Emmett McIntyre's blog

From the Outer Hebrides to the South Island of New Zealand, the culture nourished by the Six Celtic Nations is alive and well.  We at Transceltic are committed to maintaining an up-to-date index of Celtic Festivals and of Celtic Societies which reflect the deep roots of Celtic culture no matter where. Our focus is the English Speaking world which boasts tens of millions of residents of Celtic descent. 

Please take a look at our Celtic Festval  index and our index of Celtic Societies using the tabs at the the top of the page or the links provided below.

In November of 2015 Transceltic reported on the pettiness of London’s cut in funding for Scots Gaelic broadcasting. The British Government’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, had announced a 100% cut in funding for Gaelic language television in Scotland. At the time the web page “Herald Scotland” commented: “Those of a cynical disposition may suppose that the No vote in the (Scottish Independence) referendum may have played a part in this decision – perhaps there is now less need to keep Scottish voters “on side”.

After long years of indifference on the part of the Irish Government toward the health of the Irish language, things just might be changing. Soon the Celtic tongue will begin to get the respect it deserves.  At least that is what defenders of the Irish language can be permitted to believe. The Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaelige) have haled the results of the February 26 elections and its hoped for impact on the tongue.  Following the results of the February 26th Parliamentary election, the Gaelic League have released the following statement:

Dr. Alasdair Allan (Scotland's Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages) has opened a dedicated Gaelic school in the Scottish Highlands. In his remarks Allan pointed to the students who graduate from Gaelic schools as a future reservoir to meet the Gaelic Medium teacher shortage. The shortage of teachers qualified to serve in Gaelic Medium schools now plaguing Scotland is a sure sign of the revitalization of the Celtic tongue. The newly opened school where the Minister addressed his remarks is located near Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe.

Ireland’s President Michael Higgins has launched Seachtain na Gaeilge 2016, the world’s largest Language Festival, in a speech at the opening of the Conradh na Gaeilge Ard-Fheis (Gaelic League Annual Conference). Higgins opened the conference, with the Language Festival to follow during the first two weeks of March, with an optimistic appraisal of the current and future state of the Irish tongue. Referring to statistics which point to a strengthening of the Irish Language revival, Higgins is quoted on the Conradh na Gaeilge website:

The 6th Annual Saint Augustine Celtic Music and Heritage Festival is to be held at the city’s Francis Field on March 11th through March 13th.

Turning the ballot box into a weapon in the struggle to advance the Irish Language, Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) are calling on Ireland's voting public to action.  Focusing on Galway, the campaign on behalf of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht (#GaelVota) is being put forward in the run-up to the general election. The Gaelic League made the following announcement:

There has been a stunning victory for Scots Gaelic in the Scottish Parliament.  Under the 2016 Education Bill approved yesterday, Scotland’s local authorities will be required to provide a public education in Gaelic if requested by parents. This statute applies even if the area has no history of Gaelic speaking.  In reaction, Scotland’s Bòrd Na Gàidhlig has issued the following statement hailing this historic breakthrough for the Celtic tongue of Scotland:

Featuring Celtic Musical acts, Irish Dance and a Friday night Ceili (Gaelic for Party), the Savannah Irish Festival will be held February 19th thru 21st at the Savannah Civic Center.  The Festival boasts a full line of entertainment including performances by the Irish Dancers of Savannah, the Atlanta Ceili Band and the Savannah Pipes and Drums.

Pictured above is Brigit's Cross whose origins pre-date Christianity