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Home , Carn, Chris Franks, Gwenno Teifi, Ulster Unionist Party

No. 137 Spring/Summer 2007 €4.00 Stg£3.00

 Demand for New Act

 Power Sharing Executive in the North

 SNP Wins Scottish Elections

 Breizh - Regionalisation?

 Gains in Assembly

 Albain ar Bhóthar na Saoirse

 Election Success

 Mannin – Landmark Declaration Claim

 The Pirate Queen – audience appeal

 50th Anniversary of The Treaty Of Rome - Ten Points to Review measures to normalise Gaelic and to promote its development. The National Plan for Gaelic provides government, local authorities, public bodies Alba and the private and voluntary sectors with a 5 year road-map to take the language forward. The plan concentrates on promoting and developing the language to encourage people to learn and use it, in addition to ways of enhancing its status. Following a consultation process on a draft Naire mor na h-Alba: 1707-2007 plan last year, significant changes have been incorporated into the final plan. Many De tha an naire as motha air an duthaich seo atharrachadh math a bhios aig Alba neo- respondents criticised the draft plan for an diugh? Uill, tha taghadh farsaing ann - eiseimealach? having too few targets, for being too vague eucoir, cogadh ann an Iorac is Afghanistan, Chan e aisling gorach a tha ann, neo and for being written in a style which was brùidealachd (den gach seorsa), seorsa ‘utopia’. Gun teagamh, bidh difficult to understand. Adult learners groups ‘sectarianism’, truailleadh, cealgaireachd trioplaidean gu leor againne, an deidh neo- were also concerned that too little priority poileatagach... neo eadhon an telebhisean eiseimleachd na h-Alba. Feumaidh sinn a’ was given to this sector. againne? coimhead air duthchannan eile, seachad am The final version of the plan contains Nam bheachdsa, tha naire mor aig na h- BBC Breatannach, neo na paipearan clearer aims, more detailed targets, more Albannaich, ged nach eil iad uile ga Breatannach sna bailtean mora na h-Alba. emphasis on adult learners and is written in a mhothachadh. Sin an “Aonadh”, eadar Alba Tha Lochlainn sa suidheachadh fada, fada more reader-friendly way. The plan also agus Sasainn (san fhirinn, chan e direach na nas fhearr na suidheachadh againne. Tha na places more weight on research and on the h-Albannaich agus Sasannaich, ach na Lochlannaich beart, foghlamaichte agus importance of raising the profile of Gaelic Cuimrich, cuid de na h-Eireannaich, agus dochasach. Chan eil iad bochd, agus nationally than did the consultation draft. Cornaich cuideach). aineolach ma tha moran daoine ann an Alba The plan can be accessed at: www.bord-na- Ann an Alba, tha muinntir bochd, neo- an diugh. Agus, ann an Eirinn, chi sinn fein- gaidhlig.org.uk fhallain gun foghlam math againne, agus tha earbsa sa phoblachd a tha a dhith air Alba cuid a’ creidsinn gur e rud math a tha ann. Is fhein. docha, tha eagal orra air atharrachadh sam Tha na duthchannan beaga seo nas fhearr, Gaelic Education Figures bith, agus is urrainn dhuinn uile a thuigsinn. agus nas beartaiche as deidh neo- Recently released statistics from Strathclyde Ach, tha atharrachadh a’ tachairt gach latha - eiseimleachd againne bhon Ruis, a’ University show a mixture of stagnation and gach mionaid - air an saoghal seo. Deich Ghearmailt agus Breatann. Carson nach eil reversal for both Gaelic medium (GME) and bliadhna air ais - cha robh blogaichean sam sinn cho glic? Gaelic learner education (GLE). The national bith, mar eiseimpleir, agus cha robh number of Gaelic medium primary pupils in telebhisean digiteach againne, neo Parlamaid Summary: What is Scotland’s greatest the 2006/7 session at 2,092 was only up 24 on na h-Alba. Atharraichidh Alba co-dhiu. Ach shame? Perhaps 300 years of a “Union” the previous year. All three local authorities in a bheil na h-Albannaich a’ dol a taghadh which inhibited its progress and tarnished its the Highlands showed either a reduction or atharrachadh bochd Breatannach, neo international reputation. stalling in the numbers of pupils in Gaelic medium primary education. Numbers in Gaelic medium secondary provision showed a significant decrease on the previous year with Gaelic television channel by end of year fewer schools offering Gaelic medium Scotland is to have a digital Gaelic terrestrial television (Freeview), a large provision. In the Gaelic learners’ (GLE) television channel by the end of the year number of Gaelic speakers will be unable to sector, the number of pupils studying Gaelic as following the agreement of a funding view the new channel. a subject for learners at secondary school and package. The channel will initially broadcast The Gaelic Media Service have stated that exam entrances were also down for 2006/07. 1.5 hours of new television each day which their aim is for the Gaelic television station Bòrd na Gàidhlig have indicated in their will be supplemented with repeats and to become available on digital terrestrial National Plan for Gaelic that they aim to tackle archive material. Amongst the new television when the analogue television this situation and increase numbers in both programming will be a television news transmissions are switched off and more GME and GLE at all levels. service, something which Gaelic currently capacity becomes available for digital Màrtainn MacLeòid lacks. terrestrial television. This will not happen To date, Gaelic programmes have been until 2010/11 in most of Scotland, assuming Interested in Gaelic? relatively few in number and have been that a deal can be reached for Gaelic Make it part of your scattered across different channels with television to be carried via digital terrestrial future too… many being shown in late-night slots. The TV. new channel will enable an increase new programming and allow the showing of Gaelic television at more appropriate times. National Plan for Cli Gàidhlig While this news has been welcomed, Quote this publication of a however, serious concerns are being Gaelic Launched free info pack from: expressed by many Gaelic speakers, as to the The first ever National Plan Clì Gàidhlig availability of the new station. for Gaelic was published by 3 Union Street, Inverness When the station begins operation later this the statutory Gaelic language agency Bòrd na IV1 1PP Scotland year, it will only be available on digital Gàidhlig in March. The plan which has come +44(0)1463 226710 satellite and digital cable. Activists warn that about as a result of the Gaelic Language unless the service is also available on digital (Scotland) Act 2005 proposes strategic www:cli.org.uk Email: [email protected]

