Alastair Kneale's blog

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.

Illiam Dhone (14 April 1608 - 02 January 1663) also known as William Christian was a Manx politician and patriot. For his part in the Manx rising of 1651 he was executed by firing squad at Hango Hill in the Isle of Man on 2nd January 1663. Every year there is a commemoration held at Hango Hill, which is an ancient place of execution and is also possibly a prehistoric burial site with an artificial mound. Its name comes from the Norse 'Hanga-Haugr' meaning Gallows Hill.

Roy Kennaugh passed away suddenly on Wednesday evening 27th December. The response to his passing demonstrates the high regard in which he was held. As reported by Manx Radio: "The Isle of Man has lost one of its most prominent, active and energetic members of the national and cultural community." Roy Kennaugh was a key and very popular member of several organisations, including the Celtic League, Mec Vannin, Celtic Congress, Michael Heritage Trust, Michael Commissioners, and the Michael Players RBV. 

Despite a suspended self-government, opposition from the media, military threats from Madrid, a candidates in exile and in prison and continued intimidation from Spain, the latest elections in Catalonia have resulted in pro-independence parties winning a majority in the Catalan parliament. The Madrid government stripped Catalonia of its autonomy and called the election after declaring an October independence referendum illegal.

In both Ireland and the Isle of Man there is a debate underway in regard to the legalisation of abortion. There are very strong opinions held on all sides of the disussion. However, for different reasons, concerns are being raised in regard to the type of interventions that are coming from abroad and designed to impact upon the democratic decisions being made in both countries. Interestingly, those causing the consternation come from both sides of the issue.

Yet another good item in Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin. This looks at the startling decline of bird life globally and in particular the dramatic decline in Scotland around Orkney and Shetland and on St Kilda in the Western Isles. The article draws attention to the catastrophic damage caused by supertrawlers which are responsible for massive amounts of over fishing. As the article points out "A major conservation initiative is necessary before it's too late if indeed the eleventh hour is not long past!":

This article from Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin by Allen Moore draws attention to the blight of plastic pollution on the worlds oceans and the urgent need for a world treaty on global waste.  He makes the point that until we get global agreement rubbish will continue to be thrown into the sea presenting major dangers to seabirds, cetaceans, fish, other marine life and also humans: 

"Hope for world treaty on global waste"

Hartes Ease is a group of Manx musicians who give regular concerts throughout the Island. Their performances include mainly renaissance music for recorders, viols and voice. Following a successful Christmas concert last year  Hartes Ease will give another concert at 8.00pm on Friday 5 January 2018 at Holy Trinity Church, Patrick, Isle of Man. Money raised will go towards the Isle of Man local charity www.knockaloe.im 

This news item from Yn Commeeys Celtiagh - Celtic League Mannin reports on those Irish soldiers who survived the Siege of Jadotville and were awarded with a special medal on 2nd December 2017 honouring their service. The Siege of Jadotville took place in September 1961, during the United Nations intervention in the Katanga conflict in Congo-Léopoldville, in Central Africa. The lightly armed and heavily outnumbered Irish soldiers fought bravely during the UN peaceckeeping mission until their ammunition and supplies were exhausted.