Emmett McIntyre's blog

Under the headline “Cornwall Should Have Same Powers As Independent Scotland”, the website “WestBriton” is reporting on the latest fallout from the movement toward Scottish Independence. Recent press reports show a clear consensus emerging that an Independent Scotland, or a close vote, would have knock on effects on the nationalist sentiments of the remaining two Celtic nations, Cornwall and Wales, which are now part of the United Kingdom (setting aside the problematic Ulster).

The North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF), held at Fair Park in Dallas, runs from Friday February 28 through Sunday March 2nd.  One of the major American Celtic Festivals, a spokesman for the NTIF who was contacted by Transceltic stated that an estimated 55,000 attendees are expected at 2014 event.

In the continuing aftermath of the resignation of Irish Language Commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin and subsequent appointment of the new Commissioner, 38 year old Irish speaker, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, there are now calls for the resignation of a second Government Official. 

The Gaelic language continues to gain strength with coninuing implemenation of laws supporting Scots Gaelic. The South Ayrshire County Council have announced the submission of a three year “Draft Gaelic Language Plan” to the Bord na Gaidhlig. The Plan for South Ayrshire outlines how the Council will promote the use of Gaelic in compliance with the 2005 Gaelic Language Act.

On Saturday 15th February an estimated 10,000 people marched in Dublin in support of the Irish Language and to protest the failure of the Irish Government to protect the rights of the Irish speaking community. Attracting people from all over Ireland, the “Lá Mór na Gaeilge” (A Great Day Of Irish) was seen as both a celebration of the Irish language and a protest over the failure by Government to implement legislation protecting the rights of Irish speakers.

The website “ThisIsThe WestCounntry, under the headline “Milestone Reached as 1,000th Cornish Language Street Sign Is Installed”, reports on the latest chapter in restoring  the Celtic tongue of Cornwall to everyday usage.  Although seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme,  the simple fact that the language is seen everyday by a growing number of people on their way to work or shopping gives credit to the tongue and lends it increasing  legitimacy.

It was announced this week that the new Irish Language Commissioner has been named to replace the outgoing Seán Ó Cuirreáin.  The new Commissioner, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, is a former political correspondent for Irish Television TG4 and Nuacht RTE.  The website Gaelport gives the following description of the new Commissioner: “ Mr. Rónán Ó Domhnaill, aged 38, is a native Irish speaker from An Cheathru Rua, Connemara, and is a political correspondent with Irish-language broadcast services TG4 and Nuacht RTE. “

Celtic language activists should not underestimate what has just happened.

The web site “This Is Cornwall” is reporting under the headline “More Than £1Million Spent on Cornish Funding”, that the Cornwall County Council are drafting an annual funding proposal to support the Celtic tongue of Cornwall.  Quoting from the article which describes past and current efforts by the Cornish County Council to fund the language: “More than £1Million has been spent since 2006 on promoting and developing the language that has almost disappeared.

“When people watch us perform they are experiencing Celtic culture and I see that as the takeaway from our performance, that the audience is experiencing Celtic culture when they attend our performance”   Albannach’s Jamesie Johnston