2 Carn SNP WINS SCOTTISH ELECTIONS

The SNP has won the first general election in its history in dramatic fashion, condemning Labour to defeat in Scotland for the first time in 50 years and changing the face of British politics for ever. The SNP emerged as the largest party in the at the end of two chaotic and tense days of voting, counting and confusion The SNP won 47 of the 129 seats at Holyrood, with Labour one behind on 46. The Conservatives were third, with 17 MSPs, while the Liberal Democrats took 16 and deputy leader unveil an SNP poster on the 300th seats. The Greens were down to two MSPs, anniversary of the Act of Union. with Margo MacDonald, an independent, re- elected on the Lothians list. Mr Salmond was cheered by a triumphant crowd at the Hub in judicial inquiry into the problems to make With the SNP victory in Scotland, and Edinburgh when he made his victory speech. sure they never happened again. superb results for both Plaid and Mebyon The Liberal Democrats turned down the The shape of Scotland’s town halls also Kernow, not to mention the UVF ceasefire, prospect of a coalition with the Scottish changed dramatically over the course of the things are looking up for the Celtic Countries National Party to form the next government election. Labour lost what was left of its grip just now. Perhaps our main stumbling block of Scotland - despite moving from third to on Scotland’s councils and now controls only maybe one Monsieur Sarkozy. fourth place. Scottish Lib Dem leader Nicol two of the country’s 32 local authorities. Ray Bell Stephen said the fundamental stumbling block was the Nationalists’ demand for a referendum on independence. Earlier, the Lib Dems ruled out a coalition deal with Labour. The British Union Only three MSPs were elected from outwith the four main parties. Two Greens were returned - Robin Harper in Edinburgh The people of Scotland will not find out the (England remained England of course) and in Glasgow - along with truth about the British Union from the two leading Robert Burns to write some years Ms MacDonald. The biased documentaries produced by the BBC. later: was wiped out after Both presented by unionists, both present “Alas, I have often said to myself what are eight years in parliament and the their own ‘spin’ on the events. the boasted advantages which my country leader, Tommy Sheridan, lost his seat after Everyone and their dog knows what the reaps from a certain Union that being in Holyrood for the same period. Mr British union really was anyway, a shotgun counterbalance the annihilation of her Sheridan suggested that the severe problems marriage of convenience which suited Independence, and even her name!” over the 140,000 invalid ballot papers across England because it (theoretically) closed the So could union have been avoided? The the country had denied him a place in the door to a possible Scottish based invasion people of Scotland hoped so with over parliament. and it suited the ‘Noble’ families of Scotland seventy petitions containing 20,000 names As the inquest started into the fiasco, it who (I) regained the money they lost on the calling for the nobles to respect the will of emerged that thousands of voters had Darien expedition and (II) ended English the people and remember the Declaration of misunderstood the ballot papers and filled economic sanctions which would have lost Arbroath. them in the wrong way. This was the first them their lands in England and also opened Unfortunately the truth is probably not, a time that voters had been presented with the way to make money in the newly huge part of the sovereignty of Scotland had three different electoral systems on two emerging English (soon to be renamed been given away one hundred years before different ballot papers and many failed to British) Empire. with the Union of Crowns in 1603. James VI cope with the instructions. Just in case the Scots rejected English plans had no interest in his native land whatsoever There were also problems with the a large army was based on the border and and like every other traveller to London electronic counting machines that were since Cromwell’s New Model Army (he Government since preferred to sit in London being used for the first time. Some of the ruled Scotland directly while in power) there and soak up the gravy train than come home results were very close, with the number of was no hope of Scottish victory in a direct to his country. invalid ballot papers larger than the victory confrontation. James VI was a traitor. We know this from margin in a sixth of seats. The machines The peoples views were very different from his own words, he said Scotland would: were provided by a company called DRS, their ignoble ‘leaders’ - they saw this for “with time become but as Cumberland and one of whose directors is none other than what it was the end to the glorious days of Northumberland, and those other remote and former leader Neil Kinnock. and effectively the Northern Shires... they as other Northerne A furious Mr Salmond said the first thing virtual end of Scotland as a distinct entity. Countreys will be seldom seen and saluted he would do if he became First Minister Post union the English renamed Scotland as by their King, and that as it were but in a would be to commission a full, independent, North Britain on official documents posting or hunting journey”

