'Dismissal' of Manx Gaelic on coastal path markers 'embarrassing'

The prominence of English on new markers for the Isle of Man's coastal footpath is "embarrassing", a Manx Gaelic language officer has said. Culture Vannin's Adrian Cain said the translation of the name Raad Ny Foillan "dismissed" the importance of Manx Gaelic to the island's heritage.
Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly said the design would be "corrected" to make Manx Gaelic "dominant".
The 100 mile (160km) trail around the island's coastline was created in 1986.
New granite start-markers engraved with the words "Way of the Gull" - an English translation of the footpath's name Raad Ny Foillan - are being installed at four locations.
The £20,000 project will see the structures erected at Port Erin, Onchan, Ramsey and Peel.

Mr Cain said he was concerned the English translation would erode the Manx Gaelic name.
"The danger is that if you have it in both Manx and English there's a good chance over a period of time people will just start adopting the English.
"I thought the department was trying to make more of culture, heritage, language and identity as a way to attract people. Why therefore try to downplay it?"
Mr Skelly said the markers had been commissioned "as part of the wider promotion of the island" as a "walking tourism destination".
He said the Department for Enterprise "fully recognised" that the coastal pathway had originally been established to promote "a walk around our coast and also our language", adding: "Manx Gaelic will be dominant in the future."
The first marker, which has been installed at Port Erin, would be "corrected", and the remaining three would feature the new design, he added.

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Scottish Gaelic finally available on Duolingo, for free

It’s time to see Scotland in full colour. Scottish Gaelic is now available on Duolingo, for free. Download Duolingo for iOS or Android, or visit https://duolingo.com/enroll/gd/en/Learn-Scottish%20Gaelic

Learn something new in just 5 minutes a day and share with your friends

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Demonstration in Paris to defend the teaching of Breton and other lesser used languages

About a thousand people gathered yesterday Saturday, November 30, 2019, in Paris, in front the Ministry of Education. Coming from Brittany, Corsica, Occitania, Alsace, the Basque Country, Northern Catalonia ... The demonstration against the reform of high school and baccalaureate implemented last September by Minister Blanquer and who weakens the learning of the languages of the countries.

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Breton language movement win a huge victory: students can take two baccalaureate exams in Breton

While traveling in Finistère, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer announces that high school students can take two baccalaureate exams in Breton. This is particularly the case of math as claimed by the students of Diwan high school Karaez.

"I answer them that there are two possible subjects in Breton, explains the Minister of Education, and that it can be the mathematics even if it is a little particular you will recognize it because it is a language a little universal Normally you can pass it almost in any language, even if sometimes you have to make some comments, so we have been flexible on this subject saying again that it is possible to pass two tests in Breton. "

Link to the students movement Bak e Brezhoneg

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Campaign to request Kernewek to be added in facebook

Facebook help system and found a link to where you can request a new language be added to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/106059432853074

Please consider clicking this link and requesting that "Kernewek" be added to Facebook. There is a little box to write a reason in which you might want to mention the growing community of speakers or the protected minority status of Cornwall or what have you.
It may not do anything, but if enough people do it, it just might. It certainly can't hurt to try.

Please also share this post or the link and ask your friends, whether Cornish or not, to do the same! The more people that ask, the more likely we're listened to. Meur ras.

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Parents ‘being disenfranchised’ by new Irish language schools

The decision to designate two new primary schools in Dublin as Gaelscoileanna “disenfranchises parents” and “provides less choice,” the largest multidenominational patron body has said.
The Department of Education announced on Tuesday that it was seeking expressions of interest from patron bodies to run four new primary schools opening over the next two years.
The schools are Carrigaline in Co Cork; Donabate in north Dublin; and Saggart/Citywest and Sallynoggin/Cherrywood, both in south Dublin. The department said the schools in Donabate and Saggart/Citywest would be taught in the Irish language because there are no Gaelscoileanna in those immediate areas.

By other side a Dundalk school is at the centre of a row over the withdrawal of Irish language-taught subjects have threatened legal action after accusing staff of trying to silence their concerns after the board of management was ‘reconstituted’. 
Coláiste Lú, an aonad at English-medium school Coláiste Chú Chulainn, has already seen walkouts from pupils over a decision to reduce the number of subjects taught through Irish.
An aonad caters for students who wish to be educated mainly through Irish in areas where it is not feasible to have a stand-alone Irish medium secondary school.
Now, parents say that the school, which is run by principal Thomas Sharkey, is trying to deprive them of a voice on school governance by “re-constituting” the Board of Management.
The current board met first in 2016 and is now due to be re-organised, meaning new nominations must be made.
However, when the nomination form, seen by TheJournal.ie, was sent out to parents on 18 October it asked people to nominate two parents or guardians “to the Board of Management of Cólaiste Chú Chulainn one male and one female”.
It did not specify that there would be one representative for each part of the school – the English-language main school and the Irish-speaking aonad.
The constitution of the Coláiste Lú Parents Association, which was adopted in 2013, states that the association will have “one parent representative on the Board of Management; their brief is to reflect the opinions of all parents at board meetings and to report the views of the board as appropriate”.
To parents, who have organised in response to what they say is an ongoing threat to the future of Coláiste Lú, this is an attempt to remove their voice from the board.
In a statement, the parents council said:

The Principal, acting as secretary to the Board of Management sent out a letter to all parents of the school advising of appointment of new parents representatives using procedures that he had devised which ignored the criteria in the Constitution.

A legal letter, sent on behalf of the Coláiste Lú Parents Council to the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board and seen by TheJournal.ie, warns that “unless our client is afforded its legal right in this regard it seems unavoidable that litigation will follow”.
Sharkey declined to comment when contacted by TheJournal.ie. The Louth and Meath Education and Training Board did not respond to a request for comment.
“We get the sense that there is an ulterior agenda,” Aidan Kinsella, the secretary of the parents’ council, said.
Parents have long been concerned that the school is slowly moving away from its commitment to the aonad and the Irish language.

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Rally in Paris to save lesser used languages in the French State

On November 30, the associations of defense and promotion of the regional languages ​​of France (Alsace, Brittany, Basque Country, Corsica, Occitania, Catalonia and abroad ...) organize a demonstration (peaceful) in front of the Ministry of the National education that, by means of a recent reform, endangers the teaching of these languages.

