Alastair Kneale's blog

News Release Fom Culltre Vannin

Building Conservation Forum

Culture Vannin has established a new committee to raise awareness of the Island’s built environment. The Building Conservation Forum was set up last summer in order to explore ways of promoting and protecting the Island’s historic buildings.

News From The Celtic League:

I wrote yesterday about the Chronicles of Man and that provoked several queries from Celtic League followers in Wales, Ireland and Scotland seeking more details.

The question of Celtic artefacts held in institutions primarily in the South East of England (London) area has long been contentious. To add insult to injury often these artefacts whose provenance to the institutions in question is questionable are loaned back to the countries from which they were removed.

The Republic of Ireland and Wales carry Celtic hopes for Euro 2016. The 2016 UEFA European Championship, the international men's football championship of Europe organized by UEFA is to be held in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016. The European Championship final tournament will be contested by 24 teams, Euro 2016 kicks off on 10 June, with the final a month later on 10 July. Of the teams who qualified for the tournament Belgium, Germany, Spain and the hosts France are amongst the favourites to lift the trophy.

News from the Celtic League:

Wikipedia (see related link 1) records the Calf of Man (the small Island and bird sanctuary off the South of Mann) being gifted to the ‘National Trust’ in 1939. But this was not the Manx National Trust it was the English body.

When a Manx National Trust was eventually established in 1951 it did nothing to rectify the anomaly taking the view as it does now over the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles that a donation of this type to English institutions is inviolable.

News from the Celtic League:

The option of independence could become more of a viable concept if the UK breaks its own umbilical with the EU. It is not just in Scotland that this is being postulated but as this ITV News (Channel Islands) indicates the possibility of Jersey of a confederation of both Jersey and Guernsey going it alone would be practical (link):

Just a few hours ago Barcelona won the Spanish football Copa Del Rey final 2-0 against Sevilla at Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid. It was a proud moment for the Barcelona fans who waved Estelada flags to celebrate the victory. The pro-Catalan independence flags have become a common sight at Barcelona’s home matches in recent years during an upswing of separatist sentiment in Catalonia which is situated to the north-east of Spain.

Standing proudly in the Manx Musuem (Manx: Thie Tashtee Vannin) for over a century the skeleton of The Irish Elk has had pride of place. Over recent months Manx National Heritage (Manx: Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin) the organisation responsible for protecting and promoting the Isle of Man’s heritage and culture, has undertaken detailed study, cleaning and conservation work on the Giant Deer. Much of this significant work has been tackled by Manx National Heritage’s conservator Chris Weeks.

News from the Celtic League:

Whale watching is a growing eco-tourism asset globally and in recent years its potential has been recognised around the shores of these Islands.

Mann has had its basking shark project for many years and more recently Ireland has been actively promoting its so called ‘Atlantic Way’ project down the West coast from Donegal to Kerry an interaction of tourism, the stunning coastline and marine life.

News From The Mannin Branch Celtic League:

The Mannin branch Celtic League environmental spokesman, Allen Moore, has submitted comment to the consultation on the Inshore Marine Zoning Plan it is set out below. In line with a recent AGM resolution the League calls once again for more preference to be afforded to indigenous fishermen:

“Consultation on Inshore Marine Zoning Plan for the 0-3 Nautical Mile Area of the Isle of Man Territorial Sea

News From The Celtic League:

Writing in his Scottish blog (link below) Scottish commentator Paul Kavanagh referenced the recent agreement on the BBC Charter and bemoaned the lack of a true National broadcaster in Scotland. He points out that countries with a much smaller population indeed tiny populations have National TV and Radio services: