Thursday 29 October 2009

Kimralingvo kaj Tolkien Festo

Festival in the Shire

….de la BBC:

The influence the Welsh language had on books by JRR Tolkien is to form part of a major new festival in Powys to honour the author.

The
Festival in the Shire will celebrate themes inspired by Tolkien, whose novels included Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Fans of the writer, leading academics and illustrators are expected to attend the planned event in Machynlleth.

It is being organised by local book dealer Mark Faith for next August.

Mr Faith said Tolkien's fans would have the opportunity to delve deeper into the writer's work with a conference entitled: Welsh influences on the works of JRR Tolkien…

West Highland Free Press


…de la BBC:

Staff at the award-winning West Highland Free Press have taken the publication over from five shareholders who had owned it.

The weekly was founded in 1972 as a left-wing newspaper to campaign for the Gaelic language and against absentee landlords.

Among its founding shareholders was Brian Wilson, a former Labour government minister.
The newspaper will now be managed by a trust centred around the staff...

Kimraj Ludaj Grupoj


…de la Caernarfon Denbigh Herald:

Anger is growing across the county at a proposal which could see the majority of Welsh language pre-school play groups being forced to close.

Petitions are being organised in towns and villages, such as Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Caernarfon, Y Groeslon and Y Felinheli, opposing a Gwynedd Council proposal to save £250,000 from its education budget by changing the funding arrangements for pre-schoolers.

The petitions are expected to garner thousands of signatures and will be handed in to the council’s headquarters in Caernarfon next Thursday (November 5), where a working party of councillors will choose which savings to recommend to a full meeting of the council in December.

Last week the Herald exclusively revealed that the council was considering funding pre-school education from age three onwards and providing it within primary schools, by 2012-2013….

….Welsh language pressure group, Cymdeithas yr Iaith condemned the move.

Its spokesman Osian Jones said: “From our point of view it is important that children of any age are educated in their own town or village.

“We would be totally against any proposal which would force Cylchoedd Meithrin to close and this issue is similar to the debate surrounding the need for rural schools.” ...

Litriocht.com


...de Inside Ireland:

Tom Fitzgerald, Litriocht’s owner, has spent 10 years challenging the status quo of the Irish language business. Back in 1999, ecommerce websites were unknown in most of Ireland, let alone in the Irish language business. Even Amazon.com was in its infancy with only four years in business.

Tom saw ecommerce as a long term opportunity. “I knew the market was there. I had been trying to buy Irish books in California as far back as 1980 and it wasn’t easy. I also knew that the market was in the Diaspora, and when I spoke to Bord na Gaeilge in 1999, they were totally unaware either the diaspora market or ecommerce as a route to get there.”

As Amazon became a big story in the following five years, Litriocht.com became known as 'Amazon.com na Gaeilge'.

With very poor broadband in Ireland, the US remained Litriocht’s top market for several years. Perhaps more interesting was the fact that Finland held the Number 2 position for quite a long period of time. Very loyal customers like Panu Hoglund in Finland were delighted with the choices at Litriocht....

Thursday 22 October 2009

George Sorial


….de STV:

Donald Trump’s right hand man is learning Gaelic from a celebrated Scots singer through her Twitter page.

George Sorial, Managing Director of The Trump Organisation, has joined the army of people interested in the traditional Scottish language through the daily ‘Tweets’ from Gaelic singer Fiona J. Mackenzie.

Fiona has been posting several short lessons on her site (under the twitter name Gaelicsinger) every day that are read and learnt by over 700 people from all over the world.

Mr Sorial said: “Gaelicsinger’s daily Gaelic Tweets take me back to my childhood summers spent at my Grannie’s home on the Hebridean island of Lewis where I heard Gaelic every day.

“I don’t get to hear it very often in NYC so the Tweets are an ideal, quick way for me to keep in touch with the culture of my youth and it’s great to hear the accent – and the music - on the actual podcasts on her website.”...