In addition to the event that we invite you to participate, you can also sign the petition. An appointment is made at 11 o'clock in front of Sainte-Clotilde church 23 B rue Las Cases Paris 7.
The Collectif Pour Que Vivent Nos Langues ​​sent this petition addressed to Jean-Michel Blanquer (Minister of National Education)


The languages ​​are Occitan-langue d'oc, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Choirs, Flamenco, Standard German and Alsatian dialect, Savoyard (Arpitan / francoprovençal), Languages ​​of Oli, Creoles and Indigenous Languages ​​of Overseas Territories. All resist, in France, not to disappear because they appear in the inventory of "languages ​​in danger of extinction" established by Unesco. Despite the global impetus for natural biodiversity and cultural biodiversity, finally, it can be considered and preserved, despite the international texts that govern human rights and the rights of peoples, the French State, despite multiple convictions on the part of the The UN continues its work destroying the millennium of the intangible heritage that are our languages ​​and our cultures.

In the point of weakness that has come today, the educational situation, an essential vector of the transmission and vitality of our languages, is emblematic of this evil will. The law states that "the languages ​​and regional cultures belonging to the heritage of France, their education is favored ...". We note that not only is this law and conventions signed by the state respected, but that the various forms of education (optional, bilingual and immersive) are undermined by the politics of the current Minister of Education. National education Jean-Michel Blanquer. Even more than its predecessors, its policy leads to accelerating the decline of our languages, as demonstrated by its recent reform of the baccalaureate and its declarations to the Senate on May 21 against immersion education. Attacks against the teaching of these languages ​​are numerous.


The reform of secondary education and the organization of the baccalaureate has terrible consequences for all regional language flows, as evidenced by the ups and downs that show a dramatic drop in the number of students enrolled in regional languages.


Aliance Culturèla Arpitana ;
Association Alsace - Jùnge Fer's Elsàssische (AJFE) ;
Association des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes (APLV) ;
Association des Enseignants de Gallo ;
Association des Enseignants de Savoyard / Francoprovençal ;
Association des Parents d'élèves de l'Enseignement Public en Alsace (APEPA) ;
Association pour l’Enseignement de la Langue d'Oc Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (AELOC/FELCO) ;
Association pour le Bilinguisme en Classe dès la Maternelle - A.B.C.M. Zweisprachigkeit ;
Association pour le bilinguisme français-occitan dans l’enseignement public (ÒC-BI) ;
Association des Professeurs de Langue Bretonne dans l'enseignement public en Île de France (APLB KBDP) ;
Associu di l'Insignanti di/in Lingua è Cultura Corsa ;
Bak e Brezhoneg, lycéens Diwan Carhaix ;
Bressola ;
Centre Régional des Enseignants d'Occitan (CREO/FELCO) de l'académie de Toulouse ;
Centre Régional des Enseignants d'Occitan (CREO/FELCO) Lengadòc ;
Confederacion Calandreta ;
Congrès permanent de la langue occitane ;
Conseil International du Francoprovençal ;
Div yezh Breizh ;
Diwan ;
European language Equality Network (ELEN) – Réseau Européen pour l'Égalité des Langues ;
Eltern Alsace, Association des parents d'élèves de l'enseignement bilingue ;
Eskolim, Fédération des réseaux d’écoles associatives laïques immersives ;
Esquiròt ;
Euskal Konfederazioa ;
Fédération Alsace bilingue - Verband zweisprachiges Elsass
Fédération des Enseignants de Langue et Culture d'Oc (FELCO) ;
Fédération pour les langues régionales dans l'enseignement public (FLAREP) ;
Felibrige ;
Fonds International pour la Langue Alsacienne ;
Forum d'Oc ;
K.L.T. (Kerne - Leon - Treger), fédération des associations bretonnes du Pays de Morlaix ;
Institut d'Estudis Occitans ;
Kelennomp !, Association des enseignants de et en langue bretonne ;
Kevre Breizh, Coordination des associations culturelles de Bretagne ;
Mission Bretonne d'Île de France ; Ti Ar Vretoned
Parlemu Corsu ;
Practicalingua ;
Seaska ;

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A new Irish language project aims to enable Irish versions of Siri, Alexa and more by recording people speaking their native tongue

'Míle Glór’, a thousand voices, is an initiative from Irish Language technology project, ‘Abair.ie’, which is aiming to record 1,000 people speaking Irish.
The recording, which will be taken from people of all ages and dialects, both in gaeltachts and outside of them, will be used to develop Irish language versions of services such as virtual assistants ‘Siri’ and ‘Alexa’.

The project was launched at the Oireachtas na Gaeilge festival by Minister of State for Irish Seán Kyne, who said that it will help ensure that Irish speakers have options for tech services “not just here at home but across the world”.
The Abhair.ie team, based in Trinity College, will be producing the data needed to enable virtual assistants and other voice responsive tech and services to use the Irish Language.
Such tech is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in everything from our phones to smart homes, at work to recording messages and email, to conducting web searches and getting directions in the car.
The work of Abhair.ie is supported by the the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht which has provided funding of €235,000 to support the project.

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A new online course to learn Manx Gaelic

Manx Gaelic is the latest online language course being launched by a team aiming to revolutionise the way we learn languages.

Glossika, a team of linguists and polyglots based in Taiwan, is dedicated to achieving fluency in a new language through a ’natural immersion self-training method’.

Adrian Cain, the Manx language development officer for Culture Vannin said: ’This is a fantastic addition to the already substantial body of on-line material available for the learner of Manx.


’It is also great that Glossika are providing the course free to learners as a way of supporting minority languages. This will be of long-term benefit to the language and culture of the island.’
The Glossika team has already analysed and launched over 60 of the most widely spoken languages from around the world and now in a joint project with Aberdeen University and Culture Vannin has made the course available in Manx.
The course, which consists of more than 3,000 sentences that increase in difficulty according to the needs of the learner, can be accessed free from Glossika at https://ai.glossika.com/language/learn-manx

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Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg meeting in support for Welsh-only name for National Assembly

A protest in support of a Welsh-only name for the Senedd has been held in Cardiff Bay.
Assembly Members rejected the motion last month, voting to give Welsh Parliament a bilingual name, but the final vote will be held next week.
Campaigners Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg said giving the Senedd a Welsh-only name would "send a message about its status" in Wales. As David Williams explained:

It’s a question about the Welsh language’s place in public life. Over recent years, we have seen more and more attacks on the use of the language, partly because of the rise of the far right. Far too many people argue or accept that using Welsh is not normal or inclusive.
We believe ‘Senedd’ is a name that can unite us all, and it’s clear that the people of Wales strongly support that too. If we can all say “Dáil” or “Bundestag” without the need for an official English name, why can’t we do the same with Senedd? We call on our politicians to show confidence in our unique language, confidence in Wales and all its people – whether they speak Welsh or not.

