Blogs

News from Mannin Branch of The Celtic League:

Following the retirement of the Deputy First Minister of the Stormont government the Manx Nationalist Party has written to him to acknowledge his role in bringing stability to the North of Ireland after the troubles.

Martin McGuinness was pivotal in ensuring the process was successful and also built an unlikely working relationship and friendship with the DUP’s Ian Paisley who was First Minister for many years.

The text of the Mec Vannin letter is set out below:

News from Kernow Matters To Us:

Was it Storm Doris or the Spriggans?

A judgement on the National Trust!

This is what the National Trust, aided and abetted by the planners who dutifully gave the consents, consider appropriate to uglify and vandalise an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Area of Great Historic Value, Heritage Coast, World Heritage Site and Site of Special Scientific Importance (yes, Levant is all of those).

It seems that the National Trust has now joined with "English" Heritage in its attitude towards care for Cornwall's heritage.

Recently an Angus cow, known as Jenny, believed to be the oldest in Ireland, passed away at the age of 33. Her owner was Finbarr Deasy who has a farm in Clonakilty, west Cork and Jenny had been with the Deasy family since she was a calf. 

A local charity, challenged with the task of establishing a new project in the village of Patrick, recently held a special candle-lit musical evening to help raise funds for their vision regarding the World War I internment camp previously based at Knockaloe Moar Farm.

Holy Trinity Church, at the heart of the village's community, became the venue for a concert of music performed by the local, early music group Hartes Ease, who delighted everyone with a range of songs and tunes.

This year the annual Reih Bleeaney Vanannan (Manannan's Choice of the Year), presented by Culture Vannin, has been awarded to the hard working Michael Players, who, during a period of more than sixty years have brought their unique presentation and promotion of Manx dialect theatre into the community.

The idea of reviving the tradition came after World War II when Miss Mary Cannell began producing plays for the Manx branch of the Celtic Congress. They were also produced by Mrs Edna Cooil and enjoyed occasional tours beyond the fringe of Kirk Michael, where they were based.

This year's Arrane son Mannin (Song for Mann) competition took place at the Masonic Hall in Peel, where supporters gathered to hear a number of entries, from which just one would be chosen to represent the Isle of Man at the annual Pan-Celtic Song Contest in Ireland.

Sponsored by Culture Vannin, who also generously donated £300 prize money for the winner, the evening was interspersed with a variety of entertainment; including Scran, Matt Kelly, John Kilgallon, Manx Gaelic choir Caarjyn Cooidjagh and the Matt Creer Band.

A recent addition to the Transceltic index of Celtic Festivals is the Penzance Cornish Language Festival. 2017 will see the Festival's inaugural year.  

The centenary of the death of Manx cultural champion, Sophia Morrison, was commemorated with a number of events organised by Roy Kennaugh, including local organisations Mec Vannin, the Celtic League, Yn Ҫheshaght Ghailckagh (Manx Language Society) and the local branch of the Celtic Congress.

News from Kernow Matters To Us:

Truro City of Culture

“Westminster not interested in Cornwall. We must look elsewhere” KMTU supports Capital Of Culture Bid

Celebrations took place at the weekend to mark the community buy out of a Cold War surveillance station on Lewis (Scottish Gaelic: Leòdhas) in the Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar). The radio and radar station was established at Gallan Head, close to the village of Aird Uig (Àird Ùig) 60 years ago. It formed part of Nato's early warning system against Soviet submarines and aircraft.