Blogs

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The plans to establish a major centre for Gaelic music, culture and heritage in South Uist have suffered a major funding setback after a funding request to the Big Lottery Fund.

The arts group Ceolas were hoping to establish the £12m centre, in Daliburgh to provide year-round education and performances in music, song and dance, as well as other aspects of Gaelic culture and heritage.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Our query about the removal of antiquities to other institutions prior to the establishment of the Manx Museum in 1922 has brought a swift and refreshingly explicit (interim) response from Museum Director Edmund Southworth (picture).

We had asked about an item removed at Treasure Trove in the 19th Century and asked if this and other items were subsequently recovered.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Celtic League have written to the Manx Museum and

National Trust asking what antiquities were removed from the Island in the period before the Trust was established and a Manx Museum was opened.

The League cite a specific example of an item removed as ‘treasure trove’ by the British Museum in the nineteenth century and ask if this and other antiquities removed to overseas institutions have been returned.

News From The Celtic League

Last week it was announced that Cornwall Council staff will be encouraged to use the Cornish language when engaging with the public, amid a torrent of criticism levied at the Council from the media in response to their initiative.

Below the General Secretary of the League, who is based in Cornwall, sets out why he thinks it is about time that the Council ‘upped their game’ in their support of the Cornish language.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

It seems at the moment the Manx government and politicians believe there is some mileage in sucking up to UK political parties. However Manx politicians once had a bit more spine – read on:

Our colleagues over on the Mec Vannin Facebook pages are carrying a brief piece on ‘Tory Boy’, Geoffrey Boot’s, utterances about getting up close and personal with his erstwhile chums in the UK Conservative Party. A link to the item is here;

After a tenure that spanned 4 years concurrent with the strengthening revival of Celtic culture and the Gaelic tongue in his native Nova Scotia, Lewis MacKinnon has stepped down as the distinguished Bardic Crown of Scotland’s Royal National Mòd .  In October 2011, he was honoured as the first non-Scot Gaelic poet laureate.

News from the Welsh Language Society

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

This year's Lorient Interceltique Festival, saw Manx bands Barrule, and the Ruth Keggin Band in first and second position in the coveted Trophée Loic Raison, topping off a special year for the Isle of Man at the annual festival in Brittany. Considerable credit for the continued success of Manx artists and performers goes to the legacy left by Mona Douglas.

Congratulations to Scotland, Wales and Ireland who have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2015. Scotland secured their qualification by beating Samoa 36-33 yesterday. Wales had already reached the quarter-final stage despite being beaten by Australia yesterday. Scotland now face Australia in the quarter-final on 18 October, with Wales against South Africa on 17 October. Ireland conclude the group stages of the tournament when they play France later today.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

HSBC are not living up to their reputation as the ‘world’s local bank’ according to renowned Welsh harpist Robin Huw Bowen.

Mr Bowen found himself barred from the Aberystwyth branch of the bank after he criticised the prominence given to the Welsh language on a sign at the entrance.