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Yeth an Werin ha Myttin coffi, Lowenac, Cambron

It’s that time again, when we will be meeting to speak Cornish and drink coffee together. Fluent speakers and learners are welcome alike. There will be cards and board games. We’ll be meeting from 10.30, in the morning of course! until 1.30 p.m. The room is free and unlimited coffee is £2.50 per person. The car park is free. And every second Saturday each month going forward. 9/11/19
Sewena dhywgh why oll / and success to you all.

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Cooish celebrates the Manx language

The Cooish Manx Language Festival sees a number of events over two day that enables people to enjoy and use Manx Gaelic.

The last few years have seen a dramatic increase in interest towards the language and throughout the year there are events where both young and old can use some Manx.

The Cooish provides an ideal opportunity for everyone to engage with, speak a little (or a lot of) Manx and find out more about this remarkable cultural asset that we have in the Isle of Man.
Supported by Culture Vannin and Jeebin - The Manx Language Network - activities include a pop-up Gaeltagh at Marks and Spencer today (Friday) where people can drop in for a coffee and Gaelg.
The afternoon will see Mini Musicians holding a free session teaching Manx songs for children at Henry Bloom Noble Library, in Douglas, from 2pm-3pm.
There will be a lecture that evening at the Bunscoill Gaelgagh, in St John’s delivered by the Greinneyder.
And there will be a coffee morning at St John’s Methodist Hall tomorrow (Saturday) from 10.30am which will provide an opportunity for all to find out more about the language.
A wide range of organisations including Mooinjer Veggey, Yn Ã?heshaght Ghailckagh, Pobble and Culture Vannin will be available that morning to discuss what is available on the language front.
Find out about the advantages of bilingualism, sign up for classes, buy some books and discover how to improve your language skills.
The weekend will finish with a concert at Peel Sailing & Cruise Club on Saturday night hosted by Yn Chruinnaght.
The events provide an excellent opportunity to learn, speak and most importantly enjoy this great cultural asset.
More information can be found at www.learnmanx.com or on the Cooish and Learn Manx Facebook pages.
For more details contact Adrian Cain, Manx language development officer for Culture Vannin on 451098.

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1,000 bottles of cider for the Breton language schools

The Kuzul association has collected in the Aree Mountains a ton and a half of apples. The movement for the Breton language of Kommana will prepare a thousand bottles of cider to finance the language immersion schools in Brittany. Every bottle has a price of 2,5 €. 

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Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg Rally: Welsh-only name for Senedd

12pm, Saturday, 9/11/19
The Senedd, Cardiff Bay
Bethan Ruth Roberts, Jolyon Maugham QC and others

Come to call on our politicians to listen to the voice of the people who want a Welsh-only name for our Senedd ahead of a vote on changing the name. The name ‘Senedd’ is already used widely by people, whether they speak Welsh or not.

This is a chance to send a message to our politicians that the Welsh language is inclusive and belongs to us all, from every background. We celebrate and support everything that’s in Welsh only - like our national anthem - and we wish to see more and more of them.

Bring your own banner with ‘Senedd’ on it.

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Language app sees rise by a third in just a year

The number of users learning Welsh on one language app has risen by a third in just a year.

Duolingo said about 38,600 people in the UK used its Welsh course in September, a 34% rise on 28,600 users in the same period in 2018.
Another online tool, Say Something in Welsh, estimated it has up to 60,000 regular users of its website.
The Welsh Language Commissioner said the apps "offer an alternative way of learning the language".
The Welsh Government aims to get one million people speaking Welsh by 2050.
Anecdotal evidence has also suggested more and more people are using Duolingo outside of the UK.

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Redadeg, race for the promotion of the Breton language, will take place from May 15 to 23, 2020

The Redadeg, race for the promotion of the Breton language, will take place from May 15 to 23, 2020, 2,020 km between Guingamp and Carhaix. This event which takes place every two years, passes in the five Breton departments, on more than three hundred communes. This race takes place in relay, with a passage of a witness, which symbolizes the sharing and the transmission of the Breton language, between the generations, kilometer after kilometer. It is a moment of celebration, sharing and friendship to live together, and an opportunity to show your pride in being Breton, and an opportunity to contribute to the financing of projects that will advance the use of the Breton language, in Brittany.

€ 647,000 redistributed since 2008

In six editions, no less than € 647,000 were distributed: 50% for Diwan schools and 50% for projects for the development of Breton culture. The goal for the 2020 edition is to raise € 130,000. In the Trégor, four courses are scheduled: Saturday, May 16, Plounévez-Moëdec - Ploézal and Ploézal - Louannec and Sunday, May 17, Louannec - Plestin-les-Grèves, and Plestin-les-Grèves - Morlaix. To participate in this popular event, it is possible to buy kilometers, for 250 euros, for municipalities with less than 3,000 inhabitants, and 350 euros for municipalities with more than 3,500 inhabitants.

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More primary pupils than ever being taught through Irish

The number of pupils being taught through Irish at primary school reached record high levels in the recent academic year.


New figures published by the Department of Education show that almost one in 12 schoolchildren at primary level is receiving their education through Irish.

This has risen steadily from 6.4pc of primary pupils in 2000 to 8.1pc in 2018-19.

A total of 45,278 students across 247 primary schools were taught through the medium of Irish in the recent school year - an annual increase of 1.5pc.

The majority of schools - at 147, with almost 38,000 pupils - are outside Gaeltacht areas.

However, the figures show there is wide variation in the proportion of students being educated through Irish.

The highest rate is in Galway city, where almost a quarter of all primary schoolchildren are taught through Irish.

Other areas with rates over 10pc include Cork city and county, Galway county, Donegal and Monaghan.

In contrast, Cavan has the lowest rate at less than 1pc of pupils, with only one school in the county offering classes through Irish.

Only one Gaelscoil is available in counties Roscommon, Sligo, Laois, Longford, Kilkenny and Carlow.

An Foras Pátrúnachta, the largest patron of Gaelscoileanna, has welcomed the recent initiative announced by Education Minister Joe McHugh to increase access to Irish-medium education.

Under the new system, a new school being established in an area with a growing population will be a Gaelscoil if there is no existing one.