Wednesday 21 October 2009

Nelson McCausland


….de Nelson McCausland:

This afternoon I met representatives of the Irish language organisation Pobal. At the present time I am preparing a paper on a minority languages strategy for Northern Ireland and it was an opportunity to hear the views of Janet Muller and her colleagues.

We have two indigenous minority languages in Northern Ireland, Ulster-Scots and Irish, and I said to the folk from Pobal that the nearest situation to that in Northern Ireland was the situation in Scotland, where there are also two indigenous minority languages, Scots and Gaelic.

There are differences but there are also similarities, not least the fact that the two minority languages in Ulster are sister languages to the minority languages in Scotland. Scottish Gaelic developed from Irish Gaelic and Ulster-Scots is a variant of Scots.

I also explained that one of my priorities was to promote a shared and better future and that the minority languages strategy would reflect the core principles of that priority, which are equity, diversity and independence.

cogar.ie

Brud Nevez



…de Breizhoo:

La réputation d'Hervé Bellec n'est plus à faire.. Sa contribution à la littérature bretonne d'expression française est multiple : chroniques de voyage (dont "Les sirènes du Transsibérien", récemment paru), ses billets, ses romans et ses récits témoignent de la diversité de son inspiration, de la qualité de son humour, de son regard sans trop d'illusions sur notre société, ainsi que de la vivacité de son écriture.

Brud Nevez a donc voulu échanger avec Hervé Bellec dans un dialogue au-delà de la langue. La revue en langue bretonne propose à ses lecteurs de partir à la découverte de l'écrivain grâce à une interview réalisée par Marie Kermarec et Louis Grall et publie à cet effet la traduction en breton d'un chapitre de chacun de ses livres. Une initiative originale, sans aucun doute.

Mike O’Hara & Carol Steere


…de la Guernsey Press:

A fact-findind mission to the Isle of Man was both inspirational and relevant, two ministers said.

Culture and Leisure minister
Mike O’Hara and Education minister Carol Steere said the trip was to see how the island was keeping its heritage alive and particularly to find out how its almost dead language had been rejuvenated.

The visiting deputies and accompanying officers, learned that around 1,300 children were being taught Manx at school and that number was expected to rise.

‘It was obvious that they were all very proud to be keeping their native language alive,’ said Deputy O’Hara….

Pobal


…de la Fermanagh Herald:

Culture Minister, Nelson McCausland met with Janet Muller, CEO of POBAL and a delegation from the Irish Language community.

The Minister welcomed the opportunity to meet with the representatives and said: "Northern Ireland has a rich cultural diversity and all regional or minority languages are equally important and must be recognised and respected.


"I am committed to bringing forward a strategy for the Ulster-Scots culture, heritage and language and for the Irish language, as set out in the St Andrew's Agreement.


The Minister said: "I am considering a number of issues surrounding the protection and development of Ulster-Scots and Irish...

Bethan Jenkins


…de This is South Wales:

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was in Swansea yesterday to address the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

Mr Adams, the first party leader to address the Assembly spoke at the Marriott Hotel about his vision of a shared, integrated Ireland.

He discussed with members his hopes that Ireland would have equal ownership and be culturally diverse with political, social and economic equality….

…In a question and answer session, South Wales West AM, Bethan Jenkins asked Mr Adams how he saw the role of the devolved governments working with the Northern Irish administration and his party in achieving that aim.

Her question came in response to Mr Adams saying that Welsh interests would be served by helping Ireland with reunification.

Mr Adams said the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly was the ideal place for people of all nations to work together to assist with the reunification of Ireland.

He said Wales was currently seeking a new Welsh Language Act, and Sinn Fein wanted an Irish Language Act but was facing difficulties in pressing ahead due to opposition by Unionists….

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Cá bhFuil Ár Scoil?



GAELSCOIL BHARRA Ascal An Fhasaigh An Chabrach BAC 7

A Dublin Gaelscoil (Bharra) are looking to take their new single, 'Ca Bhfuil Ár Scoil', to the top of the Irish Charts. The single release date is Friday 16th October.

