘FISHING’ THE FISHING MAFIA OF EUROPE ARE GETTING ‘CUTE’

The “Europe’s Lost Frontiers” research team, along with the Institute of Technology Sligo, University College Cork,  researchers from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and the Irish Marine Institute, are at present undertaking a survey, using the Irish Marine Institute RV Celtic Explorer, to explore the extensive prehistoric submerged landscapes of the Irish Sea.

Congratulations to Scotland's Rugby Union team who have defeated England 25 - 13 in the Six Nations Championship today. In a thoroughly deserved victory Scotland outplayed and outfought England. As always it's a pleasure to see England defeated by any of the Celtic nations.

Picture courtesy of Scottish Rugby facebook page

Article from Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin highlights concerns about munitions that have been dumped around the Celtic coasts. The article points out that Beaufort Dyke, a deep sea trench between the north-east coast of Ireland, south-west of Scotland and north from the Isle of Man, contains a staggering one million tonnes of discarded munitions: 

SOMETHING NASTY IN THE WATER

News from the Irish Branch of the Celtic League:

The Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) and the People’s Movement organised an excellent conference “The EU – Talking Peace and Preparing for War” on PESCO on Sat 17th Feb. It was held in the historic Oak room in Dublin’s Mansion House at the invitation of Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Mícheál Mac Donncha (Sinn Féin), who opened and closed the conference.

News from the Irish Branch of the Celtic League:

KPMG is a professional service company and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The name "KPMG" stands for "Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler," a name adopted when KMG (Klynveld Main Goerdeler) merged with Peat Marwick in 1987. The headquarters are in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. KPMG is involved in financial audit, tax, and advisory services. KPMG has a operations in a number of the Celtic nations.

News from An Conradh Ceilteach - Irish Branch of the Celtic League:

SUPPORT TORY ISLANDERS, 14th FEB the DÁIL, 10.00.a.m - MISNEACH

Protect the Community of Oileán Thoraí!

For fear of the island being abandoned, the people of Oileán Thoraí have organised a protest due to be held next week. Representatives from Toraigh will be protesting outside the Dáil in Dublin on Wednesday, the 14th of February from 10am onwards. They are asking supporters to come out and to be present for 11am.