Emmett McIntyre's blog

Originally published January 22, 2013 by the Transceltic Team: 

The Selkie-folk, in the mythology of Orkney and Shetland, are a supernatural race of shape-shifting seal creatures.  They are said to be able to shed their seal skin and then take human form. However, it was vital for the Selkie never to lose its seal skin for it was that which gave them the ability to return to their original seal from. Sometimes the Selkies were known for shedding their skins and sunbathing on the beaches and rocks in their human form.

The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) have called on the Wesh Government to introduce educational reforms to ensure that Welsh Medium Education is available to all students.

The An Ri Ra Mountain Irish Festival is to be held August 14 – 16 in Butte, Montana.  The festival is sponsored by the Montana Gaelic Cultural Society. The Festival includes workshops in Irish Dancing and seminars on Celtic culture.  The sponsoring organisation describes itself as follows:  “Founded to promote and preserve Gaelic culture in our region through language, music, dance and social gatherings”.  The Society has been the sponsor of Celtic Language Immersion events.

Given the recent UK recognition of the Cornish Nation the next logical step is devolution for Cornwall following the lead of the Celtic nations of Wales and Scotland. In an open letter posted to the website of Mebyon Kernow (The Party for Cornwall) the party’s leader, Cllr. Dick Cole, has called on the UK census authorities to allow Cornish as an option for ethnicity and national identity in keeping with the status of a recognised minority.

The 2oth annual Hebcelt Festival will be held this week, July 15 - 18,  at Lews Castle in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides.  The Festival is being praised for its promotion  of Gaelic culture and Language.  

The fate of the Irish language is, at this time, in the hands of a Government that is failing to protect Ireland’s culture. There are bad governments and good governments. Ireland’s Fine Gael/Labour administration falls into the bad category, particularly when it comes to the health of the Irish language. The problem is that the present Irish government has the ability to seriously damage the Irish language before they are consigned to history. – Transceltic’s Eibhlin O’Neill

A panel of educational experts added their voices to the growing chorus of ­­­­­Welsh language activists who have called for making Welsh a medium of instruction in primary and secondary schools in Wales. If this were to happen it would have huge consequences, not only for the future of the Welsh but for all the Celtic tongues. The announcement came at the recent opening of the Urdd Eisteddfod, the annual Welsh-language youth festival of literature, music and performing arts.

The Cape Breton Gaelic College (Colaisde na Gàidhlig), which has an international reputation for its contribution to the promotion and preservation of Gaelic culture, is sponsoring the 2015 2nd annual Cape Breton Island Kitchen Fest (Féis a’ Chidsin) from June 27 thru July 4.  

This year’s festival is being held over 8 days, in 18 venues with 100 separate events and boasts a staggering array of Celtic musical talent with over 150 participating performers.

The Irish Language Commissioner, Teanga Rónán Ó Domhnaill, has issued a damning report against the Department of Education and Skills charging non-compliance with the Education Act of 1998.

Alleging that only two out of 32 Councils are in compliance with the Languages Act, An Coimisinéir Teanga Rónán Ó Domhnaill states that the charges are based on the results of an Audit conducted over a 12 month period. The Audit disclosed that the Donegal and Laois Councils were the only two bodies offering Irish language services in compliance with the Languages Act.