No. 131 Autumn 2005 €4.00 Stg£3.00

� Gaelic – Present Day Developments

� Status for Breton Language?

� Action on signs in Wales

� Féile na nOiléan

� IRA Decommissions

� Call for Cornish Standard

� Rebranding Mannin

� Celtic Calendar 2006

� Celtic League AGM

2 Carn

Alba

Iomadh bliadhna-seo chaidh bha aon leisgeulair gach lip feadhWestminster ag r’adh:-

“Chan eil ach beagan Albannaich ag iarraidhfèin-riaghladh idir …

Ach có bha ag àicheadh an leisgeul seo achIain MacCarmaig. Shealladh e gun robh eceart agus bha a’ mhor chuid den Albannaicha’ lorg saorsa na h-Alba.

Chuir Iain MacCarrnaig, a bha na fhear-lagha, an Cùmhnant air bho’g agus chuir còrris d’à mhillean Albannaich ainm ris. Mudheireadh thall fhuair sinn PàrlamaidAlbannach ged nach eil i uile-chumhachdachfhathast!

Latha de na làithean chuir MacCarmaig anaithne no introduced fear d’am b’ainmSgadigart dhomh. Bha e na fhear-lagha eileach ann an Copenhagen.

Bha_Sgadigart còrr is dà fhichedd bliadhnadh’aois agus bha deise dhubh air. Bha edaonnan a’ smaoinair ciamar a bhiodh etuilleadh luchd-déilig no clients fhaighinn.

Latha airchoireigin bha SgadIgart a’ tilleadho na cuirtean-lagha ann an Copenhagen a’doldon oifis - lagha aige agus dé chunnaic e achainm partaidh poileataiceach fialaidh.

“Théid mi a-steach agus gabhaidh miballrachd a’ phartaidh. Leis_a_sin lorgaidhmi tuilleadh luchd-deiligidh no clients.

Bha boireannach mu deich bliadhna airfhichead a dh’aois aig an deasg nuair athàinig e a-stigh agus nochd e a’ chairt-seollaidh aige.

“Ah,” arsa ise, “fear-lagha. Nuair a thàinigsibh cho trath cuideachd..uair a thìde ...bithidh Rùnaire a’ Phàrtaidh fior thoilichtgur faicinn. Tha an oifig aige suas anstaidhre.”

Bha i ceart gu leoir, fhuair Sgadigart fàilte romhór on Rùnaire a bha na bhodach mu trìfichead bliadhna a dh’aois’ le sgall. Cha robhròineag air a cheann.

“Nach mi a tha toilichte gur faicinn agussibhse nur fear-lagha agus sibhse uair a thìdero thrath! Taghaidh mi sibhse mar an aon abhi am fear-iarraidh air sgath a’ Phàrtaidhanns a’ fhrith-thaghadh no by-election. Nabithibh eagal oirbh. Seo agaibh suidheachansabhallte. Seo agaibh ar leabhar leis a h-uileceist is freagartge de’n phoileasaidh againn.Meal an naidheachd. Leis an leabhar seobithidh sibh nur Buill Pàrlamaid gunteagarnh sam bith.

TEAGASG TRE’N CÀNAIN CEARTIongantach ri ràdh, dh’fhàs e_na bhallphàrlamaid Dhanmairceach i-fhéin, ann anCopenhagan.

Ach bha e anabarrach aonaranach! Cha dothachair ris riamh ball-pàrlamaid eile de’nphàrtaidh aige.

Gu fortanach, bha Ceann-suidhe naPàrlamaid na dhuine coibhneil. Bha snodha-gàire ullamh air ‘aodann a bha lan de rocanno wrinkles. Chunnaic an ùine gheàrr gunrobhSgadigart cho aonaranach agus chuidiche am fear-lagha an còmhnaidh.

Sa chiad dol a-mach, fhuairSgadigart gunrobh a’ Phàrliamaid dìreach miorbaileach,dìreach miorbhaileach. Ach mean air mheandh’fhas e sgìth leis a h-uile cail.

Bha Ceann- suidhe na Pàrlamaid daonnancho cuideachail, gu h-araidh a thaobhSgadigart bhon a bha am fear-lagha seachdsgìth de na deasbadan sa Phàrlamaid gu h-araidh an fheadhainn mu dheighinn às-malairtean no exports. Mar eisimpleir, ancuir sinn sgillinn air phris kilo ìm? Agus bhadeasbadan mar sin gu ìre bhig’fad an latha,gu bhi a h-uile lathe.

“Chan eil e feumail, Mgr Sgadigart, a bhi saPhàrlamaid, ach a-màin nuair a tha bhòt novote ann. “Arsa an Ceann-suidhe BhaSgadigart a-nisd cho toilichte ag obair snacuirtean-lagha no san oifig lagha aige, a cho-pairtiche -lagha a’ faighinn an obair.teannachadh nuair a bha. Sgadigart saPhàrlamaid. Bhiodh an t-àm ri teachd fadanas fheàrr bhon a bhiodh sa Phàrlamaid achgu tearc.

An sin, thàinig na saor-làithean samhradhagus chaidh Sgadigart agus a bhean guSlesvig-Holstein, dùthatch san àirde deas abha cuid.de’n Dhanmairg gus an do ghoidBismark I air son a’ Ghearmailt o chionnfhada.

Bha iad le chèile a’fuirich comhla ris a’ cho-ogha aig Sgadigart d’am b’ainm HansSgadigart air an tuathanas no farm aig Hans.Bha Hans na dhuine làidir, le stais agus a nisbha e muladach. Bha ceist aige.. MhìnichHans gu brònach do Sgadigart agus a bhean.“A nisd, tha a’ chlann againn a’ bruidhinn, aleughad is a’ sgrìobhadh anns a’Ghearmailtis a-mhàin gun fhacailDanmairceach idir.

“Sgadigart, a charaid, ‘s e duinecumhachdach a tha sibh nur Ball Pàrlamaidann an Copenhaven. Bha sinn.teaghlach at

bruidhinn ar cànain Danmhairceach iomadhbliadhna a chionn do rugadh Bismark. Achtha ar teaghlach a’ bruidhinn a’ Gearmailtisa-màin bhon a tha iad at teagasg tre’nGearmailis. Cuidich sinn bhon a tha sibh nur.duine cumhachdach ann an Copenhagen!”

“Duilich ri ràdh, chan eil sin an fhirinn, chaneil mi. cumhachdach idir. ‘Se ‘back-bencher’a tha annam gu bhrìgh. Ach, nì mi modhìcheall.” arsa Sgadigart.

Air ais ann an Copenhagen, nuair adh’fhosgail a’ Phàrlamaid as t-Fhoghar,dh’innis Sgadigart do Cheann-suidhe naPàrlamaid na thuirt a cho-ogha Hans mudheighinn an teaghlach aige tre Ghearmailissan sgoil ionadail.

“Glé mhath,” arsa , an Ceann-suidhe, “innisdon Phàrlamaid na thuirt Hans; air Di-h-Aoine feasgar seo, nuair nach ei1 i chotrang.”

Rinn Sgadigart dìreach dìreach sin. Cha robhmóran sa ,Phàrlamaid agus 1eis a sin dh’fhàs,e eu-dòchasach. An ath sheachdain dé thuirtan Ceann-suidhe ach, “Chord am MinistearCèin ris a h-uile faca1 agaibhse.”

“Cha robh e ann an seo,” arsa Skadigart.

“Ach leugh e na thuirt sibh ann an hansard.Òrdaichidh e ar tosgaire no ambassador, annan Bonn agus innsidh e a h-uile cail ririagh1adair a’ Ghearmailt an Iar,” mar a bhae sna làithean sin

“Seadh,” arsa Ardenaar, “ghoid BismarkSlesvig-Holstein à Danmhairg Chan eil sinncomasach cai1 a dhèanamh air ball, ach faighsinn luchd-teagaisg tre’n Danmhairgis as t-Fhoghar.”

Dh’innis Sgadigart riumsa, “Mar a tha fiosagad, Ghilleasbuig, dé anam na h-Albainnach ar cànain Albanach (a’ Ghàidhlig) nachi?

B1iadhna an deidh sin, thagh a’ PhàrlamaidDanmhairgeaeh ar caraid, Sgadigart a dholtimcheal1 air an Roinn Eorpa, air son an EECmar a’ Ghàidhlig. Sin mar a thachair sinn ris,nuair a bha e ann an Alba air sgath an cànainagainn fhin.

Carn 3

Teagasg continued from page 2

SUMMARYMr Sgadigart was a member of theDanish Parliament and put forward thecase for teaching through Danish inSlesvig-Holstein that had been part ofDenmark till Bismark stole it forGermany. Ardenaar, then ruler of WestGermany, granted this teaching throughDanish.As a result, Sgadigart got the job of seek-ing out the minority languages of Europefor the EEC. That was how we metSgadigart in the days of JohnMacCormick’s Covenant for Scottishhome rule which got over two million sig-natories which eased the way, years later,to the present Scottish Parliament.Sgadigart won recognition for Gàidhligas a European minority language whichcould have helped ease the way for therecent Gàidhlig Language Act of theScottish Parliament, after a century ofpersecution by the WestminsterParliament.Three new books,(entirely in Scottish)have just been published. Their respectivepub1ishers and post-codes are given. “RiLinn nan Linntean” by Richard A V Coxand Cólm Ó Baoill (Clann Tuirc FK178HT) a collection of Gàidhlig prose,“Gealach an Fhàis” by Roger Hutchisonwith Chrissy Dick (MainstreamPublishing EHl 3UG) on the revival ofGàidhlig and “An tobht’ aig Anndra” byMàiri Rhind (Acair Earranta HSl 2QN) aspanking good novel.

Gilleasbuig MacMhuirich Gilleasbuig Lachlainn ‘Illeasbuig

THE POSITION OF GAELIC – Present Day Gaelic Developments

At the introductory lecture to the CelticLeague AGM 2005 in Sabhal Mòr Ostaig(SMO), Isle of Skye J. N. MacLeoddelivered an address on the scope of workof Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and coupled it withinformation on the state of the Gàidhliglanguage. The information below on thepresent day status of Gàidhlig is extractedfrom information he supplied.

The 1991 census had showed a considerabledrop in numbers and though the 2001 censusprovided evidence that the rate of decline ofGaelic speakers has slowed there are notmany other hopeful signs of a long-awaitedrevival of the language. Today, Gaelic isbeing eroded even in the traditional‘heartland’ areas of the Western Isles.However, it could also be argued that themore even distribution of speakers betweentraditional Highland and Lowland areas

(2001 Census) supports the argument forGaelic to be more nationally recognised.Analysis of both the 1991 and 2001 censusfigures show that figures for childrenbetween 3 and 15 demonstrate the success ofrecent Gaelic-medium education initiatives.However, figures also show thatintergenerational transmission of thelanguage is weak;- the 1991 census showedthat only 72.6% of those children living withtwo Gaelic-speaking parents spoke Gaelic,37.6% of those living with a lone Gaelic-speaking parent, and a mere 14.3% of thoseliving with two parents, only one of whomspoke Gaelic. (Mackinnon 1995).

GAELIC IN PUBLIC LIFEIn recent years Gaelic in Scotland hasbenefited from an unprecedented programmeof promotion and development, transmittedthrough a wide range of initiatives across anumber of fields, notably education, themedia and the arts. These initiatives haveenhanced the public profile of Gaelic, even ifthe socio-linguistic situation of the languageremains weak.Total financial support for Gaelic nowexceeds £13 million annually, and localauthorities also make a significant monetarycontribution to the language.

EDUCATIONThe growth in Gaelic-medium education inrecent years is a reflection on the increasedinterest in the language throughout Scotland.

From 1982 Comhairle nan nSgoiltean Araich(CNSA) was responsible for the creation ofGaelic-medium playgroups. Currently, thereare around 150 groups and 2,600 childrenattending throughout Scotland.Influenced by the success of the playgroups,the first Gaelic-medium primary units were established in Inverness, Portree, Glasgowand Breasclete (Isle of Lewis) in 1985. Thegrowth has been remarkable and almost 20years on almost 2000 children in 60 Gaelicunits or schools are now being educatedthrough Gaelic. Nevertheless, it has beencalculated that the numbers enrolled wouldneed to grow five or six fold simply tomaintain the existing Gaelic-speakingpopulation and even in the Western Isles, lessthan one-third of children receive theirprimary education through the medium ofGaelic. (MacKinnon 2000 & McLeod 2001).The first dedicated Gaelic primary schoolwas opened in Glasgow in 2000, with acurrent proposal for a further school to besituated in Inverness. There are also plans tobuild a new Gaelic Secondary School inGlasgow.The progress in relation to the developmentof Gaelic-medium secondary education hasbeen disappointing with a Scottish OfficeEducation Department report in 1994claiming that expansion was “neitherdesirable nor feasible in the foreseeablefuture.” Ten years on, the numbers havereceded and only 284 pupils received evenpart of their education through Gaelic in2003/04.

KEY EVENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAELIC

Year Event

1982 Publication of Cor na Gàidhlig - looked at health of the language

1982 CNSA - Foundation of Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Araich (Council of Nursery Schools)

1983 Full-time Gaelic-medium Tertiary Education at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig

1984 Establishment of Comunn na Gàidhlig - CNAG (Gaelic umbrella group)

1984 CLI - Comunn Luchd-Ionnsachaidh set up (Gaelic Learners Organisation)

1985 First Gaelic-medium primary units established

1985 Radio nan Gàidheal established (Gaelic Radio station - covering Gaelic areas)

1990 Broadcasting Act - Gaelic Television fund (approx £9m)

1991 Census - shows apparent considerable drop in numbers of Gaelic speakers

1997 CNAG Report - promoting Secure Status for Gaelic

2000 First dedicated Gaelic primary school opened in Glasgow

2000 MacPherson Report - Revitalising Gaelic: A National Asset

2002 Ministerial Advisory Group on Gaelic - A Fresh Start for Gaelic - Meek Report

2003 Bord na Gaidhlig established (Language Board)

As in other minority-languagedevelopments, the perennial obstacle hasbeen the shortage of trained teachers for bothprimary and secondary levels.

BROADCASTINGThe Broadcasting Act 1990 established theGaelic Television Fund administered by acommittee of the Independent TelevisionCommission to grant-aid Gaelic televisionproduction. The Broadcasting Act of 1996extended the scope of the Gaelic TelevisionFund to cover radio and in April 1997 thecommittee was re-constituted as ComataidhCraolaidh Gàidhlig (Gaelic BroadcastingCommittee). Despite the wider remit, thebudget for Gaelic broadcasting was reducedfrom £9.05m 1997-98 to £8.5m in 1998-99in order to finance priorities in Gaeliceducation.From 1985 onwards, Radio nan Gàidheal,the BBC Gaelic radio service, has steadilyincreased its broadcast hours and broadenedits geographic range. There are now around40 hours a week, available to a greatmajority of the Scottish population. Thenews service and a number of otherprogrammes can now be accessed on theworld-wide web. Gaelic television has alsoexpanded rapidly with some 350 hours ofprogrammes broadcast annually. An officialgovernment task force recentlyrecommended (Milne Report) that a GaelicBroadcasting Authority be set up and aseparate, digital Gaelic television channel beestablished with resources amounting to £44million a year, secured under a fundingformula. The report recommendations havenot as yet been adopted and a newcommissioning body, the Gaelic MediaService - was established in January 2004. InScotland, legislation for all broadcasting, is areserved power and within the province ofWestminster. However, the Scotland Act1998, made the Scottish Parliamentresponsible for funding Gaelic broadcasting.This anomaly is harmful to securing acoherent and cohesive Gaelic broadcastingservice.

THE GAELIC ARTSThe Gaelic arts have flourished in the pastfew years, with recognition that there areadded economic benefits to the cultural ones,with the Gaelic arts contributing over £10Mannually to the Scottish economy (Sproull1996) and are widely appreciated andsupported throughout Scotland and overseas.In Scotland, Feisean nan Gàidheal is theumbrella organisation for the locally basedFeisean, the first of which was held on theIsle of Barra in 1981. Proiseact nan Ealan,the Gaelic Arts Agency was set up in 1987 topromote, co-ordinate and develop GaelicArts Initiatives. Links with Gaelic-speakingIreland have been a feature of recentinitiatives with Leabhar Mòr na Gàidhlig(The Big Book of Gaelic) winning particularacclaim in the past year or two.

4 Carn

THE LEGAL STATUS OF GAELICAt present Gaelic is effectively excludedfrom public administration and enjoys nomeaningful protection in the law.Since 1997, when CNAG first submitted areport to the Scottish Office recommendingmeasures to secure the status of Gaelic,progress has been slow.

GAELIC AND THE‘NEW SCOTLAND’Though a recent survey indicated that therewere around a million people interested inlearning the language, Gaelic is stillperipheral to many in Scotland and the mostbasic fact about the place of Gaelic inScottish political life is its extrememarginality and perceived lack ofimportance.

GAELIC LANGUAGE ACT -2004/05In April 2005, the Scottish Parliamentpassed the Gaelic Language Act, with thenew legislation designed to promote the useof Gaelic and the secure status of thelanguage. Under the Act -

� Bord na Gàidhlig was recognised as acorporate body.

� Secure status given to Gaelic as anofficial language of Scotland,commanding equal respect to theEnglish language. (UK already signedthe European Charter for Regional andMinority Languages in 2001).

� Bord na Gàaidhlig are to prepare andsubmit to the Scottish Ministers. ANational Gaelic Language Plan

� Public Bodies required to produceGaelic Language Plans

� Bard na Gàidhlig may prepare andsubmit to the Scottish Ministers-guidance in relation to provision anddevelopment of Gaelic education.

Weaknesses:

� Demands for Equal Status betweenGaelic and English ignored.

� How government will regulatecompliance of Public Bodies with theproposed legislation is not clear?

� Language Plans to ‘be developed within2 year period - Public Bodies will leavematters to the last - resulting in heavyworkload for the Board.

� Need for clearer strategy in relation toGaelic Education

� Funding of Gaelic broadcasting notbeing addressed

� No provision in relation to certainCourts allowing Gaelic for civilproceedings

� Bord na Gàidhlig - the Government canabdicate responsibility for the continuedpromotion and support of Gaelic.Ultimate responsibility must lie atministerial level!

(L – R) Alba delegate Les Mac an Ultaigh, Rob Gibson SNP. MSP, Guest Speaker J. N. MacLeod, Head of Studies at SMO and Alba Branch Secretary, Iain Ramsay .

The Celtic League AGM 2005 passedunanimously a resolution to support the aimsand objectives of Independence First, thecampaign for a referendum on Scottishindependence. (See pg. 21)

The campaign is both non-party, andtransparty, and has received supportivemessages from Scottish Green Party,Scottish Socialist Party and ScottishNational Party MSPs and from the FreeScotland Party and the ScottishIndependence Party.

Neil Caple, honorary convenor said:“Recent polls suggest that a majority of

the Scottish public support independence.Independence First wants to give the peoplethe opportunity to express that support in areferendum.”

Former leader of the SSP, TommySheridan, sent the following message ofsupport to Independence First: “As asocialist I believe passionately in genuinedemocracy and the right of nations to self-determination.”

“My party’s vision is of an independentsocialist Scotland but we absolutely endorseand promote the right of citizens in Scotlandto democratically decide now via a

INDEPENDENCE FIRST

Carn 5

referendum if they wish an independentcountry.”

“I see the British imperial union as areactionary barrier to social progress andwant that British union dismantled toencourage progressive and democratic ideasto flourish in the individual entities ofScotland, England and Wales. The campaignfor an independence referendum deservessupport from all socialists and democratsalike.”

Sandra White SNP MSP said “I’m happyto get behind anything that advances thecause of Scottish independence. I definitelysupport this grassroots movement,Independence 1st, in their demand for aScottish referendum on independence.Please keep me informed of any furtherdevelopments.”

Stewart Maxwell SNP MSP said “Isupport the holding of a referendum onIndependence as the Scottish people havenever had the opportunity to express theiropinion on this option.”

The Campaign has also had officialsupport from the Scottish Green Party. MSPShiona Baird, said : “This is a cause that theScottish Green Party has long supported, and

one of the reasons for our friendly separationfrom the English and Welsh Green Party wasto campaign for a Scottish Parliament. Ourvision is for independence for Scotland,when the people of Scotland choose it”

Mr Middleton, Press officer for IFcommented “We are basically trying toachieve as broad a consensus as possible forindependence. Under our plans secondaryissues like republicanism or EU membershipwould be left up to the people of Scotlandafter the initial objective of breaking up theUK through a straightforward ‘yes or no’referendum.”

Website: www.Independence1st.com

Neil Caple, honorary convenor ofIndependence First campaign.

Recently declassified MI5 files, revealdebate amongst the British authorities overwhether to arrest Hugh MacDiarmid as a sub-versive or even a Soviet spy. The files, whichcover the years 1932 to 1943, tell howMacDiarmid, was monitored by the Britishsecret police because of his strong Scottishnationalism and his brief membership of theCommunist Party.

“This man is a menace,” wrote one armymajor, while an informer wrote of

MacDiarmid and his second wife, ValdaTrevlyn, a Cornish woman: “This man and hiswife are dangerous to the state.”

An informer then attended a meeting of theNational Party of Scotland, whereMacDiarmid was quoted as saying: “It is timethat we in Scotland put England in its properplace. We should lean and turn to Europe, forit is there that our future prosperity lies.”

MacDiarmid, his wife and young son,Michael, moved from London to the island ofWhalsay, Shetland. In 1940 MacDiarmidorganised a meeting to try and interest thelocal men in the workers’ struggle. News ofthe meeting reached a Sergeant R StuartBruce, who wrote to the home secretary: “Thisman and his wife are dangerous to the state,and should be prevented from tampering withthe loyalty of young men called to thecolours.”

MacDiarmid (1892-1978), whose real namewas C.M. Grieve, is often considered to be thegreatest Scottish writer of the 20th century;he proposed a “Celtic League” decades beforeone was set up, was noted for his revival ofLallans and also produced some acclaimedtranslations of Gaidhlig poetry. Valda Trevlynwas also a strong character in her own right,and a great Cornish patriot.

MI5 watched MacDiarmid

Hugh MacDiarmid, 1892–1978, Scottish poet and critic.

Labour LordResigns inDisgrace

Mike Watson, the Labour peer, has beenforced to resign after he was filmed settingfire to curtains in a posh hotel in Edinburgh.Watson, initially denied the allegations, butwas caught on CCTV in the act. Staff atPrestonfield House Hotel said that Watsonhad been abusive and demanded drink. Afterthis it appears he went on a rampage of arsonand vandalism.

Watson attracted controversy and protestwhen he was invited to open the Mod inLargs, a few years ago. At the time he wasminister with responsibility for the language,but was felt to have done little or nothing forit. It was only after he left that job significantprogress was made.

Despite his resignation, he is still entitledto £190 expenses per day in the House ofLords.

Website: www.scotsindependent.org

6 Carn

BreizhAn treuzkas e Bro-Gembre

An treuzkas (devolution) n’eo ket anemrenerezh (Home Rule). Galloudoù pegwirioù a vez treuzkaset eus un eil dend’egile, eus un eil strollenn d’eben. Goudeun nebeut skouerioù a dreuzkas, ez eus betkroget e 1997 gant un treuzkas hollek daVro-Gembre.

War wel e teu Bro-Gembre er seizhvetkantved pa vez dispartiet diouzhrouantelezhioù Bretoned an Hanternoz hagar Mervent gant ar Soazon oc’h aloubiñBreizh Veur. Gounezet e vez Bro-Gembregant Edouarzh ar Iañ , roue Bro-Saoz e 1282.Gant statud Rhuddlan e vez staget arbriñselezh ouzh rouantelezh Bro-Saoz e1284. Da get e ya an holl stummoù azizalc’hidigezh. E 1536 hag e 1543 e vezembannet ar Skridoù a Unaniezh gant Herrian VIIIvet, eil roue ar riez Tudor, kembreadhec’h orin. Dont a ra ar c’hembraeg avat davezañ lec’h-gwriziañ idantelezh Bro-Gembre gant troidigezh ar Bibl en e bezhgant William Morgan e 1588, gant diorren arskolioù kembraek hag ar gredenn vetodist e-kerzh an triwec’hvet kantved. E-pad annaontekvet kantved e ya an troc’h warledanaat etre ar “rummadoù uhel”saoznekaet hag anglikan hag ar beisantedhag ar vicherourien, digenilizourien anezho,,o sevel a-eneb an direizhdedioù. Dont a raBro-Gembre da vezañ bro ar Frankizourien,leviet gant David Lloyd George. Goudebezañ dilennet da gannad frankizour e 1890,e klask hemañ e 1893 krouiñ ur strolladkembreat hag e kinnig e 1895 un danvez-lezenn emrenerezh evit Bro-Gembre. Warraok e ya an emsav kembreat gantkrouidigezh an Eisteddfod broadel e 1860 ha“Cymru Fydd” (Kembre Yaouank) e 1886.Un nebeut gwirioù a vez roet: krouet e vezSkol-Veur Bro-Gembre e 1893; troc’het evez an Iliz diouzh Iliz anglikan Bro-Saoz e1914.

Goude ar Brezel-Bed kentañ e vez dilezetmenoz an emrenerezh gant ar Strolladfrankizour ha gant Lloyd George, deut davezañ e penn ar gouarnamant. Gant tu alLabour e vez adkemeret azgoulenn anemrenerezh. Met an danvez-lezennoù a-dugant-se ne vezont ket votet e Kambr arC’humunioù. E 1925 e vez krouetkoulskoude Strollad (Broadel betek 1990)Bro-Gembre, ar Blaid (Gendelaethol) Cymrugant tri fal: ur Parlamant evit Bro-Gembre,dileuridi da Gevredigezh Ar Broadoù (SDN),ar c’hembraeg da yezh vroadel. E-barzh urvro taget gant an enkadenn ekonomikel e

chom dister niver ar mouezhioù dastumet davare ar votadegoù. Met krog eo dija amzernevez ar c’hembraeg: digoret e vez ur skolgembraek e 1939; gant ul lezenn votet e 1942e vez aotreet ober gant ar c’hembraeg dirak allezioù-barn. E 1945, a-raok dilennadeg argannaded a viz Ebrel, ec’h embann Strolladal Labour ur manifest ez eus meneg ennañeus ur vroad gembreat hag eus urgouarnamant emren, met goude bezañ bettrec’h er votadegoù e vez dilezet o fromesaoùgant tud. al Labour.

War-raok e ya koulskoude arvroadelourien. Gwirioù nevez a vez roet: e1964 e vez krouet ur Sekretouriezh-Stad evitaferioù Bro-Gembre. E miz Gouere 1966 evez dilennet Gwynfor Evans da gannad davare votadegoù a-zarn. E 1970 e vezdanvezioù-kannad ar Blaid Cymru war arrenk en holl bastelloù-votiñ ; dastum a reont11,4 % eus ar mouezhioù, met hini ebet nevez dilennet. Da vare votadegoù mizC’hwevrer ha miz Here 1974 e vez dilennet2, ha da c’houde 3 c’hannad. E 1978 e kinniggouarnamant tu al Labour e vefe treuzkasetgalloudoù ‘zo da Vro-Gembre, gant urvodadenn zilennet evit 4 bloavezh, 80kannad enni, o tivizout penaos lakaat allezennoù votet e Westminster da vezañsevenet.Da vare referendum ar 1añ a vizMeurzh 1979 e vez distaolet ar c’hemm-se(80 % eus ar voterien a vot a-eneb). Dachoude e teu ar Virourien e penn argouarnamant. Echu eo da vat gant arraktresoù treuzkas. E miz Gouere 1967 eo betvotet lezenn ar c’hembraeg, a zeu da vezañpar d’ar saozneg; e 1981 e vez krouet urchadenn skinwel gembraek, S4C; E 1993 evez votet ul lezenn nevez evit ar c’hembraeg,lakaet da yezh ofisiel ha krouet e vez Ofis arC’hembraeg. E 1997 e teu Strollad al Labour,leviet gant Tony Blair, e penn ar galloud en-dro. Adlañset e vo neuze raktres an treuzkas.

SummaryDevolution is different to Home-Rule. In1997, devolution gave some rights, as awhole to Wales. Wales appeared during the16th Century with the “union act”.Therefore, Henri VIII (Tudor) makedecisions which expressed the welsh identity.Elisabeth 1st asked for the translation of thebible by William Morgan (1588). After thecreation of the Eisteddfod (1860), the liberalMP David Lloyd George proposeddevolution for Wales. In, 1925 Plaid Cymruhad 3goals:

Breizhiz ar Bed: 1stDATABASE on the WEB

Ar BedKeltiek

On line books, records, Celtic art.Kemper: 02.98.95.42.82

Brest: 02.98.44.05.38

http://www.arbedkeltiek.com

Ar Bed Keltiek (2 Str. Ar RoueGralon, 29000 Kemper).

When phoning from abroad,omit the 0 in the prefix.

A Parliament for Wales and recognition forthe Welsh Language .In 1939, the 1st Welshschool was opened. In 1942, Welsh wasallowed in the courts of Law. In 1978, theLabour Party promised devolution forWales. Then in 1997 devolution became areality for Wales with Tony Blair’sgovernment granting some real powers….

Yves Jardin

Breizhiz ar Bed... that’s to say“Bretons du monde”, also known asO.B.E. (Organisation des BretonsExpatries), had their summer school,in Kleder north Breizh in August. Thegood news came from a new database for their members andrelations all over the world, on:www.bretonsdumonde.org

The web changes the way peoplecontact each other and stay in touch.After two years they produced 800addresses. A lot less than before, butat least with up-to-date informationof all kinds. About 500 persons are inthe organisation outside of France,mainly in North America; the secondmain group is in Europe and the thirdin Asia. That’s the case for the OBE’sPresident, P-Y. Conan who lives inShanghai, China. The second advan-tage of the WEB for the OBE is to bein touch with different Breton lobbies,like “an tour tan” or “Lokarn -Institute”. The third one came fromthe fact that it is not confined to thebusiness field or the musical one;they’re open to all kinds ofexchanges.

‘A lot of Breton people feel homesickabroad and need to show their Celticroots and flag …the Gwenn ha du...’said Xavier Bellanger, secretary ofBreizhiz ar Bed.

Gi Keltik

The regionalists parties, members of“Regions & Peuples Solidatres” (R&PS) hadtheir summer-school in Brittany (LEON-N.)in 2005. R&PS are green allies in .the .EUparliament. They have five MEPs, includingNelly MAES( Flanders) the president ofEuropean Free Alliance (EFA/ALE). She isreally convinced that the future of ourRegions & People will come from Europe.Therefore the federation of R&PS restatethere commitment to more federalism in EUwhatever happens to the treaty underratification right now...

Well, like UDB or Frankiz Breizh, the31members of EFA/ALE are progressives,moderates and modern parties. On HumanRights goals they are next to the left wing. Inorder to develop the strong identity of ourRegions, they believe the future requiresstrong political action and not violence.Gustave Allirol, ,from Catalonia, thepresident of .R&PS firmly condemnsviolence and thinks that in south Europe likein Ireland the Peace Process will go on andon and like Sinn Fein will change slowly but

Summer School e-Breizh for E.F.A.

surely. Francois Alfonsi from the CorsicanNational Party agrees.

On the challenge of Devolution in theFrench state as well as in our Euro-community the answers were not as clear.The diversity of situations makes it moredifficult to get a single answer. Therefore,they were not ready to say publicly that fourmillion people from Brittany should have€18 - €20 billion budget, in order to be at thesame level of money per inhabitant as theothers regions or lander in Europe.Remember that the Breizh-Budget is underone billion euro...

On the one hand EFA held the summerschool in Breizh where culture and identityare strong, where (3+1) members of UDBsucceeded to be elected as MEPs for theBreizh-Council, in 2004, on the other handthey invited Janet Davies, a Welsh MP, inorder to show the way towards Devolution(with a budget 24 times bigger than ours).For the moment the main goals are todevelop the political conditions throughfederalism in Europe. Nelly Maes developed

the idea of “loyalty” at all political levels.That is to say village, county, region/lander,state & EU community. In her nativeFlanders, more and more parties pick up theirideas on Devolution, at all levels. In the Latinstate of France democracy does not mean thesame for our Jacobin-republicans (UMP) onthe right and the communists (PC & MCC +)on the left. “The Republique” is a religiousconcept - that’s, why, even if the BreizhCouncil voted unanimously in favour of aBreton the language policy, they have no realchance of achieving this goal. The stateschool system (E.N.) and the communisttrade unions are very conservative andopposed to any kind of devolution.

Democracy and Loyalty to the people doesnot mean the same thing all over Europe, TheFrench state asked to the ten new accessioncountries to the E.U to sign and respect theCharter for Lesser –Used Languages, butFrance refused to sign it themselves. Bretonpeople remember that Alain Juppe’s bestfriend (J.C) refused to recognise theseHuman Rights a few years ago. To moveforward, Nelly Maes thinks that we need astrong minority who have a good knowledgeof devolution.

Gi Keltik

Carn 7

At the time of the press conference held onthe 12th August in Lorient, therepresentatives of the association Askolldenounced the lack of status for the Bretonlanguage and the place which it is given inthe summer festivals.

Jean-Pierre Pichard, the charismaticdirector of the Interceltic Festival of Lorientoften says that Brittany is thus (withBritannic or insular Cornwall) the sole Celticnation represented in Lorient, which isneither independent nor autonomous. Onemight add that it is the only one whoselanguage does not have a legal status.

It is to denounce this situation, and at thesame time demand a more important placefor Breton in the assembly of festivals ofBrittany, that the representatives of Askoll(Association of Breton Representatives forDemocracy) had come to organise a pressconference at the Mercury Hotel, on the 12thAugust last.

At a time when the collection of languagesof the people who make up the Europeanmosaic is receiving recognition and beingconsidered as part of the rich heritage, afterseveral months of acceptance of Irish Gaelicas the 21st official language of the EU, andthe entry of Basque, Catalan and Galician asworking languages in these sameinstitutions, the situation with the Bretonlanguage throws up for discussion the factof its extremely precarious situation.

The Example of Democratic StatesBreton, spoken in 1905 by 1,332,000 has

today only around 300,000 speakers,according to the most optimistic calculations.Furthermore, it is spoken only by the oldermembers of the population. Quite the reverseof countries like Wales or Galicia where theyouth are largely reclaiming the language oftheir ancestors. “A good example,”highlights Yann Jestin, “is that in the Basquecountry an opinion research institute hasrecently established that 85% of thepopulation are setting themselves to learning

Status for the Breton Language?

Yann Jestin with Jean-Claude Rivallain.

the language and enrolling their childreninto Basque-language schools.” In Brittanyit is far from the case, in spite of the signedwishes of 96% of the local authorities forthe obtaining of a status for the language.“The only thing”, concludes Yan Jestin, “isto know if the democrats of Brittany andaround Brittany want to stand there withtheir arms folded in the face of thedisappearance of the richness of Humanity.We have the rights, we must take them, forthe Breton language is not only the concernof the Regional Council, but all Bretons.We need to know how to mobiliseourselves to attain this essential objective:the survival of the Breton language.

Thierry Jigourrel(Translator Arthur Taylor)

8 Carn

The 35th session of the Lorient festival,created in 1971 by Polig Monjarret andPierre Guerdiac, attracted more than 600,000people this year.

It started in the Seventies - A period whenBrittany was reawakening and looking tothrow off its chains. A period also, accordingto Jean –Pierre Pichard, where “one would-n’t bet a kopek on Breton culture!” A periodwhen the town of Brest discretely got rid ofthe International Festival of Bagpipes, whichwas enlivened by BAS since 1953 (BodadegAr Sonerion: organisation of Breton bag-pipe players). A time when it was necessaryto persuade the general public that the cul-ture of the present had a value to pass on tothe future equal to that of the past; that ruralmusic could, in the wake of Alan Stivell,urbanise, electrify and mix all the sounds ofthe Celtic galaxy, it needed oratory talents topersuade the Gaels of Ireland and theircousins in the Highlands to play the bag-pipes, side by side, in a stadium, in front ofthousands of Bretons.

35 years and some barrels of stout later thegamble is won! Brittany is exporting itself!Brittany triumphs! From Paris, in the grandStadium of France, where the band ofPichard sets the Parisian night on fire each StPatrick’s Day Festival to Glasgow, where,thanks to the enterprise of Colin Hynd, thegreat Celtic tribute is recreated.

The great Celtic tribute, (proud and spruce)strikes up on the first Sunday of the Lorientfestival, going down majestically for threehours, the cause of the Bóve and the blackChazelles of the world, going on to receive a

Lorient Intercelctic Festival: The Triumph!

standing ovation in the Stadium of Moustoir. One has seen in the same place after the

final of the 56th National Championship ofBagpipe players of the first class the levels ofwhich never cease to increase over the years,of the Bagad of Auray, directed by the mas-ter’s hand of Fabrice Lothodé after the greatRoland Becker. One has seen the beauty offive Magical Nights and the great IntercelticNight when there is a son et lumière festivalending with a fireworks display worthy of14th July, pipe bands and violins unitingtheir talents to keep the public under theircharm for 2 ½ hours. At the fishing portwhere 10,000 chests have swelled with onevoice to the songs of Soldats Louis in whichideas of independence flirt lightly with thearoma of fish and young girls in flowers.

A place of fertility, creativity, a window onCelticism at ease in its clogs and open to theworld, Lorient is all that, with its ultramarinedreams in its heavy concrete head. All themore after the financial deficit, caused by themovement of its on-off spectacle, the festivalhas found a financial balance and is busilyfilling in the gap. All the better for us! Witha paying audience growing by 20% webelieve it has got out of the financial messover recent years. That too is always a chal-lenge, to function as 75% self financing andwith public aid reduced to an acceptablelevel! But it is still the strength and pride ofan authentic and popular culture regeneratingitself without the intervention of a State moreready to put its hand in its pockets for exportfestivals, keys in the hands of Paris towardsthe “Province” which maintains “regional”institutions.

Some people regretted that the year ofIreland has not materialised in the coming oflegendary groups like the Wolfe Tones seen

on the way to Guincamp. But it is a matter ofappreciation …..

Between the Alléede la Perrière and thePalais de Congress, in the great Atlantic portmusical, literary, plastic or cinemagraphicCelticism is decidedly on the move! It is asacred challenge to the bad winds of history.

Thierry Jigourrel[Translation: Arthur Taylor]

Kampagn skoazell Diwanevit dazont ar skolioù

Appeal for the Breton language. Allcontributions welcome,

however little.

HEP BREZHONEG BREIZH EBET,SANS LANGUE BRETONNE PAS

DE BRETAGNE

THERE’S NO BRITTANY WITHOUT BRETON

Cheque to be sent to: DIWAN BP 147 29411

LANDERNE BRITTANYhttp://www.diwanbreizh.org/

Susana Seivane performing at the festival.

A musical group of young Palestinian refugees called Ghirab(meaning bag pipes in Arabic) was the toast of this year’s festival.

Cymru

Plaid Cymru yn dathlu 80 mlynedd

Dathlodd Plaid Cymru ei phenblwydd yn80 oed ym mis Awst ac er mwyn nodi’rachlysur hwn cynhaliodd y Blaid barti ar eistondin ar faes yr Eisteddfod Genedlaetholar y dydd Gwener (5 Awst). Yn ystod ydathliad soniodd Llywydd Plaid Cymru,Dafydd Iwan, am lwyddiannau’r Blaid a’ichyfraniad i wleidyddiaeth. Pwysleisiodd yLlywydd hefyd ran allweddol Plaid Cymruwrth adeiladu Cymru newydd. Dywedodd:

“Mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod wrth galon ynewidiadau ar lwyfan gwleidyddiaethCymru dros yr hanner canrif diwethaf amwy. Heb fodolaeth Plaid Cymru, ni fyddaidatblygiad Cymru fel endid gwleidyddolerioed wedi digwydd.

”Mae’r datblygiad hwn wedi bod ynallweddol i barhad hunaniaeth cenedlaetholCymru, ond hefyd wrth gwrs, wedi gwellallywodraethu yng Nghymru er budd y boblac er budd cymunedau. Er yr holl rethreg, nifyddai’r pleidiau Prydeinig wedi rhoiblaenoriaeth i Gymru oni bai ambresenoldeb a pholisïau Plaid Cymru.

”Yn dilyn datganoli, ’rydym wedi gweld ypleidiau eraill yn symud yn raddol tuag at ysyniad o wleidyddiaeth Gymreig. Ni fyddaihyn wedi digwydd oni bai am Blaid

Cymru, yr unig blaid sydd â’i bodolaethyn deillio o fodolaeth Cymru fel cenedl.

”Yr hyn sydd angen ar Gymru ar fyrderydyw cwblhau’r broses o greu Senedd goiawn gyda phwerau go iawn, a llywodraethsydd â gweledigaeth glir ar gyfer y dyfodol.Plaid Cymru yw’r unig blaid all ddarparugweledigaeth o’r fath a sicrhau hunan-lywodraeth i’n cenedl, er mwyn galluogiCymru i chwarae ei rhan mewn creu bydmwy diogel a heddychlon.”

SummaryThe 80th anniversary of the founding ofPlaid Cymru was marked at a ceremonyduring the National Eisteddfod in August.

Ysgoloriaeth i’w sefydlu er cofam Gwynfor

Cynhaliwyd cinio yng Nghaernarfon ercof am gyn-Lywydd Plaid Cymru, ydiweddar Dr Gwynfor Evans, lle cafoddCronfa Goffa Gwynfor ei lansio. Un o brifamcanion y gronfa fydd sefydlu ysgoloriaethyn enw Gwynfor Evans.

Dywedodd Llywydd Plaid Cymru, DafyddIwan:

“Un o brif amcanion y Gronfa fyddsefydlu ysgoloriaeth i Brifysgol Cymru ond

mae nifer o gynlluniau eraill ar y gweill gangynnwys gosod carreg goffa ar y man ygwasgarwyd ei lwch ger Llangadog.

Unwaith i’r manylion pellach gael eucytuno gyda theulu Gwynfor byddwn yngwneud cyhoeddiad pellach.

Pan fu farw Gwynfor ym mis Ebrill,soniais am ei gyfraniad unigryw acamhrisiadwy wrth ddatblygu Plaid Cymru i’rblaid y mae heddiw. Rhaid i ni nawr sicrhauein bod yn adeiladu ar lwyddiant PlaidCymru er mwyn creu Cymru deg, cyfiawn affyniannus.”

SummaryA scholarship at the University of Wales is tobe founded in memory of former PlaidCymru leader Gwynfor Evans who died inApril.

Ymateb i Ganlyniadau’r TGAUa’r Fagloriaeth

Mae Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid drosAddysg, Janet Ryder AC o Blaid Cymru,wedi llongyfarch myfyrwyr yng Nghymruam eu cyraeddiadau TGAU, ond wedirhybuddio bod angen arolwg o’r gostyngiadyng ngraddau pasio TGAU a’r tueddiadaunegyddol yn y Fagloriaeth Gymreig.

Dywedodd AC rhestr Plaid dros yGogledd, Ms Ryder:

“Er bod y gyfartaledd o’r myfyrwyr sy’nderbyn graddau A* i C wedi codi rhywfymryn, a bod hyn i’w groesawu, y mae’ndestun pryder i weld bod graddau pasioCymru yn is eleni na chyfartaledd Prydain.Bydd rhaid i ni edrych ar y gostyngiad yn ygraddau pasio hyn mewn yn fwy manwl ermwyn gwybod beth yw’r rhesymau.

Mae canlyniadau Diploma Canolradd yFagloriaeth Gymreig yn codi cwestiynau.

Carn 9

Dim ond hanner y myfyrwyr a gwblhaodd yrhaglen a dderbyniodd y diploma canolraddllawn, ac y mae’r canlyniadau hyn achanlyniadau wythnos diwethaf yFagloriaeth Uwch yn dangos arwyddion odueddiadau negyddol. Pan grëwyd yFagloriaeth Gymreig, dewisodd LlywodraethLafur y Cynulliad beidio ag edrych ar yFagloriaeth Ryngwladol a’i haddasu yn ôlgofynion Cymru, ond yn lle hynny dewiswydi greu cymhwyster newydd. Y mae’nddyletswydd arnynt yn awr i arolygu’rcymhwyster a’r sefyllfa.”

SummaryPlaid express concern that worryingtendencies in exam results in Wales may bedue to Labour policies.

Trafodaeth gyda Mwslemiaid:Plaid yn galw am GronfaDdiogelwch

Wrth i garfan o ferched Mwslemaiddymweld â’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol i fynegipryder am eu diogelwch, galwodd yr ACPlaid Cymru Helen Mary Jones arLywodraeth y Cynulliad i sefydlu ‘cronfaddiogelwch’ er mwyn cynorthwyosefydliadau addoli i gymryd y camauangenrheidiol i’w hamddiffyn eu hunain rhagtroseddau casineb.

Mae Ms Jones wedi ysgrifennu atLywodraeth y Cynulliad yn gofyn iddynt“sicrhau bod gan synagogau, mosgau,eglwysi, a phob man addoli arall ar hyd a lledCymru y cyllid angenrheidiol i wella eudiogelwch fel bo’r angen.” Daw’r alwadwedi cynnydd mewn ymosodiadau hiliol yngNghymru ac ymosodiad ar fosg yngNghaerdydd.

Yn sgîl 9/11, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth yrAlban y byddai’n sicrhau £1 miliwn ar gyfergwella diogelwch lleoedd addoli ethnig yn yrAlban. Mae Ms Jones yn awr yn galw amysgogiad tebyg i ddiogelwch leoedd addoliyng Nghymru.