After 14 years of fighting for a permanent school building, the children of Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabra are bringing their campaign to the nation.

The Department of Education acknowledged in 2001 that the school was located in appalling temporary accommodation.

Yet they have done nothing about it. But you can do something about it by getting this song to No.1 in the Irish charts.

It’s easy to help, and downloading the single only costs 99c.

a.. Simply download it in a few seconds via your phone (just text “music 4075m” to 57501) or

b. Download it from iTunes or

c. If you want one of the special limited editions of the CD you can buy it from Tower Records, Wicklow Street, Dublin 2 for €3.

One purchase from each source will count but you can do all three of the above and all three will count. The children need only 1,800 downloads/sales to make it to No.1. Make this happen for the children in your Community – DOWNLOAD IT NOW! A gig to celebrate the launch of the single is on the 22nd Oct (Thursday) in the Village. The band is Tupelo. Tickets for the gig are €10 at the Door.

Deasún Mac an Easpaig


…de la Irish Voice:

...Perhaps the best advocate for Irish is fellow Queens, NY native Des Bishop. Bishop moved to Ireland when he was in his mid-teens and, thus, was exempt from having to learn Irish while in school here. That exemption probably explains Bishop's recently found love of Irish better than anything else: he wasn't turned off the language by the school and exam process.

Bishop is a well known stand-up comedian, which gives him a platform to reach out to those teenagers and 20-somethings, so many of whom detest the thought of Irish. Bishop’s first foray into the mother tongue was an Irish version of the rap single "Jump Around" by House of Pain. This was a big hit with audiences all over the country.

However Bishop took it a lot further last year with his ‘reality’ television series that tracked his efforts to learn Irish in a year and finish up with a whole night of comedy in the language.

"In the Name of the Fada," is great television and with it Bishop has made Irish ‘cool’, to an extent anyway. There’s a lot for the language to overcome, but if somehow someone can convince the staid folks in charge of setting education policy – and Bishop is working on this – then maybe the language.

“Iechyd Da”


…de Paul Flynn, MP:

Gerry Adams was welcomed to Swansea this morning. He had a message of hope with bitter edges.

He reacted warmly to the questions in the Welsh language.

It's the only Celtic language that is used fully, naturally and fluently in the political life of a nation. But Gerry had one one startling story of the prickly jagged edge to the relationship between Wales and Ireland.

When he was in Long Kesh as an uncharged prisoner Gerry Adams took part in an escape plot. The result was that a close friend, also an uncharged prisoner, was shot dead by a Welsh Guardsman. It was in Long Kesh where Gerry first heard the expression 'Iechyd Da' Welsh for 'Good health'.

When the Welsh Guards finished their tour of duty at Long kesh, the IRA prisoners lined up to chant 'Iechyd da' in a derisive farewell. Later I asked Gerry whether I got the point of his story right. The farewell was not a friendly 'Good luck to our fellow Celtic brethren?'. "No. It wasn't" said Gerry.

Skath


…de This is Cornwall:

The programme for the 2009 Cornwall Film Festival has been announced by festival director Donna Anton.

Scheduled for November 13 to 15 , the eighth annual festival will be held in four venues around Falmouth…

… The world premiere of the Cornish language film Skath, directed and produced by Paul Farmer, the winner of last year's £5,000 Govyn Kernewek filmmaking commission. Skath, which means 'gig' in Cornish, documents the ambitions of Pol Hodge as he progresses from unfit novice to serious competitor in the World Pilot Gig Championships in Scilly...

Acht Gaeilge


...de Sinn Féin:

Ag caint di inniu, agus tacaíocht faighte aici do Acht na Gaeilge ó thíortha eile san Aontas Eorpach, dúirt BPÉ Shinn Féin Bairbre de Brún;

“Cháin an litir na páirtithe siúd a shínigh suas do Chomhaontú Chill Rímhin agus nár chomhlíon na dualgais a bhí orthu.

