BBC radio host forced to apologise after an "insulting" tweet suggested Welsh was akin to a foreign language.

Jeremy Vine criticised over attitude to Welsh language. The BBC radio host Jeremy Vine has been criticised after he appeared to suggest people in Wales should speak English instead of their mother tongue. Earlier this year he interviewed a man from Pontypridd in South Wales who'd declared about Welsh: "I don't want to speak it, it's a horrible language. "If you go into any pub in west Wales, or North Wales, they're all there...

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New Chairman for National Centre for Learning Welsh Advisory Board

The National Centre for Learning Welsh is pleased to announce Rheon Tomos has been appointed the new Chairman of the Centre’s Advisory Board. Rheon Tomos will succeed Dr Haydn E Edwards who has chaired the Board for the past three years.  Rheon Tomos is a Chartered Accountant and has worked in both public finance and...

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East Belfast may get Irish-medium school

There are plans to open the first Irish-medium school in east Belfast. A number of organisations are behind the proposal, including the NI Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG). The proposal would involve the creation of a new Irish language nursery and primary school. As the project is in its...

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Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh, New Scottish Gaelic School

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney MSP officially opened Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh in September. Support given to Highland Council by the Scottish Government was key to making it happen but without the persistence of parents over the past ten years it is unlikely that there would have been a school. We are looking forward to seeing...

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€2.7 million funding announced for An tAcadamh, NUI Galway’s Irish Language School

€2.7 million in funding has been allocated to NUI Galway’s Irish Language Academy, An tAcadamh. The allocation will provide €900,000 per year for three academic years, commencing with the 2018/19 academic year. Speaking from the Acadamh in An Cheathrú Rua, Minister Sean Kyne, said he was delighted to announce the funding of 2.7 million.  “The funding is guided by a service level agreement between my department, the Department...

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Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg tells Starbucks to ‘Respect the Welsh language’

Members of the Pantycelyn group of Cymdeithas yr Iaith gathered outside Aberystwyth Starbucks on Friday (April 29) calling on the company to respect the Welsh language. The action followed an allegation by star soprano Gwawr Edwards that she overheard a member of Starbucks staff told a customer to ‘Speak English or get out’. The company...

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New £7.4million home for Welsh primary school planned for Barry

Vale of Glamorgan Council's cabinet approved plans on December 17 to consult on moving Ysgol St Baruc to a new building in Barry Waterfront. It would mean the capacity of the Welsh medium school would expand from 210 places to 420 places, and it would also have 96 nursery places. The public consultation will run from January 8 to February 22. Councillor John Thomas, leader of the council, said in a statement: “Welsh medium...

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An Comunn Gàidhealach: John Macleod Memorial Lecture to take place on Thursday 24 January 2019

In his opening address at the 2018 Royal National Mòd in Dunoon, Allan Campbell (President of An Comunn Gàidhealach) remarked upon the passing of the late John Macleod, who was president of An Comunn Gàidhealach for ten years, reiterating the appreciation for everything that John did as president, and for Gaelic in general. He revealed...

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"Support for the Cornish language is growing"

“Support for the Cornish language is growing” says the new Grand Bard of Cornwall. Communique from Gorsedh Kernow – The Celtic spirit of Cornwall – in its 90th anniversary year “This is one of my first duties as the new Grand Bard of Cornwall,” said Elizabeth Carne, Melennek, as she prepared to present graduation certificates to successful candidates of the Cornish language, Kernewek at Lys Kernow (Cornwall Council Offices)...

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Irish Language GCSE entries falling 30 % in Northern Ireland

The number of pupils taking Irish GCSE exams is falling at a time when the sector is growing rapidly. Gael Linn, the national organisation that works to foster and promote Irish, said languages need to become an essential part of the curriculum again. The group carried out an analysis of the numbers choosing Irish at GCSE from 2007 to 2018. The findings were "a cause of deep concern", it said. In 2007, there were 2,710 pupils...