In addition, at least one school will provide education through Irish where a number of new schools are being established in the same school planning area.

Other measures include a pilot on delivering two eight classroom schools, one in English and one in Irish, in a shared building rather than one 16-classroom school, and an opportunity for the patrons of schools to change their language of instruction from English to Irish.

An Foras Pátrúnachta's general secretary Caoimhín Ó hEaghra, said the changes represented a process for addressing "an imbalance" in the provision of Irish-medium education.

The patron body said a pilot system where parents indicated their choice of ethos and language of instruction of new primary schools showed 26pc on average favoured a school providing classes through Irish.

"These steps will result in supply better meeting demand and moving away from a situation where less than 5pc of primary schools are Gaelscoileanna," Mr Ó hEaghra said.

However, he said many students still had difficulty in continuing their education through Irish after leaving primary school.
Source

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Welsh Language Society meeting in Ceredigion to highlight housing issue

Campaigners from Cornwall, Wales and Scotland will meet in Ceredigion next month to discuss tackling the house price crisis, with special attention given to how holiday homes threaten the Welsh language.

In Ceredigion, house prices are more than seven times average wages. Last year, 39% of the homes sold in nearby Gwynedd were either holiday homes or ‘buy to let’ – a rise of 34% from the previous year.

Following a campaign by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, councils were given the right to raise the level of council tax on second homes, and many of them have since increased the tax over the last two years.
In St Ives in Cornwall around a quarter of all homes are second homes. Following a referendum three years ago, a new rule was introduced that means no new homes can be bought as second homes.
Cllr Loveday Jenkin from Cornwall Council and architect Màrtainn Mac a'Bhàillidh from a language group in Scotland will be among the speakers at a discussion in Aberystwyth about housing organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith.
It will be held in Canolfan y Morlan on Saturday, October 12 (2pm) and Robat Idris from Cymdeithas yr Iaith said: “More and more people are finding it difficult to live in their local area. In turn, that undermines community life, our towns and our villages and the Welsh language.
“We need a property system which ensures that house prices reflect what local people can afford. That’s why we’ve decided that housing, including holiday homes, will be the main focus of our annual general meeting.
“We hope to bring speakers together from various countries in order to discuss what we can do differently. Some policies in Porth Ia (St Ives) in Cornwall offer an answer to the problems, with restrictions on second homes.
“But we need to consider other measures in order to bring prices down. One possible answer is to normalise houses as a public service in public hands rather than a private asset. Bringing the right to buy to an end was a step in the right direction, but how do we bring the present private housing stock back into the hands of local communities?
“It also needs to be realised that unaffordable houses are only part of the reason for the patterns of out-migration and in-migration that are undermining the language in our communities.
“Our ‘Gwaith i Adfywio Iaith’ (Work to Renew a Language) policies which we published last year offer some simple measures to get to grips with the economic challenges, including recommending establishing local banks with the support of local councils and their pension funds; a tourism levy to support investment in broadband access in every part of the country; abolishing tuition fees for students who stay to study in Wales; devolving hundreds of jobs out of Cardiff; and establishing training colleges for health workers and vets in Aberystwyth and Bangor.”

Link to the event

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A unique Manx recording from 1974 emerges from an attic in the Netherlands

‘The Mona Douglas Manx Ceili’ is a very important recording of Manx music and song which has just been released online thanks to a Dutch visitor to the Island 45 years ago.
The recordings were made in the home of Mona Douglas, one of the most important figures in the revival of Manx culture in the 20th Century. Culture Vannin have released the audio recordings to mark the anniversary of Mona Douglas’ birth on 18 September 1898.
When Dutch journalist, Wieky Beens, visited the Isle of Man in 1974 she was fortunate to meet the 75-year-old Mona Douglas. At the conclusion of her visit Wieky was invited to an evening of Manx music, song and dance at Douglas’ home in the hills above Laxey.
Wieky was left immensely impressed by this elderly lady’s energy and drive to celebrate the Island’s enormously rich cultural heritage that she and others were passing on to new generations. But Wieky did not expect what came next.

Through the post came a cassette tape recording of musical parties and gatherings recorded by Barone Nikolai Giovannelli at Mona Douglas’ house at Ballaragh.
Consisting of songs in Manx Gaelic sung by soloists and groups, as well as music from some of the Island's most well-known musicians, the hour-long recording was created by Douglas in order to show off what she felt to be the most distinctive examples of Manx music and song.
As well as having collected many of the traditional Manx songs performed in the recording, Mona Douglas herself introduces and even performs many of the pieces.
“A recording like this is an amazing discovery,” says Dr. Chloe Woolley, Manx Music Development Officer at Culture Vannin. “Not only is it rare to hear Mona Douglas’ voice, but a recording of this sort of Manx gathering is completely unique.”
It was intended that Wieky to play some of the tape on Dutch radio, but this wasn’t possible and so the tape was put in the attic of Wieky’s home, where it lay for over 40 years. But Culture Vannin’s release of the CD/DVD, ‘Mona’s Isle: The Legacy of Mona Douglas’ prompted Wieky to get in contact. She soon passed the recordings to Culture Vannin in order to make then public and to “give it back to the Manx people.”

The full recording, and extracted highlights, are free to download from the Culture Vannin
Source

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Irish language library opens in east Belfast

The facility in the Skainos Centre on the Newtownards Road contains about 2,000 books. It has been opened due to the increasing number of people learning Irish at the centre. The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Féin's John Finucane, along with UUP and Progressive Unionist Party politicians, attended the opening of the library on Monday.

The Skainos Centre began running Irish language classes seven years ago. Linda Ervine, from Turas, which runs the classes, said the number of language learners had grown substantially since then. "We started the classes seven years ago and there were about twenty-odd people," she said.

"Last year was our biggest year yet, with over 270 people signing up."We run our own GCSE class and a number of people got A* and A, and we also send people out to do A-Level and the diploma at Ulster University. "And now five people, who just happen to be all from the unionist community, will be starting degrees at Ulster University and Queen's University this September." Mr Finucane was making his first visit to the Irish classes at the centre for the opening of the library.

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BBC Gaeilge Irish language summer radio schedule

From new presenters to new music and analysing the big issues of the day, BBC Gaeilge is offering a diverse collection of Irish language programmes on BBC Radio Ulster last summer.