Shínigh cúig comhaltaí eile de Pharlaimint na hEorpa litir chuig an Chéad agus leas-Chéad Aire inar iar siad, mar Comhaltaí i bParlaimint ilteangach na hEorpa, ar an Fheidhmeannas sa Tuaisceart cosaint dlíthiúil a thabhairt don Ghaeilge.

D’iarr siad orthu fosta a dtionchar agus a sainordú a úsáid chun an reachtaíocht riachtanach seo a thabhairt chun tosaigh.”

Saturday 17 October 2009

Lingva Morto


...de la BBC:


An estimated 7,000 languages are being spoken around the world. But that number is expected to shrink rapidly in the coming decades. What is lost when a language dies?


In 1992 a prominent US linguist stunned the academic world by predicting that by the year 2100, 90% of the world's languages would have ceased to exist.


Far from inspiring the world to act, the issue is still on the margins, according to prominent French linguist Claude Hagege.


"Most people are not at all interested in the death of languages," he says. "If we are not cautious about the way English is progressing it may eventually kill most other languages." ,,.


...Closer to home, Cornish intellectuals, inspired by the reintroduction of Hebrew, succeeded in bringing the seemingly dead Cornish language back into use in the 20th Century. In 2002 the government recognised it as a living minority language. ...

Thursday 15 October 2009

Michael Flanigan en Nov-Jorko


…de la Irish Echo:

It's not every day that a lawyer gets to challenge a piece of legislation that's been on the statute books for 272 years. But a Belfast solicitor did just that earlier this year when he highlighted the ban on Irish in the courts in the Administration of Justice Languages Act.

His challenge on behalf of a young Irish speaker was dismissed. Flanigan has since lodged an appeal that has yet to be to be heard.

Meanwhile, the lawyer took the issue to New York last week, where he spoke at a meeting at Glucksman Ireland House and met with local officials and members of the Irish-American community.

"For that type of legislation to be still in place is hugely disappointing. But when you combine it with the fact that a decision's been made not to have an Irish language act leaves Irish speakers in the North in a position which is almost unique within the islands of Ireland and Britain," Flanigan said, referring to a announcement made by Edwin Poots, as minister of the environment.

"Welsh speakers have the benefit of the Welsh language act and Gaelic speakers in Scotland have the benefit of the Gaelic language act. And obviously the position in the Republic is that Irish is the first national language," he said. "The Irish speakers from the North have been excluded from all of that."...

Wednesday 14 October 2009

Ceithearna Coille


…de la Drogheda Independent:

A campaign - including placing stickers with the word 'Gaeilge' across placenames and signs in Drogheda - is aimed at getting due recognition for the Irish language.

I highlighted the issue last week and the person behind the campaign 'Gníomhaí Gaelach' made contact to explain the reasons behind the ongoing sign assaults.

The stickers have been placed across English names for likes of the Battle of the Boyne sign, yield signs and even the Lourdes Hospital.

'Gaeilgeoirí embrace the advantages and benefits of modern Ireland's cultural makeup yet believe that our own indigenous language has not yet achieved true equality with English and its culture of globalisation. People now more than ever appreciate the value of our own language with Drogheda becoming more and more culturally diverse. The success of Scoil Aonghusa is just one clear example,' they explained in a letter this week.

'95% of placenames in Ireland come from Gaeilge. The English versions are meaningless. 'Drogheda' means nothing. However 'Droichead Átha' means the 'Bridge of the Fort.

Monday 12 October 2009

Hilary Mhic Suibhne


…de Hilary Mhic Suibhne:

Bhí Micheal Flanagan, dlíodóir ó Bhéal Feirste, ag caint oíche aréir i Glucksman Áras na hÉireann faoin gcúis chúirte a theip le déanaí i dtuaisceart na hÉireann. Seo na sonraí:

Bhí fear ag iarraidh teacht ar cheadúnas na dí i gcomhair ócáide san ionad Cultúrtha, agus ó ba rud é go raibh Gaeilge aige bhí suim aige an t-iarratas a chur isteach trí mheán na Gaeilge.Ní bhfuair sé cead é sin a dhéanamh.

