Alastair Kneale's blog

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.

This article in Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin highlights the continuing importance of traditional fishing to island and coastal communities in Ireland. Something that is under threat by EU Fisheries policy and the catastrophic impact and environmental damage caused by the overfishing of giant Super Trawlers:

IRELAND: ISLAND FISHERIES BILL STRESSES VALUE OF TRADITIONAL FISHERIES TO SMALL COMMUNITIES

There are monuments, statues and place names throughout the Celtic lands honouring foreign rulers and colonisers. Many of them paying homage to those who are despised by the indigenous peoples whose lands they helped colonise or those used as symbols of the colonising force. Some have been removed officially and some unofficially. One such case that comes to mind was the statue of Horatio Nelson, built in the centre of what was then Sackville Street (later renamed O'Connell Street) in Dublin, Ireland.