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Skye MSP urges Scottish Gaelic safeguard

The first female MSP to make a plenary address in the Scottish Parliament chamber in Gaelic has warned the language’s future will only be secured for the next generation if all speakers step up their efforts. Skye MSP Kate Forbes believes more Gaelic speakers should be using the language ‘loudly and noticeably’ in the public square. Delivering ...

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Joint Statement by Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Cornish organisations

The European Language Equality Network (ELEN) with its Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Cornish member organisations, has issued a joint statement over the potentially disastrous effect of Brexit on the Celtic languages and are calling on the UK and devolved governments to remain in the EU. In the statement the organisations outline the benefits...

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Mebyon Kernow upset over no Cornish tickbox in 2021 census

It has its own flag, language (Kernowek) and unique culture – but it looks as though residents of Cornwall will once again miss out on being able to declare their identity at the next census. The leader of Mebyon Kernow has condemned the publication of a Government White Paper about the 2021 census, which states it does not support...

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Diwan School Christmas Market attracts more than 700 people

The fifteenth edition of the Diwan School Christmas Market attracted more than 700 people on December 9th. Attendance markedly up this year. Organized by the support committee of Diwan School (Kuzul Skoazell Skol Diwan Karaez), the Christmas market is still a highly anticipated moment of the calendar. "Everything has been sold," says Roxanne...

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Armagh representatives lobby Westminster parties on Irish Language Act

Representatives from Cairde Teo, the Irish language cooperative based in Armagh City, joined advocacy organisations Gael Linn and POBAL in London last week to raise the issue of the Irish Language Act with MPs from a wide range of parties at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Gearóid Ó Machail, said: “We had a warm and enthusiastic welcome at meetings with MPs from the SNP, Plaid Cymru, Labour and Conservative parties...

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Ai'ta! denounces the installation of non-bilingual road signs

In a communique, the Ai'ta collective for the defense and promotion of the Breton language, denounces the recent installation of non-bilingual road signs contrary to the commitment made by the French government last Marc...

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QUBSU referendum votes in favour of a new Irish-Language Officer

Total Votes: 1488 Ar son • In favour: 1137 (76.44%) In éadan • Against: 334 (22.46%) Abstentions: 16 (1.10%) Belfast Queen’s University students voted in favour of Irish Language and Trans officers in a campus-wide referendum. The referendum results are a welcome step forward in recognising the role that Irish speakers and Trans citizens...

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‘Gwenwyn’ by the band Alffa is the first Welsh language song to hit one million plays on Spotify

A rock duo have become the first to score one million plays with a Welsh language song on the streaming service Spotify. Alffa released 'Gwenwyn' - Poison - in July, when it was picked-up and put on influential Spotify playlists. The band said the milestone was "nuts", with their song being streamed from Brazil to Australia. "We weren't...

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€3 million being allocated for the Investment Plan for the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht

Although Conradh na Gaeilge welcomes the additional funding being made available in this year’s Budget, with approximately €3 million being allocated to some aspects of the Investment Plan for the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht agreed by 90 Irish language and Gaeltacht groups, this increase does not provide fairness for the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities. It is positive that there will be additional capital funding...

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Young Scottish Gaelic speakers relatively stable

The report 'Young People and the Highlands and Islands: Maximising Opportunities' presents the findings of a wide-ranging study focused on the changing attitudes and aspirations of young people aged 15-30 in relation to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The study builds on previous research undertaken in 2015, exploring how opportunities around education, training and employment can be maximised for all young people. A total...

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Cymdeithas yr Iaith welcome appointment of new Welsh language commissioner Aled Roberts

Osian Rhys, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith said that they congratulated Aled Roberts on his appointment to the “vital” role.  ” The Commissioner model has shown its value internationally as a way of protecting other languages, and is succeeding in Wales in various sectors, including the Childrens’ and Older People’s Commissioners,”...

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The Cooish 2018: Helping people to learn to speak Manx

On November 17th and 18th the Cooish, a festival to celebrate and promote the Manx language, took place, and featured a variety of public events and workshops designed to help people use Manx Gaelic in every day life. Adrian Cain, the Manx Language officer from Culture Vannin, helped to organise the festival. The last couple of weeks...

