The exhibition is currently touring different venues in the UK under the title, `The Queen: Art and Image’ and Branch Secretary Adam Phillips was invited by the National Museum of Wales to air his views on the exhibition. The exhibition is being described as a “major” event bringing together “remarkable images of Queen Elizabeth II spanning the 60 years of her reign”.

However, to present a more balanced picture of the views being expressed in the images, Mr Phillips was asked by the National Museum (St Fagan’s team) for his opinion as a member of the Welsh general public. The Museum sent a member of staff to Mr Phillips’ home to make a short film of him speaking out about the exhibition, which will be shown at the exhibition at the Museum.

Mr Phillips told the Celtic League:

“I am honoured to have been asked my opinion on an issue by our national museum. I am glad that it wasn’t just the regular royalist cronies and unionist sycophants that were asked to contribute and that a normal working class person was asked to speak out about the waste of time, money and museum space this exhibition is. I wish someone could tell me what the relevance the Queen of England has to Cymru; perhaps as head of the Commonwealth, but as Queen of England?

“No doubt there will be the usual suspects there on the night with their canapés and sparking wine looking to mingle with other colonialist minded folk, harking back to the `glory days of Empire’.

I on the other hand will be looking forward to a time when she [the Queen] can actually do something useful for us by giving us back our nation’s freedom and making us a Republic!”

`The Queen: Art and Image’ exhibition will show at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff between 4 February –29 April 2012.

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

28/01/12

‘Develop comprehensive legislation on the Irish language in Northern Ireland and take resolute measures to protect and implement more effectively the language rights of persons belonging to the Irish-speaking community.’

The recommendation from the independent Council of Europe (CoE) monitors from the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities came following the publication of their report into the Irish language in the north of Ireland. The CoE monitors met with representatives of the umbrella organisation POBAL last year to inform them about the situation of the Irish language in the north since 2007. The report also criticised plans to cut the core funding of Irish language organisations and advocacy groups like the North-South Ministerial Council, Foras na Gaeilge and POBAL.

The Chief Executive Officer for POBAL, Janet Muller, said:
“This is the latest in a series of important international judgements in which POBAL has been involved with regarding Irish language rights here and we are pleased that our work has had such an impact.

“There is a consultation currently underway on these proposals and it is crucial that the concern of international experts be taken extremely seriously by all those responsible for the current process.”

The report is also critical of the lack of Irish language signage and broadcast funding.

Link:

A copy of the CoE report can be downloaded be following the link below:
http://www.pobal.org/uploads/images/22.12.11.%20Framework%20Con.%20report.%203rd%20OP.pdf

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

26/01/12

Speaking during his Ministerial Statement at Hollyrood, on the day that Scottish poet Robert Burns is traditionally remembered, FM Salmond announced the launch of the Referendum document `Your Scotland, Your Referendum’ and would deliver the “most important decision by the people of Scotland in 300 years” and must be beyond reproach”. FM Salmond confirmed that the question that his Government would put on the Referendum Paper would be “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?”, but did not rule out the possibility of giving the people a choice of another `Devolution Max’ option on the same Paper, adding:

“If there is an alternative of maximum devolution which would command wide support in Scotland then it is only fair and democratic that option should be among the choices open to the people of Scotland.”

FM Salmond confirmed that his Party would like 16 year old to vote in the Referendum and that if the Electoral Commission regulated the Referendum, they should not be allowed to determine the question.

The announcement received criticism from the unionist Party leaders with the Labour Party’s Johann Lamont, the Liberal Democrat Party’s Willie Rennie and the Conservative Party’s Ruth Davidson, all calling for the Referendum vote, in some form or other, to toe the line set out by Prime Minister Cameron’s Westminster Government. FM Salmond stated that should the people vote for an independent Scotland, the first elections would likely be held for the Holyrood parliament on 5 May 2016.

At a press conference in Edinburgh castle where a reported 45 international press and media journalists quizzed FM Salmond for an hour on his plans, the SNP Leader quoted directly from Scotland’s poet, Robert Burns – who is traditionally remembered on 25th January – by arguing:

“I want Scotland to be independent, not because I think we are better than any other country, but because I know we are just as good as any other country.”

Link:

Viewers can see the debate at the link below (restrictions on viewing apply):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01bw82l/The_Big_Debate_Choosing_Scotlands_Future/

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

26/01/12

The BIC meeting is likely to discuss the Scottish referendum and potential independence, even though the formal agenda for the the meeting is youth unemployment and cooperation on drug users ability to overcome their addiction. The meeting will be attended by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, First Minister Alex Salmond and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in addition to representatives from the other Celtic nations within the British Isles. It is thought that the big three will no doubt further discuss the how a Scottish referendum will look and the possibility of Scottish independence, following the heated clashes between Scotland and England earlier in the week.

The BIC meeting was due to take place before Christmas, but was postponed due to the death of the mother of the Taoiseach and would pretty much have stuck to the agenda. The development of the Scottish debate however in recent days will mean that the other countries who are members of the BIC, like Ireland, Isle of Man and Wales, will also want to know what an independent Scotland is likely to mean for them. The Welsh (Labour Party led) Senedd (Government) said this week that it is scrutinising the Scotland independence debate and said that even though it opposes independence, if Scotland changed its constitutional relationship with the UK a “radical reconsideration” would be needed in its own relationship with England.

It is expected that Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for closer cooperation on consular support and international crises.

The Celtic League opposes the BIC, because of its exclusion of Breizh (Brittany) and inclusion of England, and favours a solely Celtic formal association instead.