Dywedodd Ms Jones, AC rhestr PlaidCymru dros y Canolbarth a’r Gorllewin:

“Rwyf heddiw yn annog Llywodraeth yCynulliad i sefydlu cronfa ddiogelwch arhoi’r cyfle i leoedd addoli ddefnyddio’rarian i wella diogelwch.

Wrth ystyried y digwyddiadau diweddaryn Llundain, yr ymosodiad ar y mosg yngNghaerdydd, a chynnydd yn y nifer ofygythiadau yn erbyn grwpiau lleiafrifol yngNghymru, mae’n amser i ni weithredu.

Ni fydd Llywodraeth y Cynulliad ynllwyddo i amddffyn dinasyddion Cymru osna fydd yn gadael i leoedd addoli gael gafaelyn y fath gyllid.”

SummaryHelen Mary Jones AC of Plaid called for afund to be set up in Wales for places ofworship to protect themselves from violence,as has been done in Scotland, following anincrease in anti-ethnic violence.

Former Plaid Cymru leader GwynforEvans who died in April.

10 Carn

CYMUNED annual conference condemnsGwynedd council about marina extension

Cymuned, the anti-colonization movementfor Welsh-speaking Wales, held their annualconference in Porthmadog on June 11th. Amotion was passed condemning Plaid Cymrucontrolled Gwynedd council for passing aproposal to extend the marina (parking placefor yachts) at Pwllheli. The motion praisedthose councillors who were opposing thedevelopment, including council leader RichardParry Hughes.

‘The decision of the Council committee is avery bad one and we support the councillorswho are calling for the decision to be referredto the full Council’, Cymuned’s chiefexecutive, Aran Jones, stated beforehand.‘Report after report has shown that not manyjobs will be created by this plan, and most ofthe few jobs that will come will have a wageinsufficient to obtain a mortgage in Pwllheli.Work of quality is needed in Llyn, notattending a boat car-park for rich people.’

(Subsequently, the proposal to enlarge themarina was rejected by a meeting of the fullcouncil, largely because of local pressure ledby Cymuned. While it may seem surprisingthat protests were needed to persuade anationalist-controlled council to reject a planthat would have resulted in increasedcolonization, the success of the campaign

against goes down as one of Cymuned’s mostprominent victories so far.)

The conference was addressed by EmyrLlywelyn, a leading member of the formerorganization Adfer who were active in the1970s and 80s and promoted the idea ofrecognition of a Bro Gymraeg in Wales,distinguishing between the areas where Welshwas still a community language and the restof Wales. This idea was rejected at the time bythe rest of the national movement, notablyPlaid Cymru and Cymdeithas yr Iaith, butthere is now a growing realization amongthose concerned with Welsh having a futureas a natural community language that thewhole of Wales is now too big to be controlledby the Welsh-speakers and that recognition ofand the development of politics within the BroGymraeg is essential for its survival.

The first draft of Cymuned’s map of the BroGymraeg was distributed at the conference. Itmarks the Bro Gymraeg as areas where atleast 50% of the population born in Wales canspeak Welsh, and at least 33% of the totalpopulation, according to census figures. Thearea concerned still runs continuously fromthe north to the south coast on the west sideof Wales, and in one area extends east to theEnglish border.

Other motions passed at the conferenceincluded a decision, given that there werepresent those interested, to set up a limitedcompany aiming to build affordable houses.Another motion called for languageorganizations to come together to discuss thepossibility of employing a full-time lobbyistfor the language at the Assembly, while boththe National Assembly and Westminster werecalled on to recognize the existence of the BroGymraeg.

R ap Tomos

Plaid Cymru council leader Richard Parry Hughes.

The Council for the Cityand County of Cardiff havesent a letter to Cymdeithas yrIaith chairman, SteffanCravos, who is based in thecapital, asking Cymdeithas tostop campaigning againstEnglish-only road signs in thecity! The letter, in the nameof a Councillor E. Morgan,accuses Cymdeithas of‘defacing’ road signs and other signs withstickers saying ‘Ble Mae’r Gymraeg?’(‘Where is the Welsh?’). The letter continues(translation):

“this vandalism (sic) is costing the Councilthousands of pounds to repair every year…so I am asking you to stop producing thesestickers and to ask your members to stopvandalizing public property… in places likeCardiff with a large non Welsh-speakingpopulation it is difficult enough to persuadepeople to accept bilingualism in the firstplace.”

Of course, the 1993 Welsh Language Act,limited though it is, obliges councils to com-ply with their own Welsh Language Plans

and so they do not have to‘persuade’ non Welsh-speakers to accept bilingual-ism.

In response Cymdeithaschairman Steffan Cravossaid:

“The battle for bilingualroad signs was won in the

60s by Cymdeithas yr Iaith but CardiffCouncil are still erecting English-only signsacross the capital and thus breaking the law.

“Cymdeithas are completely unapologeticabout these stickers. It is the responsibility ofthe council that serves the capital of Wales tokeep to its Language Plan that says ‘All newpublic signs for which the council is respon-sible, as well as those that are beingreplaced, will be bilingual’.

“We are willing to discuss the matter fur-ther with the council but really the only thingthey need to do is to keep to their word andput up bilingual signs.”

Cardiff Council asks Cymdeithas tostop defacing their signs!

Carn 11

In a rally held on June 11, on the shore ofLlyn Tryweryn near Bala, where theTryweryn valley and the village of CapelCelyn were drowned to make a reservoir forLiverpool in the 1960s, Cymdeithas yr IaithGymraeg (The Welsh Language Society)warned that we now face the last real chanceto sustain viable Welsh-speakingcommunities. Cymdeithas yr Iaith believethat if the present mewnlifiad or immigrationcontinues, no natural Welsh-speakingcommunity will be left by the year 2020. Therally called on people to join Cymdeithas yrIaith in their campaign to reverse this seriousthreat. Considering such a message, the rallywas held in a particularly apt location. Afterall, the history of drowning Capel Celyn ispossibly the most poignant example of aWelsh-speaking community losing the rightto control its own future.

In particular, the rally called on people tosupport the demand for a Property Act forWales. This measure offers solutions to thehousing crisis that is undermining so manyWelsh-speaking communities. Huw Lewissaid on behalf of Cymdeithas:

“This is our final practical chance to securea viable future for our local Welsh-speakingcommunities. This is a task of importance foreveryone in Wales wherever they live. Ifpresent trends continue, no natural Welsh-speaking community will be left by the year2020. At the moment, many of ourcommunities are on the brink. Over thecoming years, they are in danger of losingtheir most important resources – their localshops, their schools, and, of course, theirhouses – leaving them in a totallyunsustainable situation. We have little timeand urgent political action is needed.

Capel Celyn was lost 40 yearsago – now it’s the rest of our Welsh-speaking communities!

“In order to secure a future for ourcommunities, it is vital that we deal with thepresent housing crisis. Cymdeithas yr Iaith’sanswer is a Property Act for Wales – ameasure that deals with every part of thecrisis – be that unreasonable house prices,large-scale housing developments and thelack of rented accommodation.”

The rally was the climax of a week ofcampaigning for a Property Act. During theweek, members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith tookthe campaign on tour, visiting many townsacross Wales and collecting signatures on apetition calling for a Property Act. Inaddition, members of Cymdeithas yr Iaithspent the night ‘sleeping rough’ on the streetsof these towns, in order to highlight theseriousness of the housing crisis.

Robat ap Tomas

Protesters in 1960Cofia Dryweryn - Remember Tryweryn.

Brits say No to EUstatus for Welsh:SNP MP Angus MacNeil (Na h-

Eileanan an Iar), having asked whetherthe English government had any plansto request for Welsh (and other indige-nous languages) the status in the EUthat the Spanish government hasobtained for Catalan, was told byDouglas Alexander (Minister of State(Europe), Foreign & CommonwealthOffice) that there was no intention ofseeking status for any language otherthan English. An illustration of thehard unionism of New Labour.

During the National Eisteddfod, PlaidCymru called for a new, robust WelshLanguage Act, with the NationalAssembly becoming the responsible leg-islative body. The party believes alsothat there should be parity with Irish atEuropean Union level and Welsh shouldbecome an official language.

Alun Ffred Jones AC (Caernarfon)said:

“There is more to a bilingual Walesthan forms and documents in two lan-guages. We wish to see an increase theuse of Welsh in all walks of life, andespecially in securing continuity ofWelsh-medium education from Nurserylevel to Universities. All citizens musthave the right and opportunity to useeither English or Welsh.

“At a time when there is deep con-cern about the European Union beingremote, I am proud that it is PlaidCymru MEP Jill Evans who is leading thecampaign to enable people to communi-cate in their own language withEuropean institutions – something whichcan only help to remedy that.”

Plaid Cymru President Dafydd Iwansaid:

“The present act is weak and ineffec-tive in ensuring equal status for Welshand English, stating that the Welsh andEnglish languages are equal under cer-tain circumstances only.

“The recent failure by the DCMS toprepare documents in bilingual formunder the New Licensing Act is a blatantexample of the weakness of the presentLanguage Act, and of the cavalier atti-tude of government.

“We also need to involve the privatesector in a meaningful way, and I believethe private sector would welcomerobust and clear guidance in the use ofthe Welsh language”.

Caernarfon MP Hywel Williams said: “Our aim is to make Wales a model of

functioning and sustainable bilingualismand make it possible to live every aspectof life naturally in the language of yourchoice. This aim permeates every one ofour policies, be that in education, insecuring affordable homes or care forthe elderly.”

Robat ap Tomos

Robust NewLanguage Act imperative for

parity betweenWelsh and English

12 Carn

‘Boring Boring’ says Morgan,but NOW is the opportunity:

First Minister Rhodri Morgan, while onceagain dismissing the calls for a new WelshLanguage Act, described the debate aboutthe language as ‘Boring Boring’. He went onto describe Cymdeithas yr Iaith as ‘a handfulof bullies’ in response to their protest whenhe appeared on the National Eisteddfod fieldin August. Cymdeithas, however, reiteratedthat now, with the coming abolition of theWelsh Language Quango, is the opportunityfor introducing a proper language act to meetthe needs of the new century. This autumnCymdeithas’s campaign will involve puttinga series of prominent notices in the Welshpress listing those who support the cam-paign, and there is to be a national rally out-side the Wales Office in Cardiff.

Action on signs in Clwyd:In July members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith

Gymraeg plastered ‘Give Way’ signs inwestern Clwyd with an equivalent transla-tion in Welsh -

‘Ildiwch’. They are protesting as part of alarge-scale campaign to highlight the needfor a new Welsh language act, an act that isrelevant to Wales in the 21st Century.

“Signs such as ‘Give Way’ signs should bebilingual under the current Language Act1993 and we aim to prove that the Act is nolonger effective or relevant to this day andage. The authorities have an obligation toprovide bilingual road signs. We will be con-tinuing to target this type of sign while thesituation remains the same”, said DewiSnelson, Cymdeithas’s officer in the North.

The campaigners will continue to targetroad signs in the area to raise awareness ofthe need for legislative powers over theWelsh language in the Assembly.

Eisteddfod language status:The National Eisteddfod was held in the

Bro Gymraeg this year, between Bangor andCaernarfon, and a great improvement wasnoticed in the status of the language on thefield in comparison with last year’sAnglicised event in Newport, both in visiblesigns and as the medium of activities. It wasexpressed to Cymdeithas that last year’sEisteddfod, with its excessive emphasis on‘catering’ for non Welsh-speakers, did nothave the same effect on local people (inincreasing awareness, encouraging people to

CYMRU IN BRIEF

learn Welsh etc.) as did the previousNewport National Eisteddfod in 1988.

Cardiff Council asksCymdeithas to stopdefacing their signs!

The Council for the City and County ofCardiff have sent a letter to Cymdeithas yrIaith chairman, Steffan Cravos, who is basedin the capital, asking Cymdeithas to stopcampaigning against English-only road signsin the city! The letter, in the name of aCouncillor E. Morgan, accuses Cymdeithasof ‘defacing’ road signs and other signs withstickers saying ‘Ble Mae’r Gymraeg?’(‘Where is the Welsh?’). The letter continues(translation):

“this vandalism (sic) is costing the Councilthousands of pounds to repair every year…so I am asking you to stop producing thesestickers and to ask your members to stopvandalizing public property… in places likeCardiff with a large non Welsh-speakingpopulation it is difficult enough to persuadepeople to accept bilingualism in the firstplace.”

Of course, the 1993 Welsh Language Act,limited though it is, obliges councils to com-ply with their own Welsh Language Plansand so they do not have to ‘persuade’ nonWelsh-speakers to accept bilingualism.

In response Cymdeithas chairman SteffanCravos said:

“The battle for bilingual road signs waswon in the 60s by Cymdeithas yr Iaith butCardiff Council are still erecting English-only signs across the capital and thus break-ing the law.

“Cymdeithas are completely unapologeticabout these stickers. It is the responsibility ofthe council that serves the capital of Wales tokeep to its Language Plan that says ‘All newpublic signs for which the council is respon-sible, as well as those that are being replaced,will be bilingual’.

“We are willing to discuss the matter fur-

ther with the council but really the only thingthey need to do is to keep to their word andput up bilingual signs.”

Proper parliament the onlyway forward – Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru leaders launched a campaignfor a real parliament for Wales at theNational Eisteddfod on the Faenol estate nearBangor in August.

The Leader of the Opposition in theAssembly, Ieuan Wyn Jones AC, along withParliamentary Leader Elfyn Llwyd MPlaunched a petition to secure a real parlia-ment for the people of Wales. This coincidedwith the submission on the same day of theparty’s detailed paper in response to theGovernment’s White Paper ‘BetterGovernance for Wales’. Ieuan Wyn Jones AC said:

“Today we launch a petition calling on theGovernment to establish a proper Parliamentfor Wales, rather than the second rate fudgewhich New Labour proposes in its WhitePaper. We are calling for a full law-makingParliament and we make this clear in ourresponse to the White Paper consultation,which we are publishing today.

If we want a better health service, or aneducation system based on the needs ofWales, then we need the tools to do the job.The current Assembly’s powers are too weakand confusing and the plan to use ‘Orders inCouncil’ as proposed by New Labour retainsmany of the deficiencies of the current settle-ment.”

Plaid Cymru’s Parliamentary leader ElfynLlwyd MP commented:

“We call for a referendum at the earliestopportunity, so that the people of Wales canvote on the need for a proper Parliament. Weare confident of a yes vote given that publicsupport for a Parliament is at an all-timehigh.”

Robat ap Tomos

Protesters gather around R. Morgan’s car when he appeared on the National Eisteddfod field in August.

Carn 13

Éire

Féile na nOileán / I Measc na nOileánach

Tháinig cultúr na hÉireann agus pobal naBriotáine le chéile ar dhá mhórócáid ansamhradh seo. Go luath i mí Lúnasa,d’fhreastail na céadta mílte cuairteoirí arimeachtaí ceoil is damhsa ag an bhFéileIdircheilteach i Lorient, a thug túsáite imbliana d’aoianna na hÉireann. Agus agdeireadh na míosa, rinne míle nó breis cuair-teoirí a slí go hoileán beag ar chósta thiar naBriotáine, chun freastal ar fhéile leabhar islitríochta a mhair ceithre lá agus a d’fháiltighi mbliana roimh dream scríbhneoirí de chuidna hÉireann.