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Cymdeithas campaigners slap stickers on road signs in protest at lack of translation

According to Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, there are hundreds of give way signs in the county which are only written in English. Over the weekend, the group chose to place stickers with the Welsh translation ‘Ildiwch’ on some of them in order to draw attention to the issue. It comes as politicians prepare to discuss a damning report by...

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Kuzul ar Brezhoneg (Breton Language Council) new HQ

Kuzul ar Brezhoneg (Breton Language Council) opened new headquarters in Lannuon last November 29th. The Council is formed by 19 associations as Al Lanv, Al Liamm, Hor Yezh, KEAV or Skol Ober.  They are centered in edition, education and interceltic links. The Council was formed in 1959. ...

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Council under fire over inaccurate Welsh language signs in Wrexham

The Welsh Language Commissioner launched an investigation into the authority after receiving 14 complaints from members of the public. They included concerns over signs which were only in English on the doors of the former People’s Market and Welsh text being displayed underneath English on a sign below a Christmas tree in Wrexham. Meri Huws has now taken enforcement action to ensure that any text displayed on signs that...

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Collection seeks Irish language speakers in America

Dr. Séamus Dillon of Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford, Ireland, intends to create a repository of memories, experience(s), interaction etc. with spoken Irish in America. He believes that it is important that these are preserved and protected for future generations and research with the information adding to our understanding of the history of spoken Irish in America and spoken Irish in America...

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"Manx is far from dead"

I should make it clear from the outset, I am by no means a natural linguist - I’m hard of hearing and I don’t practice as often as I could. I therefore owe a debt of gratitude to those who have enabled me to acquire a little Manx. Growing up I gradually became aware of how many vestigial Manx words were still in use in...

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Council under fire over inaccurate Welsh language signs in Wrexham

The Welsh Language Commissioner launched an investigation into the authority after receiving 14 complaints from members of the public. They included concerns over signs which were only in English on the doors of the former People’s Market and Welsh text being displayed underneath English on a sign below a Christmas tree in Wrexham. Meri Huws has now taken enforcement action to ensure that any text displayed on signs that...

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Ulster University to introduce Irish language signs at Students' Union

The proposal was given the go-ahead at a meeting of Ulster University's Students' Council on Tuesday. The Ulster University has four campuses, one in Belfast, Coleraine, Jordanstown and Londonderry. Each location has their own students' union. Sinn Fein Senator Niall O Donnghaile said that he wanted to commend the union for their decision. “This is a positive step forward and reflective of the growing interest in and demand...

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Virgin Trains under fire after saying Welsh language announcements ‘not fair

Virgin Trains have come under fire after saying that it would “not be fair” on other languages to provide announcements in Welsh on trains operating in Wales. A passenger had complained that there were no bilingual announcements during a train journey from Holyhead to Chester. “I’m afraid we are unable to provide announcements in all other languages, so as Welsh speakers can speak English too, English is the most suitable,”...

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Manx Gaelic lessons offered to all students

All government run schools on the Isle of Man offer lessons in Manx Gaelic. That’s according to the Education, Sport and Culture Minister who says they’re available from Key Stage 2 onwards. Graham Cregeen was quizzed on the topic by Garff MHK Daphne Caine who wanted to know more about the Manx language. In a written Tynwald question...

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Actor Matthew Rhys on why he speaks only in Welsh to his son

Actor Matthew Rhys says he speaks only in Welsh to his US-born young son in the hope he will understand the language for life. Cardiff-born Rhys, 44, who lives in New York with his family, joked he plans to "force" him to embrace Welsh culture. He and partner Keri Russell had Sam, two, after meeting on the set of The Americans in 2013. "I speak to him solely in Welsh," he told the Radio Times. "He can answer and understand at...