Carn 3 This is the man who would later divide and rule Northern by sending in loyalist Scots settlers to rule it on behalf of England. Andrew Lumsden R.I.P. The monarchs after him were no better. James VII was removed because he didn’t At the beginning of February 2007 Andrew helped local miners in their suit English plans and every one since has Andrew Lumsden died suddenly. Andrew successful bid to re-open Monktonhall considered his bread well buttered by was a passionate advocate of the colliery he took their campaign to the England and completely ignored Scotland Scottish independence cause and was European (he was always a very strong accordingly. our SNP candidate in Midlothian in 1992. advocate of the benefits of independent Our current monarch followed this He was about 35 at the time and hit EU membership) and Westminster tradition with her choice of Elizabeth II of Midlothian like the political equivalent of Parliaments and while their campaign England rather than Elizabeth I of The a tornado. An economics lecturer from was led by the miners themselves United Kingdom. Galashiels he had an instinctive grasp of Andrew made a massive political push The reformation didn’t help matters either the local politics in Midlothian and he on their behalf and he joined the putting a wedge between Scotland and our could speak to the people in an honest consortium when the pit was re-opened. Catholic allies in Europe. Some writers and forthright manner. Along with Jim Sillars and Alex Neil he believe John Knox was specifically sent into Scotland by Elizabeth I to divide and rule us and this success is why she is so venerated today by Britain. Certainly, the Catholic Church was a lot more patriotic about Scotland and risked ex-communication as a nation to back their King and Country during the long wars of independence. The Church of Scotland had the power to foment rebellion against union but as long as their rights to maintain their religious freedoms were maintained they were simply not interested. So effectively in reality we have been controlled by England for 400 years rather than 300. Darien proved this as King William of Orange backed England’s imperial interests over Scotland’s. The Scots were well sick of him and their desire to get Andrew and Sheila Lumsden rid of the Union of Crowns and restore full sovereignty to Scotland eventually led to Andrew was a massive and lasting spoke at Miners clubs right across them being finagled out of their parliament. inspiration to me and all the other SNP Midlothian and he gave the Labour party There were huge riots in all Scotland’s activists in Midlothian. He was a very a real fright. He exposed the closure of major cities against the union so we fine speaker and a staunch socialist. He Greenhall high school and we made definitely know that the ordinary people was one of the first people who really school closures a central part of our local didn’t want it. inspired me in politics and he had the election campaign just after the general Of course this historical stuff is all very fight and heart to take on Labour in their election in 1992. interesting but what relevance does it have heartland. Andrew was by far the best SNP today? Well today Scotland has a devolved Andrew believed he could win in candidate we ever had in Midlothian and parliament but it remains powerless because Midlothian and he convinced his young we have never seen his like again. He sovereignty is still at Westminster. In this team of activists that we could win as was a massive inspiration to everyone 300th year anniversary of the forced union well. Even though the SNP didn’t win the who met him and his socialist values we have a golden opportunity to make