Link:

http://www.britishirishcouncil.org/

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

13/01/12

Speaking to Manx Radio Mec Vannin Chairman of Mec Vannin, Mark Kermode, (also Secretary of the Manx branch of the Celtic League) said unfortunately at the present time there is little appetite within the Manx political establishment to seek full independence for the Isle of Man.

Mr Kermode described the Manx administration as acting as if it was `a county council of the UK’ and he was also scathing of the new Manx Chief Minister, Allan Bell, MHK (Bell is a former member of Mec Vannin).

News item and audio clip here:

http://www.manxradio.com/newsread.aspx?id=57146

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

10/01/12

The DOI also said (in an interview with an Isle of Man radio station) that the UK government’s moves have implications for other jurisdictions currently under the domination of the London government.

Brief news item and audio clip here:

http://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/scottish-referendum-could-trump-manx-government-4746/

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

10/01/12

The Illiam Dhone speeches are now on-line at the Mec Vannin web site here.

(Item submitted by Bernard Moffatt)

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

03/01/12

The ceremony was opened by Mark Kermode who recorded his thanks to the officers and staff of Manx National Heritage who had turned out over the Xmas holiday period to remove offensive graffiti daubed at the site.

The two orations in Manx and English were provided by Stewart Bennett and Laurence Skelly MHK respectively.

A wreath was laid at the site and proceedings concluded with the singing of the Manx National Anthem.

The speeches in both Manx and English were available at the ceremony published in the Dhone commemorative issue of Yn Pabyr Seyr (the Mec Vannin news-sheet). The text will be available on line at the Mec Vannin web-site shortly.

Despite the inclement weather numbers attending the ceremony were up on previous years with an estimated 140-160 people attending the event.

(This article prepared for CL News by Bernard Moffatt)

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

02/01/12

In his enquiry, Matt Blewett questions the statement made in the report by author and Assistant Inspector of Ancient Monuments for English Heritage, Nick Russell that damage to the stone circle could have been caused by visitors to the site. Mr Blewett argues that he is in possession of an email from Ann Preston-Jones from English Heritage that says that claims that damage caused to the stones by people is “speculative opinion” only, because there is no evidence that this is the case. In his correspondence Mr Blewett therefore questions Mr Russell’s suggestion that visitors to the site are causing an equal amount of damage to the stones as the cattle.

In conclusion, Mr Blewett writes:

“The communications I have from English Heritage contradict the substance of this report, and calls into question the legitimacy of your conclusions. To include this entirely speculative opinion in a formal report as an established fact, without any evidence, degrades the whole report and demonstrates an anti-visitor bias on the part of English Heritage, raising the likelihood of future exclusion of people while the real damage continues to the destruction of our heritage.”

The full text of Mr Blewett’s letter can be found below.

“Dear Nick Russell,

Thank you for your report on the damage to Tregeseal stone circle, attached. I have one main query about it. I have in my possession an email from Ann Preston-Jones (of English Heritage) that explicitly admitted that claims of damage by people (that remain an equal concern to damage by cattle in this report) are based entirely on speculative opinion on the basis of no evidence whatsoever. Conversely there are recorded images of cattle rubbing against the stones. Historically in Cornwall, and as recorded by Meyn Mamvro, damage to historic remains is usually perpetrated by those with the duty to look after them, and also that damage is often inflicted specifically to prevent visitors access to our past (Meyn Mamvro, from issue 1). While I doubt that English Heritage is anti-Cornish to the extent of deliberately damaging ancient monuments, this report does appear to be another instance of the perpetrator blaming the victim.

The report you sent presents no evidence for damage by visitors, yet visitors are still cited on an equal level with proven cattle damage. All the while the grazing regime continues. Page 4 claims that visitors lean on stones nearest the path. However Ann Preston-Jones provided no evidence of this when I asked, but instead presented visitor damage as being her personal opinion and not based on evidence. Can you now provide evidence for any visitors that you have observed lean on the stones, and by that I mean not at your instigation or remuneration? The communications I have from English Heritage contradict the substance of this report, and calls into question the legitimacy of your conclusions. To include this entirely speculative opinion in a formal report as an established fact, without any evidence, degrades the whole report and demonstrates an anti-visitor bias on the part of English Heritage, raising the likelihood of future exclusion of people while the real damage continues to the destruction of our heritage.

I will share your report with archaeological colleagues, along with my concerns about it.

Yours,

Matt Blewett, BA (Hons), MA”

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

02/01/12

Speaking to the Manx media Mr Kermode said:

`Kids are doing this sort of stuff all the time. It’s a generally mindless act of vandalism but it’s hardly unusual. I hope the police give it as much effort as they did for the innocuous slogan writers on the road two years ago, which were not offensive. It’s typical of what teenage kids get up to.’

Mr Kermode said he was also considering approaching Manx National Heritage, which maintains the site, to see if it can be cleaned in time for the National Illiam Dhone commemoration on 2nd January.

The ceremony on 2nd of January has been a focus for nationalist comment for over thirty years although in recent years topics covered have been more wide ranging.

The Illiam Dhone commemoration is organised jointly by Mec Vannin, the Manx Nationalist Party and the Manx branch of the Celtic League.

Media reports here:

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/obscene_graffiti_on_historic_monument_1_4099735

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-16352329

http://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/iconic-manx-site-targeted-by-vandals-4699/

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, General Secretary, Celtic League:

Tel: 0044 (0)1209 319912
M: 0044 (0)7787318666

gensec@celticleague.net

The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

29/12/11