From new presenters to new music and analysing the big issues of the day, BBC Gaeilge is offering a diverse collection of Irish language programmes on BBC Radio Ulster this summer.
Starting on Monday 1 July at 7pm on BBC Radio Ulster, Fearghal Mag Uiginn and special guests are in the Blas spot with Ón Taobhlíne (From The Sidelines). This 10-week sports series - and weekly podcast Ón Taobhlíne - Am Breise - looks back at the weekend’s GAA games and more.
In a new four-part series, Cur is Cúiteamh, Dáithí Ó Muirí dissects some of the pressing moral and ethical dilemmas facing modern society. In programme one, starting on Tuesday 2 July at 7pm, Dáithí and guests Dónal Ó Néill, Milène Fegan and Neepa Sodhi discuss the concept of toxic masculinity.
Throughout the series, the panel will look at other trending topics including privacy issues, overhauling our education system and the meaning of family in modern Ireland.
Over the course of six weekly programmes, Niamh Nic Oistigín explores the lives and music of the world’s greatest soul singers in Guthanna Ón Anam from Wednesday, 3 July at 7pm.
Proinsias Ó Coinn, Tessa Fleming and Caoimhe ‘Chats’ Ní Chathail jump into the hot-seat from 7pm on Thursday, 4 July for a six-week stint to share their favourite hits from across the globe in a new series of Blas 5x5. Will the presenters’ favourite tunes make it on to people’s summer playlists?
Conall Ó Máirtín returns with the series Litreacha (Letters), starting on Tuesday 30 July and is joined by guests Pól Ó Muirí, Sara Ní Chuireáin, Antoin Beag Ó Colla. And on Tuesday, 6 August, Caitlín Nic Íomhair, Ian Malcolm and Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, join Conall to put pen to paper and give some advice to their younger selves. Towards the end of the summer, Conall also brings us a two-part special on memories from the Gaeltacht areas.
New presenter, John Tracey hosts a special four-part series - Ceoltóirí Faoi Chaibidil - that puts local musicians under the spotlight. Starting on Thursday, 15 August, John will take part in jamming sessions with guests including Cormac ‘Buzz’ Ó Briain and Shane Hennessy.
Kick-starting the weekend with some music and craic is Caoimhe ‘Ceol’ Ní Chathail, herself a musician, with a mix of the latest releases, live acoustic sessions and a guide to all the traditional, roots and folk music gigs happening across the country in Blas Ceoil, every Friday evening at 7pm.
And Brian Mullen will round off the week, throughout the summer months with a diverse mix of music in Caschlár at 8pm on Saturday evenings.

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Gorsedh Kernow Cornish Language Board Presentation Ceremony

The Cornish Language Board Presentation Ceremony was held on 14th. September 2019.
“Awards are being given to entries that express the Celtic spirit of Cornwall and demonstrate a deep understanding of Cornish culture,” said Grand Bard of Cornwall Elizabeth Carne, Melennek, “and as I only became Grand Bard last autumn I am really looking forward to presenting awards to all our talented winners.”

There is a photo gallery from the Awards Ceremony on the Gorsedh's website here:
http://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/Galleries/KesvaCeremony2019.html

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Half a thousand people protest the Frenchification of Breton place-names

The Frenchification of Breton place-names was denounced by almost 600 people. Dozens of academics, musicians and writers as well as the Breton cultural movement mobilised on September 14th at Terrug/ Telgruc. The French post sistematically refuses the addresses written in its original, Breton, form.

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76 personalities Call to stop the denounce Frenchification of Breton place-names

On September 14th, at noon, a picnic event is organized on the beach of Traez-Beleg in Telgruc. 76 artists, writers, academics and other personalities from the Breton cultural world called on Kemper this morning to stop the Frenchization of toponymy in Brittany.

The Breton toponymy is increasingly ignored by city councils, which are often under pressure from the Post Office. "La Poste" invokes the need to simplify toponymy and eliminate Breton letters such as the CJ, which would pose problems for electronic readers. Breton toponymy has become the last vestige, the final test of the existence of a people and a different identity. Singer Nolwenn Korbell said she was prepared to go to prison for the Breton language.

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25 news schools to teach Breton Language

Of the total 17 new open sites they are in primary and 8 in the second degree. Of the first, a total of seventeen are on the public network. This expansion of the offer more than in the past is the result of a gradual institutionalization of the opening procedures:


- creation of the OPLB (Public Office for the Breton Language) in 2010,


- Adoption in 2013 of the School Reconstruction Law that provides that bilingual education should be promoted "(article L 312-10 of the Education Code)


- signature of the 2015-2020 State-Region Agreement, which resulted in the implementation of a biannual development plan for the openings of programs in the public.

The Roazhon Academy has 16 openings in the first degree. 15 additional public schools have a bilingual line: 5 in Morbihan (Auray, a second place in Hennebont, Questembert, Lanvaudan, Locmiquélic), 4 in Finistère (a second place in Quimper, Pleyben, RPI Ploudiry-La Martyre, Saint-Divy) , 3 in Ille-et-Vilaine (Dinard, Pleumeleuc, Orgères) and 3 in the Côtes d'Armor (Lamballe-Armor, a second place in Lannion, Pledran). A Catholic school also has a bilingual line (Hennebont, again a second place). At the Naoned Academy, the public network has opened one in Blain.

In secondary school seven additional schools have a bilingual flow. These are 4 public schools (Baud, Hennebont, Plouneour-Menez, Rostrenen) and 3 Catholic schools (Quimper, Muzillac, Pontivy). The Catholic high school of Guingamp has also opened a bilingual class.

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New Bible translation released for Scots Gaelic speakers

New Bible resources have been produced for Scotland's Gaelic-speaking community, including an updated translation of the New Testament.
The translation project spanned 10 years and brought together representatives from the Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church.
New audio versions of the four Gospels in Gaelic are in the process of being recorded on the Isle of Skye, where there is a strong Gaelic-speaking tradition.
They are due to be released in autumn as part of the effort to support Gaelic speakers in their engagement with the Bible and their walk of faith.
Rev James Stuart, minister of Killin, was the first to translate the New Testament into Scottish Gaelic in 1767, just two decades after the battle of Culloden.
Until now, Gaelic speakers have relied on the 1801 edition that was produced by Rev Stuart's son, John, minister of Luss, by Loch Lomond.
The new translation replaces the old Gaelic from over two centuries ago with the modern Gaelic more commonly spoken today.
The resources are the work of the Scottish Bible Society, the Gaelic Books Council and the Church of Scotland's Gaelic Group.
There are around 54,000 Gaelic speakers in Scotland but there have been attempts by the Scottish Parliament to increase this number in recent years.
The Church of Scotland has echoed this effort by establishing the Gaelic Group and, more recently, employed a dedicated Gaelic development officer to oversee the work of its Gaelic Language Plan over the next year.
One aspect of the plan has been to survey the current use of Gaelic in the entire Church of Scotland and identify areas of potential growth for Gaelic-led ministry.