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50 associations claim that if the Breton Government does not double its budget devoted to Breton in 2019, the language is doomed to disappear

Fifty associations* have just sent a joint open letter to the President of the Brittany Region. For them, if the local authority does not double its budget devoted to Breton in 2019, the language is doomed to disappear. It is a cry of alarm addressed to Loïg Chesnais-Girard by fifty associations working for the Breton language. A cry of...

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Breton Language relay race fund several projects with 124,000 € collected

On Saturday, November 10th, in Ti ar vro, in Gwengamp/Guingamp, the official presentation of funding for projects in favor of the Breton language of Redadeg took place. The Redadeg is the relay race that crosses Brittany to promote the transmission of the Breton language and participates in the editing of many projects around the Breton...

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Duaisean na Gàidhlig – The Scottish Gaelic Awards 2018

SCILT’s Gaelic Professional Development Officer Eòghan Stewart was amongst a range of winners at Duaisean na Gàidhlig – The Scottish Gaelic Awards 2018 at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Wednesday 14th November. Eòghan was awarded the prize for Innovation in Education, thanks to his involvement in Gaelic Learners’ resource Gàidhlig...

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French court finally accepts Breton language name Fañch

A Roazhon / Rennes French court recognized yesterday the Breton name Fañch. It is a success for Breton movement after legal battle where the name was declared as threatening the unity of the state. ...

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1st edition of the Breton Cultural Week from 19 to 24 November

From 19 to 24 November, the Université Bretagne Sud (UBS), in partnership with the association Emglev Bro an Oriant, organizes the first edition of the Breton Cultural Week to discover or rediscover the cultural wealth of the region. On this occasion, a fest-noz is held on Thursday, November 22 from 7 pm, Docks 1 and 2 at Pier 9 in Lanester....

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Manx Gaelic Language festival to take place this weekend

A wide range of events are being held this weekend, to practice, promote and celebrate Manx Gaelic. The 'Cooish' language festival seeks to provide speakers of all ability levels the opportunity to explore Manx in a relaxed, fun environment. First up is 'Bee ec Greens' - a gentle introduction to the weekend with an informal...

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Thousands take part in Irish speaking marathon

Over 32,000 students took part in the annual #Gaeilge24 challenge today. Students in 340 schools across the country as well as participating groups abroad will take part in Conradh na Gaeilge’s annual challenge in which participants are encouraged to speak Irish for 24 hours. “Gaeilge24 encourages a positive mindset towards the language...

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'Irish Gaelic Language, Resistance and Revival'

Dr. Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh's 'Language, Resistance and Revival' tells the untold story of the groundbreaking linguistic and educational developments that took place among Republican prisoners in Long Kesh prison between 1972-2000. During a period of often bitter struggle between Republican prisoners and the British state, the Irish language was taught and spoken as a form of resistance during periods of imprisonment...

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Irish language officer appointed for Múscraí Gaeltacht

An Irish language planning officer has been appointed for the Múscraí Gaeltacht in a bid to increase the level of Irish spoken daily in the Mid-Cork region. Rosaí McCarthy will take up a three-year contract within weeks. She was previously the language planning coordinator for local development cooperative Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí in 2016-17, and was responsible for putting together the area’s language plan, which...

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Barristers warn police over Welsh language 'obligations'

Police must not 'shirk their obligations' to offer Welsh language legal interviews, barristers have said. Standards imposed by the Welsh Language Commissioner include a duty to provide a simultaneous translation service if an interview cannot be conducted in Welsh. Chief constables in Wales have complained this requirement is 'unreasonable and disproportionate'. The Bar Council said police objections "do not stack up". Currently ...

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The Irish language has been reinvigorated as young, secular and accessible

My name is Darach Ó Séaghdha. Don’t let the surname scare you– the gh is silent. So is the dh. However, the Sé has an invisible h tucked in there. It sounds like O’Shay, really. So how did this happen to me? Well, my parents were, like so many people in south Dublin in the 1970s, very interested in the Irish language and they blessed us all with Irish names. I didn’t care for it much as a child and even less as a teenager; ...

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