‘Saloñs Levriou an Inizi’ as Briotáinis, nó‘Salon du Livre Insulaire’ as Fraincis, atámar theideal ar an bhféile, a bhí ar siúl donseachtú huair. Blianta eile, bhí aird an tionóilar litríocht de chuid oileáin atá nó a bhíodhfaoi smacht na Fraince, leithéidí Háití,Guadeloupe agus an Chorsaic. Bhí an spot-solas ar thraidisiúin liteartha na hÉireann anbabhta seo, agus léachtaí, seiminéir is goleor eile ar siúl, mar aon le mórthaispeántaisleabhar.

Tá saothar ilghnéitheach le maíomh ag nascríbhneoirí a bhí i láthair. Ar na scríbh-neoirí Gaeilge, bhí Micheál Ó Conghaile,gearrscéalaí, úrscéalaí, drámadóir agus foil-sitheoir; Dara Ó Conaola, Árannach a bhfuilfilíocht, gearrscéalta agus tuilleadh lenaainm; agus Diarmuid Johnson, a bhfuilBriotáinis is Breatnais araon ar a thoil aige,agus ar foilsíodh a chéad chnuasachfilíochta, ‘Súil Saoir’, anuraidh. Ar na scríb-hneoirí Béarla, bhí Jennifer Johnston, abhfuil mórchlú ar a cuid úrscéalta; DermotHealy, úrscéalaí agus drámadóir aitheantaatá lonnaithe i Sligeach; agus DesmondEgan, file a bhfuil iliomad duaiseannaidirnáisiúnta buaite aige.

Maidir liom féin, seans nárbh é m’úrscéalmistéire aonair (‘Bás Tobann’, a foilsíodhanuraidh) amháin a mheall spéis an luchteagraithe. Ouessant atá mar ainm Fraincisear an oileán a d’fháiltigh romhainn; ach anbunainm Briotáinise ná Enez Eusa (nóEussa), a chiallaíonn ‘Inis Uachtair’, agus iscosúil go raibh mo shinsear Briotánach inuachtar ann mar thaoisigh sna meánaoisean-na! San 18ú céad atá an taifead deiridh armhuintir Heussaff san áit, agus faoin am sin,ní raibh fágtha againn ach dealbhghiobail nahuaisleachta. Mar sin féin, tá mana nó roscBriotáinise na sinsear úd fós mar mhana agan oileán féin, agus é péinteáilte ar fhalla anstáisiúin tarrthála mara: ‘Mar kouezh en emsav’ atá air, ionann is ‘má thitimid, éirímid

arís’. Arsa an fear áitiúil a thaispeáin é domféin is do mo dheirfiúr Kintilla: “Fáilteromhaibh chun bhur n-oileáin féin!”

Bhí an-bhéim le linn na féile archaidreamh idir cuairteoirí, aoianna aguspobal an oileáin, ar ghlac go leor acu páirtghníomhach san fhéile. Tá Enez Eusa féinméid áirithe níos mó ná Inis Meáin, Árainn,agus thart ar 900 duine ina gcónaí ann i rithna bliana. Is beag feirmeoireacht a déantarann inniu, agus tá raithneach is driseacha lefeiceáil go forleathan, chomh maith le fraochis aiteann. Tá sé lom, sceirdiúil, agus tithesolais ollmhóra ar a chóstaí creagacha. Is léirgo bhfuil an t-oileán ag brath cuid mhaith arna mílte turasóirí a théann ann ar thóirsuaimhnis is cúrsaí spóirt farraige. NílBriotáinis á labhairt ach ag corrdhuine aon-air, agus bhí an Fhraincis in uachtar le linn anSaloñs Levriou.

Mar aon le hÉireannaigh, bhí Briotánaighis Francaigh i mbun léachtaí lena linn: inameasc, an t-údar Briotánach, Hervé Jaouen, abhfuil iliomad scríofa aige faoi Éirinn; RogerFaligot, a labhair ar an litríocht do pháistí inÉirinn; Jennifer Heurley, staraí agus tíreolaíóg ó Pháras, a thug cur síos ar theorainnípolaitiúla is intinne araon in Éirinn; agusJacqueline Jeunet, acadúlaí mórcháilithe, a

phléigh filíocht agus drámaíocht Yeats. Leanceisteanna is comhphlé bhríomhar gachseisiún acu, agus idir shaineolas is a mhalairtle cloisint ón lucht éisteachta.

Bhí drámaíocht, scannáin, ealaíon físe isgo leor eile mar chuid den fhéile freisin. ‘LePleure-misére’ an teideal ar sheó aonairsármhaith a bunaíodh ar ‘An Béal Bocht’, leMyles na gCopaleen. Déanadh comparáididir dhá sheanscannán, ‘Finis Terrae’ agus‘Man of Aran’. Bhí taispeántais ghri-anghrafanna ar siúl, chomh maith le comór-tais do pháistí agus seisiúin cheoil; agus lelinn na féile, bhí halla mór an phobail lán godoras le daoine ag féachaint ar na seastáinleabhar ó chian is ó chóngar, ó fhilíocht Háitíis ó sheandálaíocht na Corsaice gohaistriúcháin Fraincise ar shaothar MhaeveBinchy agus Pháraic Uí Chonaire.

Ceiliúradh idirchultúrtha, más ea, agus éspreagúil agus síorspéisiúil dá réir. Fuair nacuairteoirí spléachadh ar an litríocht sa dátheanga in Éirinn, ach fuair muide, Éirean-naigh, léargas éigin ar conas mar a léitear árgcuid leabhar i gcéin. Tuiscint chultúrtha eilea fuaireamar ag am béilí: chuir foireanndheonach béilí breátha trí chúrsa romhainnfaoi dhó gach lá, agus gan aon rian le feiceáilden rubarshicín leamh a bhíonn ar fáil ró-mhinic do lucht féilte in Éirinn!

Anna Heussaff, whose first novel was pub-lished in Irish last year, took part in a majorbook fair and festival on the Breton island ofEusa (or Ouessant in French), where herfather’s ancestors had ruled the roost sever-al centuries ago. Ireland’s literature, both inIrish and in English, was the focus of thisyear’s ‘Salon du Livre Insulaire’.

Anna Heussaff

Anna Heussaff, author of ‘Bás Tobann.

14 Carn

ÓGRAS WELSH LINKS

There is an ongoing project now betweenÓgras (The Irish Language YouthOrganisation) and Urdd Gobaith Cymru (TheWelsh Language Youth Organisation). Thename of the project is ‘Bendigeidfran’ and itwill last three years. Bendigeidfran was acharacter from the Mabinogi who formed abridge between Wales and Ireland. Theproject is funded by Interreg IIIA. There willbe 5 courses in each country making amaximum of 10 courses in which the twogroups from each country will be taking partlearning about their respective Celticcultures. The project was launched on

Saturday 30th July at the Eisteddfod inBangor, Wales. A group from Ógras wentover to Wales during the August BankHoliday weekend. As well as the launch thefirst of the courses was run. This course wason the Welsh language. The young peoplelearned a few words of Welsh over there.Indeed I myself learned a few words. It isgreat to hear the Welsh language beingspoken. The language is a communitylanguage over there and not just in the Welshspeaking regions. Compared to Ógras, I haveto admit the Urdd have much better facilities.

When we were over there we travelled allover the country. We started out inLlanchrannog, which is in the south of thecountry. There Urdd had a hostel in whichthey had an Astro Turf pitch. I have to saywhen I arrived there the place reminded meof the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry. It had alovely view out to the sea. At the Astro Turfwe showed the Welsh how to play GaelicFootball. The Urdd members must be good atRugby because they used their skills to beatus in the Gaelic Football Match, amazingly.We won’t let that happen again. After thematch the young people had built up a hungerand we had a Barbeque. The next day weheaded to Machynlleth in which OwainGlyndwr’s Parliament is situated. We learneda lot about how the Welsh defendedthemselves against the English for a period.After lunch we headed to the Sain RecordingStudios, which Catatonia used when she wasstarting out. It was interesting finding outhow an album is made. Later that evening weheaded to Bangor in the North of theCountry.

The next day we went to the NationalEisteddfod to launch the project. Urdd had itsown tent at the event. There we had speeches

by the Regional Director of Urdd and theChairman of Ógras on their respectiveorganisations. There were speeches also bythe project coordinators of the differentorganisations explaining what the projectentailed. We had a dance display bymembers of Urdd and Ógras. It was veryenjoyable.

When the launch was over we had a WelshLanguage course. In it we learned about thehistory of the Welsh language and its statustoday. As well as that we learned about thedifferences and similarities between the Irishand Welsh language. Our teacher wasteaching in Welsh, but we had a translator totranslate to Irish. We had a chance to lookaround the Eisteddfod. It was similar to theraces. There were marquees everywhere inwhich different organisations were situated.These organisations weren’t limited to Welshlanguages organisations – a sign that thelanguage is strong. There were organisationslike Urdd Gobaith Cymru, S4C, Cymdeithasyr Iaith Gymraeg, Cymuned and PlaidCymru. But you had a science centre (with anongoing science show which was veryinteresting), Oxfam and a lot of differentshops as well which showed the wide rangeof organisations participating. Of course theEisteddfod wouldn’t be complete without thechoral competition. All in all a veryinteresting and enjoyable experience fromwhich I think the Irish could learn a fewthings.

The next day we went to the WelshLanguage and Heritage Centre in Pwllheli inthe Welsh hills. I have to say the scenery wasbreathtaking. There we learned a few wordsof Welsh and we learned about thesurrounding area. It was a mining area. Theway we learned about this area was througha treasure hunt. After we finished thelanguage course we went to CaernarfonCastle. It is an impressive sight. This was theplace where Prince Charles of Wales wasinaugurated. It was a huge complex. It is atourist site at present. There was even amilitary museum in there in which there wasmemorabilia from the troubles like AnPhoblacht to make me feel at home! I neverthought I would see Irish Republican items ina British Military Museum. Being at thecastle reminded me how the Englishmanaged to keep a hold of Wales. Wales hasa maximum of 400 castles in its country.

The next day we went to the Marquees of Anglesey’s Column. We were able to see the whole of Anglesey from the top of it. It is another sign of Englishdominance. It was built in 1817 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo. Onour way to the boat back to Ireland westopped in – hold on, this will take a while–LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLLANTYSILIOG

OGOGOCH. There was a train station inthere. It is a tourist venue basically for itsname.

This was my first time in Wales and Ienjoyed it thoroughly as did the rest of thegroup. It really opened my eyes to the state ofthe Welsh language and what the Irishlanguage can aspire to. The next course willbe in Ireland at the Scléip na hÓige at the

Oireachtas in Cork from the 2nd to the 5th ofNovember. Ógras hopes to make the Welshas welcome as they made us in Wales. Wewill give them a good taste of Irish culture.Our course will consist of teaching themabout Irish sports like Hurling, GaelicFootball and Handball. Caoimhín Ó Cadhlais the project coordinator for Ógras and NiaMeleri Roberts is the project coordinator forUrdd Gobaith Cymru. If you wish to knowmore about this project you contact eitherproject coordinator at the details below.

Caoimhín Ó Cadhla,Comhordaitheoir TionscnaimhBendigeidfran(Project CoordinatorBendigeidfran), Ógras, 6 Sráid Fhearchair, BaileÁtha Cliath 2. +3531 4751487 / Mobile: 087 - 9690490 caoimhin@ogras.ie

Nia Meleri Roberts,Urdd Gobaith CymruUwch Swyddog Datblygu CynllunBENDIGEIDFRAN - Yn pontio ieuenctid Cymruac Iwerddon / Project DevelopmentOffice:BENDIGEIDFRAN- Uniting young peoplein Ireland and Wales. Swyddfa’r Urdd, Ffordd Llanbadarn,Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 1EY.Ffon / Phone: 01970 613127Ffacs / Fax: 01970 626120Cyfeiriad e-bost / e-mail: nia@urdd.org Ar y we / Website: www.urdd.org

Bendigeidfran – a bridge between Wales and Ireland.

Frank Harte was born in Dublin on May14th 1933. He grew up in Chapelizod, wherehis father owned ‘The Tap’ public house. ATraveller singing the ‘Valley ofKnockanure’, on a fair day in Boyle,Co.Roscommon was what first sparked hisinterest in Irish traditional singing. It was aninterest that became lifelong. By the end oflast year, his database of Irish songs hadreached over 15,000. An architect by profes-sion, he managed to find time to record anumber of albums. ‘Down Dublin Streets’first appeared on Topic Records in 1967, fol-lowed by ‘Through Dublin City’. His song-book, ‘Songs of Dublin’ appeared in 1978.

His first collaboration with Dónal Lunnywas on the album, ‘And Listen To My Song’and following this, on ‘Daybreak and aCandle-End’, which was released in 1987. In1998, the 200th anniversary of the 1798Rebellion saw a number of books and CDslaunched to commemorate the Rising.‘1798-the first year of Liberty’ was FrankHarte`s major contribution. This excellentlyproduced album on Hummingbird Records isdistinctive in having copious sleeve-notes

and includes many of the forgotten songs of’98. In 2001, he launched a CD of songs ofthe Napoleonic period, ‘My Name isNapoleon Bonaparte’. This highly acclaimeddouble album has a total of 26 songs, as wellas a 56 page booklet of sleeve notes.

Over many years, Frank Harte travelled

widely promoting Irish traditional singing.He was a much sought after guest at folkclubs, seminars and festivals. He sang, taughtand lectured at workshops throughoutIreland, Britain, Europe and North America.His talks though, were never boring or acad-emic, but rather in the mould of a firesidestoryteller. One such story was of anAppalachian fiddle player, who played alively march in Frank’s company. Frankenquired as to the name of the march only tobe told it was known as ‘Napoleon crossingthe Rockies’. When Frank said that he wasunaware that Napoleon had ever set foot inNorth America, the old fiddler looked at himquizzically, before replying atlength……..”Scholars differ!”

Frank’s contribution to Irish traditionalsong was such that his life and times featuredin an hour long programme on the ‘Sé moLaoch’ series on TG4 in 2002. In 2003, hereceived the Gradam TG4 traditional singingaward. At 71 years of age, and despite illhealth, he continued to record. The HungryVoice, an album of songs of the GreatFamine was launched last year, and just priorto his death he had completed recording a CDof Irish labouring songs; ‘There’s Gangs ofThem Digging’.

Frank Harte is survived by his wife Stella,his sons Darragh and Cian, and his daugh-ters, Sinéad and Orla.

© Pat Burke 2005.

Irish Language for Entry to Gárda Abolished

Carn 15

A Tribute to the Late Frank Harteby Pat Burke

Michael McDowell, Irish Minister forJustice, has effectively abolished the entryrequirement of basic Irish for the GárdaSíochána. He announced this move alongwith plans to recruit new immigrants intothe Gárdaá . Commenting on the moveConradh na Gaeilge and iMeasc (theorganisation of Irish speaking immigrants)commended the Department of Justice’sinitiative to recruit Gardaí from the ethniccommunities in order that the force may berepresentative of all the people of Ireland.and stated that this approach showed a lin-guistic and cultural awareness which willaugment policing in general.

The statement went on to say “NUIMaynooth has developed Teastas Eorpachna Gaeilge, a curriculum and an assess-ment system linked to the CommonEuropean Framework of Reference which ismost appropriate to upskill and assessgarda recruits realistically and scientificallyas part of their training. This approach canbe used for recruits who attended schoolhere as well as abroad. (www.nuim.ie/lan-guage/irishexams.html)

It is manifest that not every garda needbe an “authority” on Irish, however, in the

“Those in power write the history, those who suffer write the songs, given our history, we have an awful lot of songs”. Frank Harte.

