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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Flags of the Celtic Nations

We have available each of the Celtic flags in 60 x 90 size as well as other sizes. Please write to: nsestat@gmail.com Ireland/Eire The national flag of Ireland (Irish: bratach na hÉireann) is a vertical tricolour of green white and orange. It has been regarded as the national flag since it was raised above the General Post Office...

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Klask, the Breton language shop, a site that exports the Breton language all over the world

In addition to marketing a multitude of cultural products in Breton, the Karaez site Klask also translates and publishes comics in Brezhoneg, the Breton language.  Klask.com is a commercial site created in 2006 by Tangi Ar Menn to market products in Breton language, be it books, DVDs or even stickers. The site offers for sale on-line 1,350 items. The initiative was born thanks to the founders of the company BZH5, created...

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Cylch yr Iaith claims tourism industry is 'out of control' in Gwynedd

Language campaigners claim the tourism industry in Gwynedd is “out of control” and have urged councillors to take urgent action to address their concerns. Cylch yr Iaith, a Gwynedd-based Welsh language pressure group, have written to all 75 Gwynedd councillors detailing their concerns and calling for a tourism policy which protects the character of local communities and the Welsh language. Group spokesman Howard Huws said they...

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Chance to learn Cornish songs for Christmas events in Liskeard

Cornish language and song sessions started on October 29th in Liyskerrys (Liskeard) as the town prepares for its Nadelik Lyskerrys Cornish Christmas event. The fun and informal workshops at the Albion pub are aimed at beginners and learners, and will continue every Monday from 7pm until the end of November. The sessions are drop-in...

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Anglesey farmer in TV licence protest appeals for broadcasting powers for Wales

William Griffiths had refused to pay his TV licence and argued that London control was a "threat to Welsh democracy". He was given a six months conditional discharge and ordered to pay £220 costs. A rally, organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg was held outside the court building, from 9.30am, before Mr Griffiths was due...

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Language ambassadors part of Scotland’s first Gaelic tourism strategy

Developing a national “Gaelic spoken” badge as well as ambassadors for language are some of the measures in Scotland’s first Gaelic tourism strategy. The five-year plan is aimed at boosting the use Gaelic in the tourism industry, using the language and culture as a “unique selling point” to market to visitors. Among a range of actions...

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The bilingual digital magazine parallel.cymru is celebrating 100,000 page views in its first year

The bilingual digital magazine parallel.cymru is celebrating a successful first year of publication, with 100,000 page views being viewed in that period. Said Neil Rowlands, founder and project manager: "The purpose of parallel.cymru is to make the Welsh language and culture more accessible. This is done by presenting Welsh and English...

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‘Gaelic Education and Language Planning’ Presentation and Scottish Society AGM

The presentation will explain the background to Gaelic Medium Education and discuss some of the current topics and questions surrounding Gaelic education that are of interest. It will also explore some of the academic research and practical difficulties that have been encountered while implementing a Gaelic Language Plan. The Scottish Society AGM will be held on November 17th after the presentation and all CIOL members...

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Rally in Caernarfon: member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith goes to court for refusing to pay for his TV license fee

William Griffiths Court Case: The Campaign for Broadcasting Devolution of Wales. A member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, William Griffiths, goes to court for refusing to pay for his TV license fee as part of the campaign to devolve broadcasting powers for Wales. Bring the rally to support it before its court case:9.30am, Monday, 5th NovemberLlys...

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Next Breton language race scheduled from May 15 to 23, 2020

On Saturday October 27th, in Ti ar Vro, in Karaez(Carhaix), the organizers of the Redadeg, meet in general assembly, and decided the names of the cities of departure and arrival for the next edition of the race in favor of the Breton language, which is to be run from May 15 to 23, 2020. The two lucky ones are: Karaez, for the start,...

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