Alastair Kneale's blog

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

‘Islanders are a proud people it is likely that some feeling the strain are suffering in silence’.

The Isle of Man, says the Chief Minister (CM) Allan Bell MHK, ‘remains an outstanding place to live, work and do business’.

Well it depends what standpoint you are viewing it from.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Whatever CoMin (Council of Ministers Proceedings) and the MHKs (Member of the The House of Keys (Manx: Y Chiare as Feed) which is the Manx Parliament) kicking up a smokescreen over parking in Tynwald believe, the main item on the agenda of a lot of people on this Island is how to survive month on month. That has just got a lot more difficult for many people with the decision by Manx Gas to hike gas prices when global energy prices are probably lower in relative terms than they have been for the past three decades.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Manx Economic Development Fund: All We Can Do Is Await The Inevitable Corruption ‘Easy Money’ Attracts

No doubt Laurence Skelly was pleased at his ability to steer the legislation allowing for the establishment of the so called economic development fund (EDF) through Tynwald this week.

As we reported earlier on CL News ‘the champagne corks will have been popping’ down at the Chamber of Commerce following the news that this lunacy had been given the green light.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Manx Chief Minister has been speaking about the strong relationship that has been built up with the Scottish National Party after leading a delegation to the Party’s annual conference.

He said that he has a good working relationship with SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, as indeed he had with her predecessor Alex Salmond.

The Manx Chief Minister said the conference had afforded an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest with the Scottish leader.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Our query about the removal of antiquities to other institutions prior to the establishment of the Manx Museum in 1922 has brought a swift and refreshingly explicit (interim) response from Museum Director Edmund Southworth (picture).

We had asked about an item removed at Treasure Trove in the 19th Century and asked if this and other items were subsequently recovered.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League have written to the Manx Museum and

National Trust asking what antiquities were removed from the Island in the period before the Trust was established and a Manx Museum was opened.

The League cite a specific example of an item removed as ‘treasure trove’ by the British Museum in the nineteenth century and ask if this and other antiquities removed to overseas institutions have been returned.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

It seems at the moment the Manx government and politicians believe there is some mileage in sucking up to UK political parties. However Manx politicians once had a bit more spine – read on:

Our colleagues over on the Mec Vannin Facebook pages are carrying a brief piece on ‘Tory Boy’, Geoffrey Boot’s, utterances about getting up close and personal with his erstwhile chums in the UK Conservative Party. A link to the item is here;

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

This year's Lorient Interceltique Festival, saw Manx bands Barrule, and the Ruth Keggin Band in first and second position in the coveted Trophée Loic Raison, topping off a special year for the Isle of Man at the annual festival in Brittany. Considerable credit for the continued success of Manx artists and performers goes to the legacy left by Mona Douglas.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

(A personal view from the Celtic League Director Of Information, Bernar Moffatt)

All in all it’s been a curious two weeks for people on the Isle of Man certainly if you follow what’s reported in the Manx media.