Bhí an freagra diúltach seo bunaithe ar acht dlí ó 1737…

…ón am sin bíonn ar gach ní sa chuairt na tíre a bheith trí mheán an Bhéarla. Nuair a theip air an t-iarratas a chur isteach as Gaeilge d’oscail seans dó agóid i gcoinne an tsean dlí seo agus as sin athrú a dhéanamh ar stádas na Gaeilge i dtuaisceart na hÉireann….b’fhéidir, nó ar a laghad ceist na teangan a aithint ansin…… Cúis samplach is dócha a dtabharfaí ar…

Maura Mulligan



...de Maura Mulligan:

Join one of my classes at the New York Irish Center, 1040 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City.

The focus is on conversation.

Total Physical Response (TPR), and the thematic approach, give students practice in using the language in a social setting….


Hillary Clinton



…de The Scotsman:

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last night threw her weight behind calls for the Northern Ireland Assembly to take responsibility for running the region's justice system.

Mrs Clinton arrived in Dublin ahead of talks with political leaders in Belfast today on the economy and on the devolution of further powers from Westminster…

Mrs Clinton said: "Clearly, there are questions and some apprehensions but I believe that, due to the concerted effort of the British government, Irish government and support of friends like us in the US, that the parties understand this is a step they must take together."It will take the leaders of both communities working together to continue not only the devolution but then to make day-to-day governing a reality."

*SEOLTA / ADRESOJ:


.Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton
.U.S. Department of State
.2201 C Street NW
.Washington, DC 20520
.Stáit Aotaithe Mhéiriceá

.Domhnall Ó Ruanaigh, Uas.
.Ambasáid na Stát Aontaithe Mheiriceá
.Droichead na Dothra
.Baile Átha Cliath 4
.Éire

.Kamala S. Lakhdhir, Uas.
.Ard-Chonsalacht na Stát Aontaithe Mheiriceá
.Teach Dúin na Lochlannach
.223 Bóthar an tSrutháin Mhilis
.Béal Feirste BT9 5GR
.Northern Ireland

Béal Feirste agus Nua Eabbhrac


...de la blogo, From the Balcony, de Máirtín Ó Muilleoir:

Bhí ceiliúradh iontach ann don Ghaeilge in Aonach Naomh Sheoirse i mBéal Feirste inniu, a bhuí le Pobal.

Bhí na sluaite ann agus i measc na n-imeachtaí iontacha bhí rap-cheol againn le Tura Atura as Zimbabwe, ar an téama 'Tír Gan Teanga, Tír Gan Anam'.

Tá trí bliana ann anois ó gheall Rialtas na Breataine Acht Teanga, ach mar a dúirt Janet Muller, ní hé amháin nár choimhlíon na Breatanaigh an gheallúint sin ach mheall siad na haontachtaithe leis an chonradh sin a shíniú leis an mholadh go bhféadfadh siad acht teanga a choisc!

Ach cé gur céiliúradh a bhí ann, thug sé teachtaireacht an-láidir nach féidir glacadh leis an tséanadh cirt seo.

Agus deir ár gcomrádaí Daithí Mac Lochlainn gur éirigh thar barr le Micheál Ó Flannagáin (iphone pic le Kate McCabe?) i Nua Eabharc aréir agus é ag tabhairt faoin chosc ar an Ghaeilge sna cúirteanna ó thuaidh — cosc a théann siar go dtí aimsir na bPéindlíthe!

Troid ar ais ar dhá mhórroinn, ní miste sin.

Thursday 8 October 2009

Scott de Buitléir


…de Scott de Buitléir:

A recent article by Eithne Shortall in the Irish edition of The Sunday Times newspaper caused concern for Irish-language writers, as apparently only “76 copies” were sold between a number of Irish-language writers, despite a total of €74,000 in grants being given to them.

