Bernard Moffatt's blog

News from the Celtic League:
Celtic League have received a reply from the MOD (RAF) to our query about the extent of training for foreign pilots at RAF Valley. The issue is focus and led to a question in the Manx Parliament Tynwald about the use of the Manx Civil Airport at Ronaldsway under an agreement with RAF Valley for training of aircrew.

The Manx Chief Minister originally told the Celtic League that they could not identify if foreign aircrew used the facility under the agreement which he bizarrely asserted assisted the training of Manx Air Traffic Controllers.

News from the Celtic League:

News from the Celtic League:

There are ambitious plans out for consultation aimed at providing four new Marine Protected Areas off the Hebrides and in NE Scotland.

The largest Sea of the Hebrides site is especially important in providing a secure area for Basking Sharks, Minke Whales and other species.

Detail here with an opportunity to contribute your views:

https://www.baskingsharkmpa.co.uk/

Images: Proposed Marine Protected Areas

Bernard Moffatt
Celtic League

‘Only one previous terror attack in country relatively free from such incidents’.

Leaders in the Celtic countries have been swift in their condemnation of a terrorist attack in New Zealand. Both the Irish President, Michael D Higgins, and Manx Chief Minister, Howard Quayle MHK, have issued statements (see links below):

https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/chief-minister-pays-trib...

I’m thinking about nostalgia the subject having been broached by a Manx Radio interviewer this week asking me about nationalism and Mec Vannin.

Right on cue a small strong buff envelope drops through the letterbox with a US postmark. I’m intrigued used as I am to the gas, electricity or telecom bill with a variation when Alfred Cannan MHK and his chums at the Income Tax Division undertake their annual ‘extortion’.

Members of the Irish Defence Forces and An Garda Siochana who have died on peacekeeping duties were remembered at the inauguration ceremony for a memorial garden at Wexford Barracks last month.

Ireland's Minister of Defence paying tribute to those ‘who sadly did not come home’ said:

“During my time as Minister for Defence, I have seen first hand the contribution that Irish Defence Force personnel are making to peace and security in the regions where they deploy.

Well over a decade ago cracking of the reactor core graphite records for places like Heysham were, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) told us, ‘closed documents’ did any politicians press the issue...Not that we are aware.

The issue of cracking of the graphite bricks which line the nuclear core of the UK's nuclear plants (see earlier post) is a deep seated one we had correspondence about this over a decade ago with Mike Weightman who was then the Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations at the NII.

We’re short of homes again! One of the consistent themes that has preoccupied the Nationalist Party Mec Vannin is homelessness and the perpetual failure of successive Isle of Man governments to address the question of affordable homes and also increased social housing.

Even those that do own a modest home or rent social housing face steep rates or rent rises so the government’s preoccupation with cosying up to the wealthy can continue.

‘Oh for the good old days’! I thought when I saw this Manx Radio news story about a forthcoming financial soiree:

https://www.manxradio.com/…/international-tax-conference-t…/

I wonder will there be any shock horror revelations at this event or will it simply be one of those back slapping exercises where Manx Radio’s John Moss can run around breathlessly interviewing the financial service glitterati about all that's good and pure in our tiny ‘haven’ while Paul Moulton at MTTV tries to elbow him out of the picture.

We all know the more prominent figures the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin such as Pearse and Connolly not to mention ‘the one who got away’ (from being executed) Eamon De Valera. However Joseph Plunkett is less well celebrated and indeed he was one of the least likely revolutions. Yet his is one of the most evocative stories of that weekend. Plunkett was married just hours before his execution in the chapel at Kilmainham to Grace Gifford on Easter Sunday. His wife was allowed back for a few hours on Easter Monday morning when he was shot.