The new translations replace the old Gaelic of the 1801 edition with the modern Gaelic more commonly spoken today(Photo: Church of Scotland)

Work on the Bible translations was helped by funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, an internal Church of Scotland grant, and from Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS).
Rev John Urquhart, a Church of Scotland minister in the translation team, said: "It has been a decade since the Scottish Bible Society brought the translation team together to begin the New Testament project.
"Though we were drawn from different places and different churches, we all shared the same aim: that the Scriptures of the New Testament should be made available to Gaelic speakers in modern Gaelic, faithfully translated.
"Throughout our work, we kept our focus on fidelity to the Greek and the clarity of the Gaelic.
"The translators hope that putting the word of God into contemporary Gaelic will enable every person who reads it to hear God's voice speaking to them, and that through this they will come to know the peace and salvation that are to be found only through Christ.
"Our desire is that all praise, and honour, and glory, be given to God and to God alone."
Elaine Duncan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Bible Society, praised the "gifted, committed and passionate" translators for their work on the project.
"Their faithfulness, love of the Bible and handling of the Greek and Gaelic languages have been essential to the success of this project," she said.
"We are thankful for the partnership and support of the Gaelic Books Council, and we pray that God's Word will be appreciated and understood more through providing the New Testament in the New Gaelic Translation."
Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, added: "It is appropriate that this new translation is being published in the UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages, and we hope that churches, schools and individual readers will enjoy this beautiful book."
The scholarship that has gone into the new translation was recognised in a motion put forward in the Scottish Parliament last month by Alasdair Allan, MSP for the Scottish National Party.
He said: "The Parliament warmly welcomes the new translation of the New Testament, and praises the huge amount of work that has been put into this by Rev John Urquhart, Rev Ruairidh MacLean, Rev John Lincoln and the late Canon John Angus MacDonald over the course of ten years.
"The Parliament also considers that this new publication represents one of the many ways in which the Gaelic world will be celebrating the International Year of Indigenous Languages in 2019."
The Gaelic NT New Translation is available to buy now online through the Scottish Bible Society and the Gaelic Books Council, or by calling 0141 337 6211.

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Rouedad ar brezhoneg network calls for a Breton language "Plan of Action"

The network Rouedad ar Brezhoneg is formed by fifty associations. The collective dennounced yesterday the lack of political will to keep afloat the teaching of the Breton language. And in the front line of their recriminations: the majority in the Regional Council of Brittany. The Regional Council of Brittany adopted on 14 December 2018 "the main orientations of a new regional policy" for the Breton language. The opening statement of the validated document indicates that "the objective of the Region is to contribute to the creation of the bilingual society that is desired by Bretons and Bretons". It is thus specified that: "The Region proposes, within the framework of the new policy for the Breton language which will materialize in 2019, to continue and amplify its current action". The Brittany region had also announced the development in 2019 of an "action plan" for the Breton language.

The 2019 budget voted on February 8 for the Breton language remained stable compared to that of previous years, or € 2.24 per capita. "Rouedad ar brezhoneg" has therefore undertaken the realization of a "Plan of Action" to propose in a concrete way an application of the orientations decided by the Regional Council. Nearly 80 action sheets have been drawn up by the competent associations in order to specify the objectives, the means to achieve them, the expected result and the timetable to be implemented.

We propose to the Regional Council this action plan as a basis for the implementation of its language policy. These proposals are also intended to enlighten the State services and the Regional Council of Brittany for the drafting of the new "Specific Convention for the transmission of the languages ​​of Brittany and the development of their use in everyday life" which must enter into force from 2020.

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An Dream Dearg protest at Stormont

Harland and Wolff workers took part in a bi-lingual protest at Stormont as Boris Johnson arrived.

Workers are calling for the shipyard to be renationalised after its parent company ran into severe financial problems. There were also protests from other groups over the Irish language, Brexit and legacy. Shipyard protestors joined with An Dream Dearg for a bi-lingual demonstration.

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CIG Picket in KFC in Bangor To Defend the Right to Speak Welsh

Picket organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg yesterday outside KFC in Bangor over allegations that a staff member was prohibited from speaking Welsh. Since 2011, it has been unlawful to interfere with the freedom of people in Wales to communicate in Welsh.

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Gorsedh Kernow Awards 2019 Announced