While the article can be read on the Gaelport.com website (with my response available on my Irish-language blog) it seems that the information that Ms. Shortall has was incorrect. Having posted my response on ‘Dialann Scott,’ I soon received an e-mail from Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, one of the writers mentioned in Ms. Shortall’s article. According to Ní Ghearbhuigh, roughly 400 copies of her last publication, Péacadh, were sold within the last 12 months – 80% of the total number of copies published. It is apparent, in this case, that Ms. Shortall did not have all the figures required to write on such a topic.

So, is this a deliberate attempt to put Irish-language publishing in an unpleasant light? Possibly, but I’m going to give both the journalist and newspaper the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Ms. Shortall could not have gotten all the facts, but if this were the case, then the piece should have been neither written nor published. If the intention was, however, to paint Irish-language publishing in a bad light, then it was a very good attempt. Read the article for yourself and make your own decision.

Egaleco & la Irlandalingvo en la Nordo de Irlando


…de la Irish Echo:

The Irish American Unity Conference and the Brehon Law Society will host Belfast lawyer Michael Flanigan at NYU's Glucksman Ireland House this Saturday, Oct. 10.

Flanigan recently challenged the 1737 ban on the use of Irish in the North's courts. Domhnall O Cathain of the Brehon Law Society and Mike Breen of the IAUC will also speak.

The
event is free, open to the public and begins at 7 p.m.

"The British are backsliding on the commitments made under the Equality and Human Rights terms of the Good Friday Agreement," said IAUC National President, Kate McCabe.

"It is unfortunate that their commitments to take resolute action to support, promote and facilitate the Irish language have yielded no tangible results," she said.

Earlier on Saturday, Daithí MacLochlainn will host a
walking tour of lower Manhattan featuring points of interest relating to the Irish language.

The tour will start at 2 p.m. at South Street Seaport Museum, 19 Front St. It is free of charge and will last two to three hours.

Monday 5 October 2009

€973.68 por Unu Libro?


…de la Sunday Times:

Five Irish-language authors who received €74,000 in total from the Arts Council last year have sold only 76 books between them since 1998 — 70 of which were sold by just one of the writers.

According to official industry data, Padraig Standun*, who received a bursary of €10,000, accounted for the lion’s share of the sales, while Darach O Scolai, who was awarded €30,000 in grants over two years, clocked up six.

This means that Padraig O Gallachoir, who was granted €20,000 over two years, Ailbhe Ni Ghearbhuigh, who got €9,000, and Aifric Mac Aodha, who received €5,000, all appeared not to sell any books.

However, Nielsen BookScan, which monitors book sales and claims 90% accuracy, said that works by Standun, O Scolai and the three other authors could have been sold at independent bookshops or in such small quantities that they did not register with it...

* Tá Club Leabhar Nua Eabhrac ag léamh Sobalsaol le Pádraig Standún faoi lathair. / .Club Leabhar Nua Eabhrac estas aktuale leganta Sobalsaol de Pádraig Standún.

Kornvalaj Piratoj!


…de The Tribune:

As I learned more about British history, I learned about “piracy” in Cornwall and the adjacent Scilly Isles. The Cornish Peninsula is the most westward part of England. It’s both extremely rugged and remote.

By 1860, more than 692 shipwrecks were recorded off southwest England’s dangerous coastline. While there were sometimes French pirates off the coast, most often it was the indigenous population of Cornwall that was engaged in piracy….

… The locals would then plunder the wrecked ship’s hold for what they referred to as “legal salvage.”

There were numerous squadrons of soldiers and police sent by officials in London to suppress these acts of piracy.

But the Cornish had their own Celtic language dating to pre-Roman days, and they could be most secretive. As W. S. Gilbert wrote, “A policeman’s lot is not an easy one.” …

Chicopee Abú!


...de The Republican:

A center born of the suffering and triumphs of an island people known for preserving their language and culture even in their diaspora will celebrate a decade of its presence in the Pioneer Valley during the weekend of Oct. 9.