Frank Harte, R.I.P.

legal and constitutional context, it is essentialthat every garda have a working communica-tive command thereof in order to deal effec-tively with the public through Irish: to give andreceive directions, the take names andaddresses, to take a sample of a person’sbreath, to give a caution, etc., and to conversefreely on duty related topics.

This level of proficiency is B1 on theCommon European Scale, and easily achievedover the 2 year training period. Higher levelsof competence may be required for postingsthrough Irish or in the Gaeltacht.

If every Garda cannot communicate withthe public in Irish, the language will be mar-ginalised. For example, a person who speaksIrish could be ordered to speak English onpain of arrest.

This new recruiting initiative presents agreat opportunity to carry into effect on apractical and realistic basis Governmentand Garda policy on the Irish language.Irish presents us with an opportunity topromote an Irish identity beyond creed orskin colour. Recruits should not be shutout from Irish because of their ethnic back-ground.”

Tuilleadh eolais/Further Information:

Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh,Uachtarán/President, Conradh na Gaeilge087-2368364

Ariel Killick, Cathaoirleach/Chair, iMEASC086-3440668

16 Carn

On the 28th July in a move which had beenhinted at for some time the leadership of theIrish Republican Army issued a statementindicating that it was formally ending itsarmed struggle. The statement read “Theleadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann hasformally ordered an end to the armedcampaign. This will take effect from 4pm thisafternoon. All IRA units have been orderedto dump arms. All Volunteers have beeninstructed to assist the development of purelypolitical and democratic programmesthrough exclusively peaceful means.Volunteers must not engage in any otheractivities whatsoever.

The IRA leadership has also authorisedour representative to engage with the IICDto complete the process to verifiably put itsarms beyond use in a way which will furtherenhance public confidence and to concludethis as quickly as possible. We have invitedtwo independent witnesses, from the

IRA Stands down and decommissions

Protestant and Catholic churches, to testifyto this.”

At end of September the pledge made inregard to decommissioning and the IICD(Independent International Commissioningon Decommissioning) was fulfilled when theChairman of the IICD, Canadian GeneralJohn de Chastelain, announced on Sept. 26ththat the IRA’s arsenal had been put beyonduse. Over the preceding weeks the IICD inthe presence of two independent witnesses,Fr. Alex Reid of the Clonard monastery (whohad been at the centre of the peace processfor years) and Protestant clergyman Rev.Harold Good, witnessed thedecommissioning of machine guns, rocketpropelled grenades, ground to air missiles,mortars, grenades, rifles, pistols a wide rangeof ammunition and Semtex high explosive.The General confirmed that the inventoryclosely matched estimates from the Britishand Irish government’s estimates of theIRA’s stockpiles.

There was a general welcome to thishighly significant event from the British andIrish governments and politicians in the northand in the Republic. However the Rev. IanPaisley of the majority Unionist party theDUP expressed scepticism, questioned theintegrity of the independent churchmen andre-iterated the DUP would not share powerwith Sinn Féin. Meanwhile the DUP makesno attempt to influence loyalist paramilitariesto disarm and the Catholic populationendures a high level of continuing sectarianattacks. Both governments have now toincrease pressure on the recalcitrant DUP. Itis ironic that having persistently made IRAdecommissioning their major demand theDUP cannot now come to grasp with it andfind themselves wrong footed. Whilemeetings of the two governments are to takeplace to review the activation of the LocalAssembly some observers feel that the DUPhave no intention of sharing power until afterthe next Assembly elections when theywould hope for a different outcome.

Independent witnesses, Fr. Alex Reid and Rev. Harold Good.

Readers of CARN may care to note thatone implication of the EU Court of Justice’srejection of the Irish and other EUGovernments’ positions in the Luxembourgcourt judgement of early Sept., is that itcould threaten trial by jury and thepresumption of innocence until proven guiltyin EU criminal casesat some time in thefuture.

This EU Court judgement not only opens alegal way for the establishment of an EUcriminal code and common criminalsanctions for serious breaches of EU law INANY AREA OF EU POLICY, but it alsoopens the way for HARMONISINGCRIMINAL PROCEDURE ATSUPRANATIONAL LEVEL ACROSS

Trial by Jury and thePresumption of

Innocence threatened by EU Court

judgement

THE EU. Such harmonisation was actuallymooted in the proposed EU Constitutionwhich French and Dutch voters rejected thissummer, BUT UNDER THE EUCONSTITUTION IT WOULD HAVEREQUIRED UNANIMITY amongst all 25EU States.

This recent judgement however opens theway for crimes against EU law to beestablished BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THEEU MEMBERGOVERNMENTS, togetherwith harmonised penalties and criminal courtprocedures. In other words, they could beimposed on Irish citizens at EU level eventhough the Irish Government and peoplewere quite against them, as long as theBrussels Commission proposes them and aqualified majority of other EU States agree.Trial by jury and the presumption ofinnocence until an accused person is provenguilty are features of Anglo-Saxon legalsystems and do not exist in most continentalEU States.

Most EU States permit detention withouttrial and preventive arrest, have inquisitorialmagistrates and place the burden of proof onthe accused rather than the accuser.The wayto a supranational EU criminal law system

that has been opened by last Tuesday’shugely important EU Court judgement wouldundoubtedly be based on continental practicerather thanon court practice in English-influenced countries such as Ireland, Britain,the USA, Canada, Australia, India etc.

Thus for example it was the ECJ that laiddown the principle in various judgements inthe 1960s that European law should overridenational law; for this principle has neverbeen stated in any EC/EU Treaty.It was theECJ that decided in other important casesthat European laws had direct and immediateeffect once they were adopted, which madeNational Governments liable to legal actionfor retrospective damages if they failed toimplement supranational EU laws in time.Now the ECJ has given the EU the power toestablish a supranational criminal code andharmonised penalties and legal proceduresby majority vote, even if individualgovernments and countries and their peoplesmay be quite against that.

I trust readers of CARN will agree that thisis a major blow to what is left of Irishdemocracy and national independence inface of the EU.

Anthony Coughlan

Carn 17

KernowDevedhys an prys dhe woslowes

Devedhys yw an termyn pur wir dhe wuldiwedh a’n governans yn dann Toni Blair.

Dhe voy ha moy efan yth yw kemmys dellwra skonya bodh an bobel.War nivel an bysbras, yma hwath ow klena orth lystenn Bush,prest yn unn hwilas heb mar neb fordh dhedhiank Irak. Pur sertan ny allas y wasoniethuvel ha lel treylya dhe les, naneyl dhodho-evna dhyn-ni.Y hyll bosKatrina dhe gavoesgwell sowyna orth y warnya bos gwir peryltoemmhehans an norvys.

Sowedhny wrug Kernow namenowghsevel yn y vrys:gesys yw‘ranndiryow’ dheJowan Prescott . Henna yw ervirys(praga?ny yllyn marnas desmygi) dhe wul ranndiran Soth West, an brassa yn ystennans tir yn‘Pow Sows. Na nyns eus y’n governansranndiryel-na tyller vydh dhe levow poblans

an tiredh: pubtra yw desedhys yn kessedhekpynag hag ogas di yn kevrin. Marth o genenklywes yn kever unn ‘kwango’ a’n par-na,neb a biw restrichiow le kostek dhe bobelle-el, (ha meur edhomm yw henna), dellwrug gorra a denewenn peswar milvil abeunsowrag prena kampvaow dhe’n‘dremenysi’. Yth hevell dhe nebes ahananbos an sommenn na pur hel pan vo hevellysorth an myns y’n bojet.

Hwath, awos oll Prescott dhe dhasleverelna yll nevra hwarvos, an movyans a bes owpysi agan ranndir agan honan.

An yeth, a’y wosa, a wel termyn owrekdhe vos!unnnweyth mar kyllynni,gernewegoryon dos ha bos unys y’gangorholeth ha towlennow. Yma lemmyn waran voes £200,000 pub blydhen (rag pub a’n

nessa teyr dhe’n liha.Gwren ni hedhi ha kana‘Gwynn agan bys!’

We wonder if Katrina will have moresuccess bending Bush’s ear to the reality ofglobal warming than Blair’s devotion andfaithful obeisance.

This Government has to go; more andmore it shows itself completely unwilling tolisten to the people. Locally John Prescottand his minions absolutely refuse to considerCornwall’s case for a regional assembly.They are fixated on creating, with nodemocratic consultation, this fictional andunwanted South-West region. There is nodemocratic input into this regional se-up;everything is decreed by quangos, workingpretty much in secret.One example: it cameas a surprise that £4 million of funding forlocal needs housing had been diverted toprovide camp-sites for ‘travellers’.

The campaign continues for a CornishAssembly. Maybe we should be encouragedby the language movement’s success inachieving, for the next few years at least,£200,000 per year – if, a big ‘if’, only we cansettle our internal differences.

J. Holmes

Critics of the way the Cornish languagehas developed, with several differentspelling systems appearing over the years,has led to calls by some to agree on astandard orthographic (spelling) system. Ata public meeting in Truro, to debate therecently published Cornish languagestrategy, many people aired their anger andfrustration at the apparent reluctance of someCornish linguists to decide on a singlewritten form of Cornish.

Professor Keith Atkinson, provost of theUniversity of Exeter in Cornwall and Chairof the meeting, agreed with the critics. Prof.Atkinson argued that a unified Cornishlanguage was needed and that this could notbe achieved internally.

“If you get the right people, you have achance. Otherwise you are still going to behere in 20 years time arguing the toss.’

It has been two years since the Council ofEurope Charter for Regional and MinorityLanguages placed an obligation on theWestminster Government to take ‘resoluteaction’ to protect and promote the Cornishlanguage.

However, only a few thousand ponds hasso far been spent on the Cornish languageand language promotion and protection isstill heavily reliant on volunteers.

George Ansell, one such volunteer andChair of the Steering Group behind theCornish Language Strategy, commentedthat, ‘At the moment we have a lot ofhearsay, incomplete information and very

Critics call for a single Cornish standardlittle hard fact on the current number ofCornish teachers and classes.’

‘The ownership of the language lies withthe people of Cornwall. People using wordslike ‘corrupt’ and ‘pure’ is not helpful. Weshould value all versions at this stage.’

John Angarrack, spokesperson for theCornwall 2000 Civil Liberties/Civil RightsGroup, said after the meeting, that the panel‘were not dealing with the ‘elephant in theroom’ that is orthographic factionalism.’

Recently a number of criticisms have beenlevied at the Cornish language, most notablyfrom James Staunghton of St Austell’sBrewery and one of Cornwall’s leadingbusinessmen who complained that he ‘didn’tthink this is a good way of spending publicmoney.’

‘We have got to appear modern, forwardlooking, innovative and be looking at theworld in 20 years time rather than 20 yearsbackward.’

Mr Saunghton’s words came in the wake ofKerrier District Council’s decision to adopt abi-lingual Cornish/English language policyfor use with public signs

The Cornish Branch of the Celtic Leagueare currently writing to all the Town andParish Councils in Cornwall encouragingthem to promote the Cornish language onpublic signs and to support the Cornishlanguage where ever possible. Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, Chair of the Branch, said, ‘on the wholethe responses that we have received havebeen very positive and our campaign have

promoted many Cornish Councils to debatethe issue, with the majority promising to doall they can. Only a handful of councils havewritten back to us so far saying that they willnot do anything until a standard orthographyhas been decided upon.’

George AnSell, Chair of the Steering Group.

18 Carn

Is there is a gap opening up betweenCornwall and its Church? While Cornishidentity strengthens, is that of our Church indecline?

The Archbishop of Canterbury onceharshly said of his church that it was like anold woman mumbling away to herself in acorner in some strange language. TheChurch of England (and the MethodistChurch too for that matter) does seem to betotally preoccupied with eternal, internalsquabbles and structural reorganisation. As aresult, the Church can appear inward lookingand self-obsessed. It is certainly difficultgetting its attention if you are “out there” andnot on some internal committee.

As a campaign group calling for thedisestablishment of the Church of Englandhere to form a Church of Cornwall, Fry anSpyrys has to engage with it. As we wouldlike to see Cornwall’s Methodist District infull control of its own affairs, finances andchapels, we need to gain its interest as well.When the church roof is falling off or chapelbills are mounting up, our campaign mustseem just another annoying problem ratherthan a solution. Maddeningly, when the shiphas sprung a dangerous leak, the crew havelittle time for lifeboat salesmen.

For it seems to me that the Church ofEngland and Methodist Church here arehaving an identity crisis, the Church of

In May 2005, An Scoren Kernewek/TheCornish Branch of the Celtic League began aCornish language campaign, the first step ofwhich has involved writing to all the townand parish councils in Cornwall, includingTruro City Council. Our aim was to raiseawareness of Kernewek (the Cornishlanguage) among local councillors and toassess the position of each council regardingthe inclusion of Kernewek on signs.In addition, we listed a series of 5 questionsthat we asked each of the Councils to addressin a debate on the language. These were:

1. Have you debated any aspect of theCornish language at a full councilmeeting since 2003?

2. Do you have a policy on the use of theCornish language on public signage andif so when and where from was thecontent compiled?

3. What provision have you made for theCornish language within your councilsince 2003?

England as it is starting to be seen as an alienusurper undermining our identity andaspirations, the Methodist Church because ofde-industrialisation and social fragmentation.They are becoming ever more distant from usas all their outward attention is increasinglydemanded by centralising authorities basedin London and Manchester.

We each need an identity which has to berooted in a place and community - hence thecurrent Cornish Revival. But if the identity ofa church is not rooted in that of thecommunity it serves, it risks becoming aninward looking and unloved holy club, evena sect. Our aim is to encourage the Church inCornwall to deepen its roots in our soil andnot let others rip them up. We want it to feel

more in tune with us as our identitystrengthens, as our history, culture andlanguage are reclaimed.

But the great difficulty is, when you wantto talk to the Church, you have to speak to itin its own language, a language called“Theological.” You must present your caseusing the Bible, references to Churchteachings and appeals to historical precedent.There is no point just shouting at it “Youshouldn’t be flying the Flag of St Georgefrom our church towers,” as it just can’tunderstand what you are saying.

That is why Fry an Spyrys has drawn upthe first ever Theology of Place for Cornwallto present our case to the Church in“Theological.” We are years behind Wales inall this, but academics there areenthusiastically supportive and delighted weare now in the game.

Places such as Cornwall are important -they can give our lives meaning and a senseof belonging and purpose, all things held incommon with a faith or church. Places canand do spiritually sustain people and thespiritual is a fundamental part of our identity.A people, their spirituality and their place ofbelonging are inseparably linked andmutually supporting, In short, a place, itspeople and their Church need each other.

The Church may be too self-preoccupied tolisten, but at least we are talking the samelanguage now.

Andy Phillips is the author of “Lan-Kernow: A Theology of Place for Cornwall.”A copy can be obtained by sending a largeSAE to Fry an Spyrys, 6

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot

The campaign for self–government for thechurches of Cornwall.

A Cornish Church for a Cornish People

Campaign for Inclusion of Cornish on all Public Signage

4. Did you know that town and parishCouncils have the right to debate anddecide whether to include the Cornishlanguage on place name signs within theirarea?

5. What other factors would help tofacilitate and/or encourage your Councilto include the Cornish language on publicsignage?

