Alastair Kneale's blog

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) is an Irish and international amateur sporting and cultural organisation. They focus mainly on promoting Gaelic games, including the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders. The Association also promotes Irish language, music and dance. The GAA yesterday (May 28 2017) officially opened a new stadium, McGovern Park, in the English city of London.

A group of humanists,atheists and agnostics on the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) has donated copies of the book 'What is Humanism? How do you live without god?' to Manx schools. The first of its kind it is aimed at the new curriculum for upper primary and lower secondary school children. The book examines how humanists respond to fundamental questions about morals and ethics, the origins of life, religion and the state. It looks at how people without belief in God live moral and fulfilled lives, with respect for humankind and the universe? 

Hartes Ease and The Tallis Consort are giving a joint Spring Concert of Early Music at St Ninian's Church in the Manx capital of Douglas (Manx: Doolish) on Friday 12th May. Hartes Ease is a group of musicians who give regular concerts throughout the Island. Their  performances include mainly renaissance music for recorders, viols and voices. The Tallis Consort is a group of singers specialising in a cappella music. The repertoire is mostly medieval and renaissance music, but also includes works by more modern composers.

MEDIA RELEASE FROM CULTURE VANNIN: 

New Guide to the Island’s historic sites published by Culture Vannin

A new book has just been published which, for the first time, provides a comprehensive guide to the Island’s archaeological sites.

The Australian Celtic Festival takes place every year. Crowds flock to the New South Wales town of Glen Innes in a celebration of the music, song, dance and culture of all the Celtic Nations. The Festival attracts clans, cultural groups, dancers and performers from around Australia and beyond.

A truly free and independent press is a vital component of any healthy democratic society. The need for transparency and for those who wield governmental and corporate power to be held accountable is vital. The annual briefing by Reporters Without Borders, has pointed out that press freedom has never been as threatened as it is now. Based in Paris, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is an independent NGO with consultative status with the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF).

News from Irish Branch of the Celtic League:

Members of the radical Irish language group MISNEACH occupied the Department of the Gaeltacht on Kildare Street, Dublin on 12th April. After figures published in the census last week revealed a dramatic fall in the number of daily speakers of Irish in the Gaeltacht between 2011-2016 the group is demanding a fundamental shift in the approach of the State to our national language.

Referring to the fall in numbers, a spokesperson for MISNEACH said:

News from the Celtic League:

‘Low flying military aircraft…does not just cause death or injury to the animals but also can lead to the deaths of horse riders’.

A number of horses had to be put down following an incident involving low flying United States Air Force jets in Cornwall (see link):

http://www.cornwalllive.com/…/story-30270897-det…/story.html

The first new set of Isle of Man (Mannin) coins for 13 years has been launched by the Manx Treasury. The Treasury (Manx: Yn Tashtey) of the Isle of Man is the finance department of the Isle of Man Government (Manx: Reiltys Ellan Vannin). The set of seven includes a new version of the five-pound coin, which was first introduced on the island in 1981.

Josephine Kermode (18 September 1852 - 15 February 1937) was a Manx poet and playwright better known by the pen name "Cushag". Cushag was a name that she was known within her family. The Cushag, is the national flower of the Isle of Man and is also known as Ragwort. According to legend, King Orry who was the Norse-Gaelic ruler Godred Crovan (died 1095), chose as his emblem the cushag flower.