Celtic Recipes

Irish Election: Sinn Féin success heralds seismic shift in politics of Ireland

Submitted by Eibhlin O'Neill on February 11, 2020 - 1:00pm

There is no doubt that the big winners in the Irish general election, held on 8th February 2020 has been Sinn Féin. When all first preference votes are counted, the republican party has taken 24.5% of the vote, compared to 22% for Fianna Fáil and 21% for Fine Gael. The election was for Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland. At the election 159 of 160 Dáil Éireann seats were contested, with that of the Ceann Comhairle (speaker/chairperson) being re-elected automatically.

The Massacre of Glencoe 13th February 1692

Submitted by Douglas MacQueen on February 10, 2020 - 9:18pm

The Massacre of Glencoe (Scottish Gaelic Mort Ghlinne Comhann) took place early in the morning of 13 February 1692. One of the most beautiful places in Scotland Glen Coe (Scottish Gaelic: Gleann Comhann) takes its name from the River Coe that winds and tumbles its way through the glen. It is hard for those who visit this area of great beauty today to think that it was the site of such a treacherous act of murder and brutality against the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe.

Australia: Sydney Highland Gathering 15 March 2020

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Submitted by Alastair Kneale on February 10, 2020 - 6:45pm

On Sunday 15 March 2020, The Scots College in Bellevue Hill is hosting the Sydney Highland Gathering. The venue is at the Scots College, 53 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill 2030. Gates open at 11am and entry is free. Visitors are promised an exciting day of Pipe Band Competitions and Highland Dancing Competitions, Highland Dancing, traditional Scottish Highland games events including carrying the stones and toss the caber.

Stephen Miller presented with 2020 Manx culture award Reih Bleeaney Vanannan

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Submitted by Alastair Kneale on February 8, 2020 - 1:00pm

Media release from Culture Vannin:

STEPHEN MILLER RBV

Stephen Miller’s scholarship and dedication to Manx folklore and culture over many decades are recognised in the award of the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan this year.

Celebration of Dydd Miwsig Cymru - Welsh Language Music Day

Submitted by Mair Williams on February 7, 2020 - 11:32am

Today 7 February 2020 is Dydd Miwsig Cymru - Welsh Language Music Day. This annual event is a celebration of all forms of Welsh Language music. All types of musical genre are included from indie, rock, punk, funk, folk, electronica, hip hop or anything else. There is a growing popularity in music being made in the Welsh language. Welsh language music is also being hailed as a great resource for learners of the language, by using song lyrics to add to their vocabulary.

Concerns over more potentially 'radioactive mud' dumping in sea off Cardiff Bay

Submitted by Mair Williams on February 5, 2020 - 12:31pm

The Welsh Government sponsored orgnisation Natural Resources Wales (Welsh: Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru) has revealed that it has received another application from  EDF Energy to dump up to 780,000 tonnes of potentially contaminated sediment off Cardiff Bay.  EDF Energy wants to deposit sediment dredged as part of building work for the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.

Yn possan Manninagh son craitnaghyn (Manx Bat Group) welcome new species to the Island

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Submitted by Alastair Kneale on February 4, 2020 - 2:12pm

There are many wildlife organisations working throughout the Celtic lands and waters that do a tremendous job in trying to protect endangered species. They bring together volunteers from across the communities in which they live who are interested in the conservation of wildlife. One such group is the Yn possan Manninagh son craitnaghyn (Manx Bat Group) and they have a very distinctive logo (see below) of a bat in Celtic design flying over a map of the Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin). Craitnag is the Manx Gaelic name for a bat.

Parties of the Establishment in Ireland look nervously at surge in support for Sinn Féin

Submitted by Eibhlin O'Neill on February 3, 2020 - 12:22pm

The 2020 Irish general election will be held on Saturday 8 February 2020. It will be held at a time when Ireland's electorate have become increasingly dissatisfied with the present Fine Gael administrations inability or even unwillingness to deal with a number of important issues including health care, housing and crime. The election was called following the dissolution of the of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (legislature) of Ireland.

Isle of Man: New Book - Sophia Morrison, Mona Douglas & Their Enchanted Isle

Submitted by Valerie Caine on February 2, 2020 - 8:46pm

Local author, Derek Winterbottom, has written several books concerning different aspects of the Isle of Man, but he has now focused his attention towards two remarkable women who devoted their lives to an all consuming passion.

Both Sophia Morrison and Mona Douglas undoubtedly played a crucial role in the survival and continuity of the Island's language, folklore and other traditional elements of Manx life; but here we have a book which brings them together in printed form and explores their lives on an intimate basis.

Sophia Morrison’s Manx Fairy Tales: The story of Baron Kitterland whose reckless behaviour was stopped by the wise Manx Witch

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Submitted by Alastair Kneale on February 1, 2020 - 7:11pm

Sophia Morrison

The Manx nation has a rich cultural heritage and folklore. The Celtic myths, legends, traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of the Isle of Man (Mannin) have been passed from generation to generation, much of it through oral tradition. The importance of folklore to a nation should not be underestimated. It encompasses the traditions common to that culture and shared by its people.

Many entities exist in Manx mythology. Creatures that can rise from the rivers and the sea, emerge from cavernous depths and spring out of rocks. Variations of stories featuring each of these mysterious beings have been told on the Isle of Man for many centuries.

Sophia Morrison (24 May 1859 – 14 January 1917) was a Manx cultural activist, folklore collector and author. She saw the importance of what it meant to be Manx and helped record and identify the different features that make up Manx culture. In Preface to Manx Proverbs and Sayings, 1905, which she co-authored with Carl Roeder, Sophia Morrison wrote:

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