From this information and assessing theresponse of the Councils, it is our intention todevelop the campaign further. We will dothis by firstly addressing each of theconcerns that the Councils raise and bychasing up the Councils that have not repliedto our letters. It will then be possible to drawa map of Cornwall where we will be ableassess which Councils are for, against and/orunsure about the use of kernewek on publicsignage.This knowledge will then be used tocampaign more effectively to try to persuadethose Councils who are unsympathetic

and/or unsure to the inclusion of Kernewekon public signs within their boundaries. Inaddition, we will try to build measures ofsupport between those Councils who arefully sympathetic to the aims of ourcampaign and those bodies that are able tohelp them further.An Scoren Kernewek have so far receivedresponses from about half of all the ParishCouncils written to and about three quartersof the Town Councils that we havecontacted. We have also received a responsefrom Truro City Council, Cornwall’s onlysuch council. On the whole the responseshave been fairly positive and all the Councilswho have written back have assured us thatthey debated the issues as a consequence ofour letter.

A resolution at this year’s AGM was adopted(see Celtica section) in support of thiscampaign, which also sees An ScorenKernewek extending its campaign to liaisewith the Breton Branch for Breton road signsto be used throughout Breizh.

R. Tal-e-bot

Carn 19

ManninAavioghey Chengaghyn Liorish Ellyn

She aavioghey chengaghynliorish ellyn va’n ard-chooishec y Chohaglym Celtiagh synOban ayns Nalbin aynsJerrey Souree. Loayrchaghteryn veih ny sheycheeraghyn Celtiaghmychione y chooish shoh. Nychaghteryn veih Mannin asNalbin, loayr adsyn mychione nyh-aghtyn oddys kiaulleeaght asarraneyn cooney lesh chengaghyn t’aynsstayd faase. Loayr chaghteryn veihcheeraghyn elley mychione ellynreayrtagh, thieyn-cloie son feallagh aegey,as lettyraght.

Loayr Anne Kissack ass lieh Vannin asish cur magh fys mychione goaill arraneayns Gaelg er y gherrid. Erskyn ooilley,v’ee loayrt mychione ny sheshaghtyn-arraneys Caarjyn Cooidjagh as CliogareeTwoaie, as possanyn-kiaullee myrMactullagh Vannin, y Mollag Band, KingChiaullee as Moot. Chammah as shen, hugee magh sampleyryn jeh ny daanynGaelgagh yindyssagh ta goll er croo ecpaitchyn aegey sy Ghaelscoill ec BalleyKeeill Eoin. Agh ooilley cooidjagh, renAnne goaill rish dy vel Mannin foastbeggan moal bentyn rish y Ghaelg as ny h-ellynyn, tra ta Mannin goll er cosoylagheyrish ny cheeraghyn Celtiagh elley. Agh ta’nGhaelg cheet neese voish stayd injil as neereddyn sharaghey son shickyrys. Vachaghteryn veih ny cheeraghyn elley goailltastey dy vel sleih cadjin gobbraghey son yGhaelg ayns Mannin - she cooish y theayt’ayn son y chooid smoo. Arthur Cormack,ren loayrt son Nalbin, t’eh ny arraneaghveih’n Ellan Skianagh as ny stiureyder jehFeisean nan Gàidheal. Shoh sheshaght t’erve feer speeideilagh as ad greinnagheyfeallagh aegey dy ghoaill arrane aynsGàidhlig as dy chloie kiaulleeaghtAlbinagh. Hie Arthur dys scoill aynsPurtree tra va’n coarys-ynsee noi’n GhaelgAlbinagh - begin da reih eddyr Frangish asGàidhlig! T’eh slane bwooisal nish dy reiheh yn chengey ghooghyssagh, ga dy row ephaarantyn noi shen. Cha row Gàidhlig ayrArthur feer vie, agh haink ee dy ve mieerbaghtal er y fa dy row eh eginit loayrt eerish custymeyryn ayns Gaelg Albinaghayns buill fadaneagh syn Ellan Skianagh aseh gimman mygeayrt gobbraghey son y

Co-Op. Hirr Arthur er e yishagGaidhlig y loayrt rish as haink

Arthur dy ve flaaoil. Va nypossanyn-kiaullee Runrig asCapercaillie niartal as adcur er Arthur dy ve smoograihagh foast er y chengey.

Hug eh shapp-chiaullee erbun ayns Purtree as ghow eh

toshiaght d’obbraghey sonFeisean nan Gàidheal. Ec y traa

t’ayn, ta mysh queig meeilley dy leih aegeygoaill ayrn ayns feaillaghyn ta goll erreaghey ec y cheshaght shoh. As ta myshhoght meeilley dy leih aegey elley erchemmalyn y cheshaght. Ta Arthur

Cormack lane shickyr dy vel shoh cooneylesh aavioghey yn chengey.

Coardail rish towse-barel va jeant feiyNalbin er y gherrid, ta 71% dy leihsmooinaghtyn dy lhisagh caa ve currit dagagh Albinagh Gàidhlig ‘ynsaghey. Shohcaghlaa mooar. Va reddyn grait ec Arthurnagh geayll mee rieau roie, ga dy vel mee erchredjal ad rish bleeantyn. Dooyrt eh dynhegin da’n Ghàidhlig croghey er sleih t’ernynsaghey’n chengey sy traa ry heet. Asveagh blass y chengey goll er caghlaa. As,ny sodjey, t’eh ro anmagh berchys ychengey y hauail. Adsyn va geaishtagh rishArthur Cormack, foddee dy row kuse jeunyn gadley, agh cha ren peiagh erbee

gaccan mychione ny reddyn shen va graitechey. Er lhiam pene dy vod oo sheeyneyny dooyrt eh gys Yernish as Britaanish - aseer gys Bretnish, foddee. Agh cha nel meero hickyr dy vel berchys ny chengaghyncaillt son dy bragh. Foddee dy jig sorchynnoa dy verchys rish.

Son Bretyn, va Jeremy Turner credjal dylajer dy vel ellyn ny aght niartal ry hoiaavioghey chengey. T’eh gobbragheymarish y ven echey lesh dramaghyn ascloieyn ayns Bretnish son sleih aegey fudny cheerey. Shegin cochiangley tradishoonlesh reddyn noa, as shegin jeeaghyn erreddyn ta goll er ayns ymmodeecheeraghyn. Jeih bleeaney as feed er dyhenney, va thieyn-cloie ayns Bretyn geiyrtdy chionn er thieyn-cloie ayns Sostyn. Aghnish ta daanys dy liooar ec Bretnee (erskynooilley ec Bretnisheyryn) dy gholl gyscheeraghyn elley dy ynsaghey reddyn noaoddys ny Bretnee goaill ymmyd jeh.Cosoylit rish ny cheeraghyn Celtiagh elley,ta Bretyn foddey ny stroshey ayns cooishynny thieyn-cloie sy chengey ghooghyssagh.Va’n loayrtys voish Nerin slane anchasley.V’eh er ve reaghit dy beagh peiagh ennaghvoish Thie-cloie yn Abban ayns Divlyn, dybeagh eshyn loayrt son Nerin. Agh cha dodeh cheet gys yn Oban kyndagh rish boireyayns cooishyn-reirey yn thie-cloie. Myrshen, loayr leaghteyr ollooscoill, Daithi OhOgain, syn ynnyd jeh. Vrie eshyn y feysht’C’red ta ellyn?’ S’doillee freggyrt y chur.Gyn ourys erbee, va Daithi er chur yn olk erpolitickeyryn, sharvaantyn theayagh asellyneyryn ayns Nerin as eshyn briaght jeu‘C’red ta ellyn?’ roish my row nypolitickeyryn stowal toyrtyssyn er ny h-ellyneyryn. Cha dod eh rieau ansoor kiart ygheddyn - cha nyrrys noadyr. Ta Daithi OhOgain smooinaghtyn dy vod ellyn vegaueagh my she impiroilaghys cultooroilt’ayn. Foddee cruinneydaght (globalisation)cur sorchyn ennagh dy h-ellyn er sleih eregin. Cha nel Daithi coontey monney jeh‘far-ellyn’ - Britart as y lheid, raad nagh velyn ellyneyr agh cur magh hene-hoilshagh(self-expression). Ta far-ellyn vrisht myrshoh mie dy liooar son cultoor mooar leshchengey lajer, agh cha nel ee cooie da myn-chultooryn lesh chengaghyn ta fo vaggyrt.Coardail rish Daithi O hOgain, sleih tageearree aavioghey chengaghyn, she sleihquaagh t’ayn er y fa dy vel ad ayns staydquaagh. Y red smoo, t’eh gra, shen dylivrey yn pobble veih cruinneydaght. Ta nychengaghyn hene nyn ellynyn, as cha neleiraght as crootaght scarrit veih mycheilley. Dy ve ynnydagh, shen dy ve co-chadjin (universal). Shegin jeeaghyn yberchys jeh cultoor tradishoonagh dafeallagh aegey. Shegin cultoor elley ylhiasaghey. As she shinyn ta gra quoishinyn, cha nee sleih elley. Erskyn ooilley,sleih ta geearree aavioghey chengaghyn,shegin prinsabyllyn baghtal ve oc.

Arthur Cormack, who represented Alba atthe Congress as guest speaker and singer.

20 Carn

Va’n Cornagh Paul Hodge loayrtmychione y scansh jeh lettyraght. Cha neleshyn ayns coardailys roosyn ta gra naghdooar Cornish baase. T’eh credjal dy rowee marroo as dy vel ee goll er aaviogheynish. Haink cragh er y Chorn kyndagh rishyn Aachummey-credjue. Sy cheyoo eashjeig, va’n Lioar-phadjer Vaarlagh currit dany Cornee er egin. Dirree ad magh as ayns1549 va’n jeihoo ayrn jeh pobble y Chornmarrooit. Va’n Baarle currit stiagh aynskialteenyn y Chorn, ny kianglaghyn eddyry Chorn as e co-heer, y Vritaan, v’adgiarrit, as va Colleish Glasney currit mow(she sy cholleish shen hie ny Cloieyn MirrilCornagh er screeu). Coardail rish PaulHodge, va’n sharmane s’jerree aynsCornish er ny phreacheil ayns 1670, yCornagh s’jerree nagh row Baarle echey,hooar eh baase ayns 1676, y screeuynpersoonagh s’jerree ayns Cornish, v’ehscruit ayns 1776, as hooar ny loayrteedooghyssagh s’jerree baase mysh 1800.

Va’n aavioghey currit fo raad ayns 1904ec Henry Jenner, y fer ren creearey jehGaelg loayrit ayns 1874. Eisht, chrooRobert Morton Nance Cornish Unnaneyssitlesh aght-screeuee jeianagh as haink ynaavioghey dy ve ny smoo niartal. Ta PaulHodge credjal dy vod y Chornish goll eraavioghey dy kiart liorish daanyn,skeealyn, thieyn-cloie, kiaulleeaght asfilmyn. Loayr eh ram mychione fir-screeuee as possanyn-kiaullee. As yeeagheh sambil jeh filmyn Cornish dachaghteryn. Ta ny Cornee er yannoo dymie mirrilagh as ad jannoo filmyn sychengey oc hene - t’ad cur nearey er nyManninee. She Fanch An Hennaf hug yloayrtys ass lieh yn Vritaan. T’eh nyellyneyr graafagh as studio echey aynsLocronan. Yeeagh eh posteyryn va jeantechey hene da ny chaghteryn, posteyryn asBritaanish orroo. Smooinaght va rygheddyn ayns gagh nane jeh ny sheyloayrtyssyn: shegin da’n ellyn ve mieerbaghtal as shegin jee ve yn chied red -cha nhegin da’n ellyn ve ny red taghyrtaghta ny s’inshley na’n chengey.

Summary

Delegates at the recent Celtic Congressat Oban listened to lectures from the sixCeltic countries on language revivalthrough the arts - singing, music, theatre,literature and the visual arts. A commontheme was that the art has to be very goodindeed and not just some incidental thinginvolved with language revival. Onespeaker emphasised the risk to threatenedlanguages and cultures from forms of artimposed by globalisation - art as culturalimperialism.

Brian Stowell

I have been intending to write somethingabout this unique event, in general terms, forsome time. I have been stimulated by thepublication, recently, of a book giving thehistory of it, with a comprehensive accountof the event from 1852 and statistics from thetime of its revival to the present day. Now Ican do it in greater detail.

The notion that it was possible must havehad a long history. In a book published in thelate 19th century, there is a short legendarytale about Alswith the Swift in the time of theViking period on the Island, who attemptedto visit each of the parish churches in oneday. He failed, but that, basically, is thechallenge as it now exists. On an 85 mileroute, the participant must visit 17 churcheswithin 24 hours. Even on the flat this wouldbe daunting, but the Island is hilly, to say theleast and that adds a further dimension.

At first, it was individual people who madethe attempt. However, in 1913, “The ParishWalking Match” took place. Twelve entrantsstarted and three of them completed the taskin less than 24 hours. It was not until 1960that the Parish Walk was revived on a formalbasis in its present form. With only one twoyear break, it has taken place each year since.To start with, it would be attempted by fewerthan 100 entrants. Today, the braveparticipants number more than 1500 and thenumbers continue to grow each year: A trulynational event.

The actual number of people involved mustbe a lot larger. The really serious contendershave mobile supporters supplying drinks andsnacks for those whilst still on the move.However, many people on the route cheer the

The ParishWalk

walkers on and set up tables with food anddrinks for those with no organised support.Even the supporters in cars find it taxing: Mywife and I have sometimes acted in supportof our daughter and her husband, and it issurprisingly hard to keep up with their needs.

The race for ladies, juniors and veteransstops at Peel, a distance of 32.5 miles. To bein contention for winning at that distance,one must complete it, up hill and down dale,in something like six hours. The full course(85 miles) has to be completed in 24 hoursand anybody with no chance of completing istaken off by marshals. To win, one has to belooking at a time of 17 hours or less. Some ofthe women continue after Peel. Just to be afinisher is enough of an achievement andsome entrants have finished more than adozen times with no object in mind ofwinning.

The fastest time so far was by DerekHarrison at 15h 20m 51s, in 1979. The firstwinner in 1960 was a postman, StanleyCleator, with a time of 19h 50m 30s. He waswearing everyday clothes and shoes, as alldid in those days. His round as a postmanwas 16 miles daily, so he was well preparedcompared with others. Indeed, postmengenerally have been prominent amongst thewinners. That said, this event is supported bya broad spectrum of the population and isclosely followed by many who have nevercompeted.The book is: “A Walk Through Time” byDermot O’Toole, printed by Mannin MediaGroup Ltd., Media House, Cronkbourne,Douglas, Isle of Man, IM4 4SB, Price£19.99. It is a stunning piece of research withmany photographs. The Parish Walk takesplace on the Saturday / Sunday nearest to thesummer solstice.

Colin Jerry

The modern pack, two miles from the start.

Front cover showing Stanley Cleator winning the revived event in 1960.

Carn 21

The Isle if Man’s Department of Agriculture,Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is currently con-sulting on taking full control over fishingrights out to a 12 nautical mile limit.Currently, the Island is allowed by the UK tolegislate and enforce fishing laws up to aludicrous three nautical mile limit.