The Council of Gorsedh Kernow has announced the winners of their annual Adults Awards after careful adjudication of this year’s impressive range of entries.
“Awards are being given to entries that express the Celtic spirit of Cornwall and demonstrate a deep understanding of Cornish culture,” said Grand Bard of Cornwall Elizabeth Carne, Melennek, “and as I only became Grand Bard last autumn I am really looking forward to presenting awards to all our talented winners.”
The scheme has once more drawn on a diverse range of work from Cornwall’s creative sector in Cornish language and dialect, Cornish studies and the arts including photography, performance, literature and design. Gorsedh Kernow has also welcomed nominations for members of the wider community to receive an award for their work caring for Cornwall’s unique culture and identity.
“Gorsedh Kernow Awards are very flexible these days,” said Elizabeth Carne “and we positively welcome entries that encourage learning, understanding and promotion of our precious culture.”
The Gorsedh Kernow Adults Awards winners for 2019 are:
1.1 Yeth Kernewek / Cornish Language
Ivor Frankell, Hayle - for Cornish verse ‘An Kowr a Drecrobben’.
1.2 Rannyeth / Cornish Dialect
Patricia King, Falmouth – for dialect verse ‘The Donkey’s Tale’.
1.3 Studhyansow Kernewek / Cornish Studies
William Orchard, Penzance for ‘The Role of Tradition’.
1.4 Skeusenieth / Photography
Ivor Frankell, Hayle – photographic images - ‘Dolly Pentreath’ and ‘Cape Cornwall’.
2 Awenekter / Creativity
Des Hannigan, Pendeen - for English verse on a Cornish subject - ‘Cold Iron’ and ‘The Herd-Clouded Sky Above Scilly’.
Rieve Atkinson, St Just – for English verse on a Cornish subject - ‘Kennel Vale’, ‘Ballowall Barrow’ and ‘Madron Well’.
Tamsin Spargo, Redruth – for play ‘St Piran’s Round’.
The Rowan Tree, Cornwall and beyond – for outstanding contribution to Cornish music.
‘Viaj an Delow’ film by the late Stephen Gainey, Mab Hirnans, West Tolgus and Matthew Clarke, Camborne.
3 Kemeneth / Community
Sonja Kuefer, Pendeen – for outstanding contribution to the life of the Pendeen community.
Graham Sandercock, Gwas Conoc, Saltash – for oustanding contribution to the Cornish language community as editor of monthly magazine ‘An Gannas’ for over 40 years.
Michael Tangye MBE, Whythrer Meyn, Redruth - for outstanding work in the community.
The Glenda Hartland Awards for creativity in film, theatre, art and design -
Cornwall Heritage Trust, based at Krowji, Redruth - for film ‘Tale of St Piran’.
Edward Rowe, Mab Tregarrek, Roche and Simon Harvey, Truro – for play ‘Hireth’
The Mike Hartland Award for projects that engage people with Cornish culture -
Hanterhir - for their highly acclaimed album of original music ‘The Saving of Cadan’.
Lowender Peran Award
For distinguished performers or performance that provide a connection between Cornish culture and that of the other Celtic Nations.
Richard Trethewey, Truro.
Pewas Map Trevethan Award (Paul Smales Award) 2019
Mark Elton, Gwas An Wrekkoryon , St Austell - for work with members of various pan-Cornish groups in London.
London Cornish Association Shield 2019
Priscilla Oates, Mullion - for her work towards the start of the LCA’s ‘Cornwall in London’ project which focuses on people, places and events in London which are linked to Cornwall in some way.
Special Awards
Bardh Meur’s Award - Wella Brown, Crenner, Saltash.
Stephen Gainey Award - Jori Ansell, Caradok, Gwinnear.
End of press release *****************************
Picture shows Awards winners 2018
The Gorsedh Kernow Awards 2019 scheme enables Gorsedh Kernow to recognise and celebrate a wide range of Cornish cultural activity alongside the more traditional arts and literary entries and allows for entries to be submitted through new media technologies.
Displays and video presentations from several of the Awards winners will be available for viewing from 10am on Thursday 5th September onwards in the St Just Miners’ Chapel. Entry is free.
The Awards Presentation evening, part of the Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture, will take place at 7pm on Thursday 5th September at St Just Old Town Hall and will be hosted by bard Bert Biscoe, Viajor Gans Geryow. Entry is free and all members of the press are welcome to attend.
For further information about and a full programme for the Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture please visit the website http://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/esedhvos.html

For general information about Gorsedh Kernow please contact Delia Brotherton, Myrghwyn Melynor, Hon Secretary, Gorsedh Kernow,
email hon.secretary@gorsedhkernow.org.uk

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Breton groups sent letter in support of the students who completed their bac in Breton

An open letter from Breton language NGOs to the Rector of the Rennes (Roazhon) Academy has been sent in support of the students who completed their bac in Breton.

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45 Galway schools to benefit from Irish language assistance scheme

45 schools in Galway are to benefit from almost 1.5 million euro in funding under the Irish Language Assistants Scheme.
The new funding comes as part of a national support of 3.6 million euro for the Irish language.

Galway’s Gaeltacht schools will split an allocation of over one and a half million euro with schools in Mayo and Meath.
The scheme supports 113 language assistants nationwide, with the new funding allowing assistants to spend more time in both primary and secondary school classrooms, there by supporting further uptake in the language among students.
In Galway, the scheme is administered by Connemara based organisation Muinteras on behalf of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Announcing the funding, Gaeltacht Minister and Galway West TD Sean Kyne says the new resources will better support the Irish language in both the classroom and the community.

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Cardiff's Tafwyl festival marks 70 years of Welsh-medium schools

In September 1949, 19 pupils began their first day in a single classroom at Ninian Park Boys' School.
While the rest of the building was used for English-language lessons, this was Cardiff's first Welsh-medium school.
Seventy years later, the city has 17 primary schools teaching in the language and three secondary schools, with plans for a fourth.
A parade on Saturday marked the anniversary as part of the annual Tafwyl festival.

"The aim is to celebrate the incredible growth there has been in Cardiff's Welsh-medium schools since we both were among a handful of the earliest pupils," said Iolo Walters, who helped plan the event with Alwyn Evans.

"By now, our grandchildren are the third generation to attend these Welsh-medium schools."
They have produced many notable personalities - including actors Matthew Rhys and Ioan Gruffydd and rugby stars Jamie Roberts and Rhys Patchell.
When the first school was opened, only pupils from Welsh-speaking homes were accepted.
One of the original 19 children, John Ellerman, was transferred to Kitchener Road School because his parents did not speak Welsh.

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14 candidates for the baccalaureate written their test in Breton in spite of French prohibition

Last year, they were 15. This year, they are 14 candidates for the baccalaureate of Diwan high school in Carhaix, Finistere, to have written their mathematics test in Breton this Friday morning. And this, against the advice of the rectorate. "Our claims are the same because nothing has changed," explains Sterenn Cueff.
"Basque high school students, educated in Basque, are allowed to write their math test in their language in the bac.Not us.It is not normal, we ask to have the same rights", summarizes Sterenn Cueff, student in terminal S at Diwan High School in Carhaix, Finistère. Like her classmates, she studied all subjects in the regional language since kindergarten. With 13 other students in her class, she wrote her mathematics test in Breton this Friday morning.

Even today, there is some doubt as to how their copies have been corrected. In the summer of 2018, high school students created the Bak e Brezhoneg association and hired a lawyer to defend their case. Master David Rajjou then exhumed a document likely to change the situation: a letter, written in 2012 by the rector of the Academy of Bordeaux, authorizing high school students educated in Basque to compose the test of mathematics in their language of instruction. This letter proved that there had been a break in equality between the Basque and Breton pupils. The Bak e Brezhoneg association has lodged two appeals with the Rectorate, enclosing this document. If she does not get an answer, the case will be brought before the administrative court.