“Not only is the center 10 years old, but it also is growing. We offer an increasing number of programs and continue to attract new audiences, all the while keeping our faithful members, many who have been members since the beginning,” said Sister of St. Joseph Judith Kappenman, director of the Irish Cultural Center at Elms College in Chicopee.

Anniversary weekend celebrations feature a brunch with Irish American author Peter Quinn as guest speaker on Oct. 11 at the Elms; workshops including ones on the Irish langugage, Irish set dances and Gaelic games during the day there on Oct. 10, and a concert Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. by a group that numbers the sons of legendary Irish folk singer and musican Tommy Makem at The Wherehouse in Holyoke...

Weston Gaela Grupo


...de la Weston & Somerset Mercury:

An Irish themed event saw people from all over Weston learn about the country's cultures and music.
The Gaelic Gathering was held in the Winter Gardens on Saturday and saw visitors trying traditional foods and learning the language.
The event was organised by Weston Gaelic Group and was attended by the mayor, Dr Mike Kellaway-Marriott.

Traditional Irish songs were performed by Marianne McAleer and her son Fin played the fiddle.
Group member Trish Evans said: "We had about 70-80 people through the doors, which was great."We were very pleased with how well it went and there was a lovely atmosphere….

Anticipa Balotado?



With speculation that Sinn Fein will force an election on the Assembly, let's pull back from the argument that they will use as a springboard and consider their options.

That argument is that the DUP is hesitant to allow the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly.

Martin McGuinness has defined the problem more starkly by saying that he does not, in fact, have a working relationship with First Minister Peter Robinson....

...Certainly, if Sinn Fein takes the First Minister's post it will want to flaunt its success and make Northern Ireland look a lot more Irish.

Expect it to seek an early referendum on Irish unity, for instance. Anticipation of that will set the unionists in a right flurry during an election campaign.

Yet, Sinn Fein as top dog may find that securing its dream goals, like an Irish Language Act, will be no easier then than it is now, given that it will always need to secure the agreement of a unionist partner, even a junior partner.

The current rumour in Stormont is that Sinn Fein will force an election after Christmas...

Friday 2 October 2009

Lowender Peran Festo


….de Travelbite:

From delightful dancing to majestic music, local traditions are rejuvenated every year with a Cornwall festival.

In a celebration of the region's Celtic roots, the Cornish town of Perranporth comes alive as it hosts the Lowender Peran Festival. Taking place every October, the event serves up a wide range of things to see and do for all the family.

Five days of festival fun…

…Meanwhile, those looking to get a true taste of culture during cottage holidays in Cornwall may wish to take a Cornish language lesson. And doing so may mean that visitors are able to feel - and speak - like one of the locals in no time...

Gaelaj Menuoj


…de la Press & Journal:

Menus at an Inverness hotel have given new food for thought.

For the Royal Highland Hotel is one of the first in the city to have its menus in both English and Gaelic.

The hotel in Academy Street is also planning to introduce multi-lingual signs around the premises.

The new menus were introduced to help increase the popularity of the traditional Highland language and to link it to food.

Yesterday, a member of staff, who did not want to be named, said: “We found that most of the places we looked at don’t use Gaelic.

“It’s the traditional language of the Highlands, and we decided to use it to link it back to the country and with food.“Our customers seem to really appreciate it."...

Idir Dhá Cheann Stoirme



A West Donegal man launches his very first novel at a very special night of music and entertainment at Leo's Tavern, Meenaleck, this month.

On Saturday, October 17, guests from all over West Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Scotland and Wales will gather in the well-known Rosses pub to celebrate the launch of Séamus (Jimmy) Mac Grianna's Irish language novel, Idir Dhá Cheann Stoirme (Two Ends Of A Storm).

Set at the turn of the 20th century, the novel tells the story of twin brothers who grow up by the seaside.

"Although there are similarities to my home of Rannafast the story could apply to any seaside village around Ireland," said Jimmy.

"The story revolves around twins who choose very different career paths. Both do very well in their chosen careers, but while one of them takes an academic path and goes to college the other becomes a fisherman."