Although DAFF has long expressed a desireto acquire greater control, the UK has abusedits constitutional position to prosecute itsown traditionally aggressive fishing policy byoperating a sanction upon the region from 3nautical miles to 12 nautical miles from theIsland’s coastline. This limit, itself, was estab-lished by the UK “over the heads” of the Manxin a 1964 agreement with several western andnorth-western European states. The only rea-son that the UK is now willing to revisit theissue is because it is withdrawing from theEU’s Common Fisheries Policy. When this isenacted (scheduled for January 2006) theexisting UK legislation over Manx waters willbe obsolete and renegotiations with new

Two years ago, some unidentified personor persons working for the only newspaperin the Isle of Man started pushing somethingcalled re-branding. Very quickly, thegovernment had been sucked into this andthe off-island consultants had their wages forthe next few years guaranteed.

The very term, “re-branding” rankles withmany Manx people as it smacks of the same“new-speak” mentality as another buzz-phrase, “IoM plc”, a far-right vision of anisland as a simple economic entity whereeconomic under-performers are weeded outand expelled, where “good for business isgood for the Isle of Man,” where justice andlaw is made and dispensed with economicexpediency as the primary consideration andthe term “Manx” has negative connotations.

I know some people have advocated“climbing on-board” to get some recognitionfor the rapidly dwindling Manx people andManx elements within the Island. Suchparticipation can only serve to implicitlyendorse the project and will quickly be usedto undermine the position of those of us whowant it exposed for what it is: A privateenterprise project launched with the soleintention of making a certain group of peoplericher at the expense of Manx people.

The movers behind the project found it

Sign the Petition6 Moore Street, Dublin, was the finalHQ of the Army of the Irish Republicin 1916. Plans are afoot to convert itinto a supermarket.There is an online petition at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/1916loz/petition.html

“regional” authorities are necessary (Scotland,Wales, England and Northern Ireland).

The UK has shown its hand early on thismatter and is pushing for a transferablelicence system so that UK fishing operationscan acquire and retain fishing rights to thedetriment of the Manx industry.

The Isle of Man is not part of the UK or theEU. The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy hastaken full advantage of the United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)to establish a 200 NM fishing limit. Russia hashad a unilaterally decalared 200 NM limitmade in the 1990s internationally recognised.Iceland’s own unilaterally declared 200 NMlimit has been recognised (even, eventually, bythe UK) since 1973. The UK has extended itsfishing rights, in certain instances, to 200 NMaround the the Falkland / Malvinas islands.These are just a few examples of how theworld’s oceans are getting carved up.

Ont top of European agreement, the UK,Denmark and the Faeroe Islands have, after

long dispute, drawn up agreement, so how hasthe Isle of Man been so badly abused? Quitesimply, because it has allowed itself to be.Unless the government in the Isle of Manasserts our rights, and lodges them with theUN, the UK will ride rough-shod over ourrights for its own benefit. The UK has alreadybeen found guilty of breaking EEC / EU lawafter unilaterally redefining its fishing limitsin 1987. Even now, despite the facts, DAFF istalking in terms of “how should we manage a12 NM limit?” rather than, “We want ourrights under international law: Control to themedian line.”

Mec Vannin, the Manx Nationalist Party hasalways advocated median line territorialwaters (since a 200 NM limit would go beyondthe median line) and will be making that viewclear in its submission. This should not simplybe to allow its exploitation, but to managethem and mainatin them in line with theKyoto Agreement If the Island’s fisheriesdepartment does not take this opportunity toassert our rights, the only national interest itwill be serving is England’s.

Mark Kermode

Manx Government looks for Full Control over fishing rights

Rebranding Mannin

easy to sell to the government. The populaceis proving a harder task, however, and in anattempt to get support, a fully equipped andfunded mobile display and staff team havebeen going around the various summer fairsand shows that occur around the Island. Thishas included a questionnaire entitled, “Whydo you think the Isle of Man needsbranding/promoting?”

The result has just been published(September 2005) and a brief breakdownfollows:

There was total of 43 responses.

10 of these were from visitors.

Most of the comments followed the line of“We need more advertising / public image”or, “too much emphasis on TT / car rally /finance (delete as appropriate). Thegovernment in the Isle of Man has beenpaying long thousands of pounds to EnglishPR and marketing firms over the past twodecades to address the very concerns of mostof the respondents. The question, therefore,is not what to do but to identify who has beentaking a lot of money to do nothing.

Of course, if all the comments arefollowed, it means that we increase ouradvertising of our total nothingness.

The most telling single comment came

from a person describing themselves as aManufacturing Consultant from Port St.Mary: “I do not see anything which singlesout the IOM from elsewhere - no image!”

I think that the writer has revealedthemselves in that line, since it is implicitthat they mean “elsewhere in England”.

At the end of the day, an image forms itselfand disproportionate efforts to shake off aparticular image can quickly becomedamaging, stereotypical distortions inthemselves. The Island has earned its TTmotorcycle image. It has earned its tax-havenimage. It has earned its shoddy, seen bettertimes, Victorian sea-side resort image.

None of this matters to those behind the re-branding project, of course: The longerpeople run around and subscribe to thisnonsense is the longer they can sit back andlet the money roll in to their own accounts.

Mark Kermode

22 Carn

Celtica

The following Resolutions were adopted.

ALBA

1. This AGM:

� Proposes that the Celtic League generallysupports the aims and objectives ofIndependence First, the Scottishcampaign for a referendum on nationalindependence, and notes that theorganisation is both non-party and trans-party.

� Recognises that the UK has never giventhe people of Alba or Cymru theopportunity to vote in such referenda,contrary to UN self-determinationguidelines.

� Reaffirms its support for Scottishindependence and opposes British movesto hinder its coming about.

2. This AGM:

� Condemns the Scottish FootballAssociation for refusing to put the oldname of the country, “Alba” on thenational strip.

� Recognises that David Taylor, chiefexecutive of the SFA, has publicly voicedhis opposition, but that his attitudes aresymptomatic of more widespread, deep-set prejudices against the language.

� Calls on politicians to intervene in thissituation, and encourages all sympatheticparties, wherever they may be, to lobbythe SFA on this matter.

� Recognises that placing “Alba” on theshirt is a very minor change, with nogreat financial cost, but also a massivegesture from a bastion of popular Scottishculture.

3. This AGM:

� Congratulates the Scottish parliament onpassing the first Scottish Gaelic Act.

� Expresses regret at past inaction byWestminster and Holyrood, but alsohopes that the language be further

consolidated into law and protected fromdiscrimination and neglect.

4. This AGM:

� Demands that Berwick upon Tweed bereintegrated into Scotland.

� Notes that Britain itself recognised thetown’s unique position up until 1885when it was illegally incorporated intoNorthumberland, that Berwickshire isconsidered part of Scotland, the footballteam plays in the Scottish league and thatthe River Tweed falls under Scottish lawfrom end to end.

� Considers Berwick upon Tweed to lieentirely to the north of the Tweed and notto incorporate the neighbouring towns tothe south such as Spittal.

BREIZH

1. This AGM calls on the French governmentto:

� Sign the Charter for Lesser usedLanguages (Karta Europa) and recognisethe Breton language as a workinglanguage in the EU, like Basque, Catalanetc.

� Allow tvbreizh to be on the TNT (TéléNumerique Terrestre) in BZH5 (4 millionsubscribers).

BackgroundTV Breizh is a private TV, like Sky News or

ITV. It has the will to develop news and filmsin Breton as much as they can financially Itis possible to look at it on Canalsat or TPS;as well as on the net. Unfortunately, Bretonpeople behaved like French people andconsidered that TV is for “FREE”.Therefore, the Breton people did not buy theright to watch TV Breizh and the audiencewent down for the Breton programmes...Before being ‘Beljinised’ Rozenn Milin, theformer manager, worked hard to promotethose Breton programmes.

In 2005, there are less and lessprogrammes in Breton. In 2004, TV Breizhworked hard to gain the right to be chosen bythe TV Broadcasting state body (C.S.A.), inorder to be on the TNT (TV NumeriqueTerrestre). That is to say a high qualitysystem using masts, on the land, all over theFrench state. At the end of the day the Bretonpeople must buy a satellite dish to get TVBreizh as well as one hundred channelsinstead of 24 on TNT. Today most of theBreton people think that TV Breizh should beon TNT, in their minds TNT means ‘for free”.That’s wrong. It’s the advertisements whopay the programmes on TF1 and on the otherprivate channels, on TNT. In fact, it does notmake much difference... you have to buy adish!

ÉIRE

1. This AGM congratulates Stádas and theIrish Government on their successfulcampaign in achieving full EU workinglanguage status for Irish.

2. This AGM calls on the BritishGovernment to grant political statusimmediately to the republican prisonersbeing held in prisons in the North ofIreland.

Celtic League AGM 2005

This year’s AGM, hosted by the AlbaBranch, was held in the Gaelic College,Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, on the Isle of Skye.

Rob Gibson, SNPMSP, who gave theintroductory speechat the AGM..

Carn 23

KERNOW

1. This AGM of the Celtic League supportsthe current campaign for Cornish andEnglish signs to be used throughoutKernow and for Breton road signs to beused throughout Breizh.

2. This AGM of the Celtic League supportsthe aim of establishing a CelticEnvironment Council that aims tocampaign, on behalf and in associationwith the Celtic League, in matters thataffect the environment in and around allthe Celtic countries.

BackgroundThe sudden death of forty-four year old PaulSmales in 1990 meant that the recentlyformed Celtic Environment Council (CEC)that Smales was instrumental in formingwent into haemorrhage and quickly died.The CEC was established to consolidate theLeague’s long term ecological involvementin the environmental well being of the Celticcountries.It is the opinion of An Scoren Kernewek thata regeneration of the Celtic EnvironmentCouncil takes place and that it works closelyin association with the Celtic League inforwarding its specific environmental aimsand concerns.For organisational purposes, research intothe how the CRE will now develop will takeplace over the coming months. All thosemembers and readers who are interested ingetting involved and carrying thedevelopment forward, in these crucial firststeps are asked to contact the CornishBranch on celticleaguekernowbranch@hotmail.com

MANNIN

1. This AGM

Mindful of the more open attitudes to therelease of official information by theintroduction of a freedom of information Actin the United Kingdom, urges the Manxgovernment to seize the opportunity that thispresents to obtain greater information aboutincidents / events that have occurred atBritish nuclear installations around the IrishSea in the past five decades.

2. This AGM calls upon the publicauthorities in all the Celtic countries to:

� recognise their duty to protect andpromote their national languages throughthe use of them in signage

� reject the reactionary and discreditedargument that signage is in any wayconfusing

� resist the insidious translation andrenaming into English and French ofplace names

3. This AGM calls on the UK government toforce the BBC to implement itsobligations under the European LanguageCharter and broadcast in the nativelanguages of all the countries it takes feesfrom.

4. This AGM believes that the acceptance ofBritish Imperial Titles is, by definition,incompatible with the notion of furtheringthe culture, history, independence andgovernment within the Celtic countries

ENGLANDGovernments throughout the Celtic countrieshave a duty to provide cheap rented socialaccommodation to local people in theirlocality.

GENERAL SECRETARY

1. This AGM

� expresses its concern at the imprisonmentof five landowners from County Mayobecause of their opposition onenvironmental and safety grounds to theconstruction of a gas pipeline across theirland.

� pledges support to the community ofNorth Mayo to ensure that anydevelopment associated with off-shoregas deposits is safely exploited and is ofbenefit to the local economy.

2. This AGM expresses concern at thefailure of the Manx Government toprovide detention facilities at policestations and prisons that comply withinternational standards.

3. This AGM support calls from politicalleaders and community groups to extendall Irish TV broadcasting to thesubstantial Irish expatriate community inBritain.

4. This AGM

� calls upon the British Government (NIOand MoD) to publish the results of anyland quality assessments undertaken atmilitary facilities (both operational anddisused) in the north of Ireland.

� urges the British Government to carry outfull environmental assessments andremedial work at sites which it isdecommissioning to restore them to theirformer condition.

Celtic ArtChristmas

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All those who agree with the constitutionand aims of the Celtic League are eligiblefor membership. The membership/ subscription rates (including Carn) are: €23.00, Sterling £13.50, Europe (airmail)£17.00, Outside Europe £20.00. US$30.00(US funds, cheques drawn on a US bank).

For information about the Celtic Leaguecontact secretaries:

ALBA. Iain Ramsay, 22 DenholmeGardens, Greenock, PA16 6RF, Scotland

BREIZH Jakez Derouet, 10 Verouri-Nevez, 29700 Ploveilh (Plomelin),Breizh/Brittany.

CYMRU Robat ap Tomos, 11 HeolGordon, Y Rhath, Caerdydd, CF2 3AJ.

ÉIRE Pádraigín Mylevreeshey 33 Céidena Grianóige, Ráth Cúil, Co. ÁthaCliath. Tel- Éire +353 1 4589795

KERNOW Sue Bowen, Venten Lynnow,Trevalgar, Bos Castle, PL35 ORG.

MANNIN Cristl Jerry, 6 Glenfaba Road,Peel. Tel: UK (0) 1624 843869.

ENGLAND BRANCH Florence Kenna,72 Compton Street, London, EC1V 0BN.

USA Margaret Sexton, c/o P.O. Box20153, Dag Hammarshjold PostalCentre, New York, NY 10017.

INTERNATIONAL BRANCH MarkLockerby, 12 Magherdonnag, PonyFields, Port Erin, IM9 6BY, Isle of Man.

GENERAL SECRETARY & P.R.O.Bernard Moffatt, 11 Cleiy Rhennee,Kirk Michael, Mannin.Tel - UK (0) 1624 877918

EDITOR Ms P. Bridson, 33 Céide naGrianóige, Ráth Cúil, Co. Átha Cliath,Éire. E-mail: patriciabridson@eircom.net

Articles for Carn should be e-mailed tothe Editor. Appropriate photographsshould be sent with them.Material for the next issue of Carn shouldreach the Editor no later than 1stNovember 2005. Articles sent forpublication in Carn must relate to ouraims. All materials copyright © Carnunless otherwise stated. The viewsexpressed in Carn are not necessarilythose of the editor or of the Celtic League.

ISSN 0257-7860

Celtic League

Internet Sitehttp://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/

E-mail General Secretary:jb.moffatt@talk.com

E-mail Assistant G.S.macdhiarmuid@manx.net

American Branch Internet Site

www.celticleague.org

International Branch Internet Site

http://homepages,enterprise,net/mlockerby

Email: International Branch Secretary

mlockerby@enterprise.net

24 Carn

Marking over 25 years of publication, the 2006 Celtic Calendar is a specialretrospective edition, featuring thirteen favourite and classic illustrations by elevencontemporary Celtic artists, reaching back through the entire history of theCalendar. Depicting themes from Celtic mythology, each illustration comes with anexplanatory caption.

Keeping with its traditional format, the Celtic Calendar follows the course of theCeltic year, beginning with the feast of Samhain on November 1st, and continuingon to the old Celtic New Year’s Eve on October 31st. The names of the months andthe days of the week are each rendered in one of the six Celtic languages, along withan authentic Celtic proverb. In addition the Calendar commemorates over 1000anniversaries of people and events from the histories of Ireland, Scotland, Wales,Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man. Bonus pages include information about theCeltic feast days and other information, making the Calendar a virtual almanac ofCeltic history and culture.

The Celtic Calendar may be found in gift shops and bookstores or directly from theCeltic League for $10 postpaid per copy: Celtic League Calendar, c/o Tom Cullinan, 14 Whistler Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. Additional information about the CelticLeague and the Celtic Calendar may be found by logging on towww.celticleague.org.

THE CELTIC CALENDAR LOOKS BACK Membershipand

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