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World's first online Welsh language comedy platform launches

S4C has launched on June 11th what it claims is the world's only online Welsh language comedy platform. The broadcaster will use the platform to commission up-and-coming talent to create short-form content such as stand-up, satire, sketches, mini-sitcoms and musical numbers for YouTube and Facebook.
Elen Rhys, S4C’s entertainment content commissioner said: ‘This is an exciting time for S4C and Welsh comedy. Comedy is very much alive in the Welsh language, and S4C Comedi is a testament to S4C’s dedication to promote and develop Welsh talents within the genre.
‘When we originally called out for comedy content, the commissioning team were flooded with quality pitches, and we are very excited to highlight some of these amazing works on S4C Comedi’
Among the commissioned content are Pwnc Pum Munud, a compilation of stand-up sets gathered from comedy nights held across Wales,  and Bip, a series of comedy songs from Carys Eleri, Diawl o Ddêt and comedian Esyllt Sears.
Sears said: ‘The Welsh language stand-up scene, and comedy in general, is currently at an exciting time, with an increase in job opportunities available for new up-and-coming comedians and established entertainers.
‘But for comedy in any language to mature and flourish, it’s all-important for scriptwriters, performers, and directors to get the chance to experiment and develop ideas. I’m hopeful that the new platform will offer this chance.’
Rhodri ap Dyfrig, S4C’s online content commissioner said: ‘With more and more time spent on non-linear viewing, S4C is committed to growing and developing its online content. We’re excited to launch this new platform and directly deliver comedy to our digital audiences, providing a space for Welsh talent to develop.’
The S4C broadcast channel also this week launches, Elis James’ comedy show, Nabod y Teip, in which the comedian delves into S4C’s archive to discover the different ‘types’ of Welsh people who roam the country.

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Brittany Choirs' championship 2019

Come and listen to the choirs of Brittany in a unique place, built especially to make the most of a cappella singing : St Thomas church, in Landerneau, during Kann al Loar festival.
The choir championd 2019 will be asked to perform on the main stage of the festival at night, as first part group of the evening concert.

From 3.00 pm, come and appreciate the choirs in their best programms in breton language.

Price: 10€. Informations, tickets : 02 98 30 30 45 kann-al-loar.bzh

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US academic Kevin Scannell to develop Irish language Siri during 6-month Gaeltacht stay

An American academic who has been awarded a scholarship to spend six months in Connemara has said he plans to help develop an Irish-language Siri or Alexa style virtual assistant during his stay.

Prof Kevin Scannell from Saint Louis University in Missouri has been awarded the Fulbright Scholarship by the United States government and will spend the first half of 2020 in the Connemara Gaeltacht area of Carna. He will work with researchers from NUI Galway’s Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge to research and develop computer resources for the Irish language.

Prof Scannell plans to develop keyboard input methods, spelling and grammar checkers, online dictionaries and translation and conversational tools, similar to Siri and Alexa, to make it easier for Irish speakers to use the language “without having to shift to English”.

Prof Scannell, who has worked with people around the world to help build the online presence of their native language, has already developed an Irish spell checker, grammar checker and thesaurus, as well as dictionaries and translation engines that support Irish, Scottish and Manx Gaelic. He also works with Gmail, Twitter and WhatsApp to provide Irish localisations for software products.

The academic said he plans to make use of “transfer learning” which allows resources for one language to be transferred directly to another (less well-resourced) language. He will focus on building Irish along with other Celtic languages which share similar linguistic structures.

The Fulbright scholarship was set up in 1946 offering students, scholars and professionals the chance to study and research in 155 countries around the world.

The Fulbright programme includes a grant for Irish language teachers to spend 10 months teaching Irish and taking classes at an American university.

The programme also offers summer Gaeltacht grants to US citizens who are learning the Irish language to spend two to six weeks in a Gaeltacht region.

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Cornish Language Festival

Fest Kernewek 2019, this Saturday at Heartlands Cornwall. A one day festival celebrating Cornish language and culture.Music, poetry, family activities, language tasters, food, drink, & much more!
Tickets in advance: £10 / £12 OTD
Gelwys os ta!

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New booklet telling story of Irish language in east Belfast to be launched tomorrow

A new booklet which tells the story of the Irish language in east Belfast will be launched in the city tomorrow. The booklet has been put together by Gordon McCoy, Education Officer with east Belfast Irish language project Turas, who has gathered together scattered fragments of the story.
The booklet, which details the tradition of Irish in the area, is due to be launched by Lord Lieutenant of Belfast Fionnuala Jay O'Boyle at the annual celebration of Turas at 7pm on Friday, June 14 at the Skainos Centre.
A Turas spokesman said: "The booklet will be of interest to anyone who wants to know more of the history of Belfast and the symbolism of the North - the first ever map of Belfast is inside, as well as the true story of Red Hand of Ulster. The product is very attractive, thanks to the wonderful illustrations by Andrew Whitson of An tSnáthaid Mhór and the booklet design by Wendy Dunbar, who have made the booklet into a work of art".

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Crymych housing scheme prompts fears for Welsh language

Plans to build 56 new houses in a Pembrokeshire village have been approved by county councillors despite local opposition. The houses and bungalows will be built on farmland in Crymych.
Business group Menter Iaith Sir Benfro claimed it could threaten the Welsh-speaking nature of the village, while some residents fear extra traffic. Developers Tai Ceredigion said the scheme is aimed at local people, with a quarter of the homes to be affordable.

Crymych has one of the highest proportions of Welsh speakers in Pembrokeshire, at 60% according to the 2011 census. The figure for Pembrokeshire as a whole was just under 14%.

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Breton Language Festival held in Langonedd

This iconic event, which was revived in 2017 in Langoned/Langonnet (Morbihan) after an absence since 1998, is completely unmissable for anyone involved with the Breton language. It wass the meeting of the year for all Brittophones – present and future – as well as Breton lovers, supporters, anyone curious and all your friends. But it was much more than a festival: it is also a place of activism.  It was once again be an opportunity to remind everyone that the Breton language is rich with a multitude of colours and is a vector of constantly renewed creativity.

For those who do not (yet) speak Breton, the festival wass a unique opportunity to discover a world that may seem hidden, that of the Breton language. It is a “festival experience”, open to all. It will be an amazing immersion and discovery for some who do not speak or know Breton. A lifesize trial situation to discover Breton language and culture with your friends from far away!
The programme featuring the best artists of the moment included Dom Duff and Denez Prigent. On 3 stages, large concerts, a fest-deiz and festoù-noz, An Taol-Lañs (the only springboard for contemporary music in the Breton language), circus, cinema, theatre, conferences and debates, sport, a craftsmen’s village, the digital pole in the Breton language, the village of publishers in the Breton language and cultural associations, children’s games or workshops.

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