our election we saw a massive increase in combined with his strong political nouse voice heard very loudly on the international our vote (from around 4,000 to over had a lasting impact on us all. stage. We can have our own seat at the 10,000 votes) and the series of public Andrew and Alex Neil wrote an United Nations, we can have our own meetings that he spoke at and organised influential joint paper ‘Poverty Amidst Scottish Olympic Team and we can put were very influential in later local Plenty’ about the economics of Scotland right back on the international map. government successes in the area. independence that can be read here: Today, we the people have the power and The Free by ‘93 campaign was a http://www.scottishpolitics.org/scotch we are not reliant on easily bribed nobles to watershed one for the SNP, it was ing/poverty.html represent us. To do so however we must extremely hard fought and Andrew was The funeral was held on Wednesday, ignore 300 years of blatant British our candidate for a full three years 14th Feb at Cloyster Chapel, Warriston propaganda and say “we are as good as every before the election during which he Crematorium at 2.30pm. His wife Sheila other country and we deserve the same right tirelessly worked to build up the party in can be contacted at: to rule our own affairs”. the area. [email protected] Current polls show a clear majority in Scotland for independence. If you want it, vote for it this year. Independent Scots read the Joe Middleton ‘Scots Independent’ Contact http://politicalnewsfromscotland.blogspot.com/ 51 Cowane Street, Stirling FK8 1JW http://scottishindependence.com/ Alba/Scotland Telephone Stirling 01259 730099 Website www.scotsindependent.org 4 Carn Ur gwir souezadenn bras da welet Bro Gembre en eil plas er Bed a Bezh goude Bro Sweden (43%). Breizh Votadegoù (2003) kentañ an XXIved c’hantved Etre votadegoù diwezhañ ar c’hantved (1999) hag ar re gentañ (2003), al lezenn zo aet war ar raok gant ar “Sex Discrimination Act (2002)”. Araok mont war zu ar votadegoù dav eo gouzout ez eus div Merc’hed e parliamant Bro Gembre listennad. An hini añvet “rannvroel” hag hini añvet “Pastellioù-vro”. Setu perag ar E fin ar viz genver ez eus bet ur c’hollog strolladoù politikel, dre vraz. Memestra dav voterezh-se a zo ur meskaj. Evit votadegoù aozet e Brest gant ar CRBC hag ar Skol- eo mennegiñ n’eo ket bet graet kalz strivoù 2003 ar Sokialisted-Nevez o deus cheñchet Veur diwar benn “Skeudennoù Bro gant ar conservatourien. Ar brasañ stourm zo strategiezh. Echu gant ar sistem gevellañ Gembre”. E touez un toullad klaskerien ha bet kaset da benn gant ar feministed. En o (1plac’h hag 1 paotr da heul), evit ar kelenerien e oa añv eus ar parelezh e zouez Jane Hutt, renerez Chwarae Teg, troet pastellioù-vro. Dav e oa dezho taol kont eus parliamant vro Gembre gant Veronique war al labour en embregerezhioù, ha Val ar c’hannaded a oa bet dilennet ar gwec’h Molinari, eus Skol-Veur Grenoble. Setu Feld eus ar gevredigezh Equal. Deuet int a gentañ. Diviset o deus lakaat muioc’h amañ ar pezh a zo bet kontet deomp: benn da astennañ, e 1994, al lezenn evit ar merc’hed eget an taol diwezhañ, ha dreist- E-kreizh ar bloavezhioù ‘90 Bro Gembre e Vonreizh añvet “Democracy Declaration”. holl kinnig merc’hed er pastellioù-vro e oa welet e-giz ur vro bihan tout. Ne oa nemet Parliamant Bro Gembre, a daolo evezh, eus pelec’h e vefe tu dezhi gounid. Benn ar fin añv eus ar rugby hag al lazhoù-kanañ a oa ar penn kentañ, e vefe kempouezet an 22 plac’h zo bet kinniget ha 18 paotr gant ar lakaet da heul. Plas ebet evit ar merc’hed e- dilennidi e-kenver niver ar merc’hed, Sokialisted-Nevez. Plaid Cymru o deus barzh ar gevredigezh nag war an dachenn paotred ha strolladoù minorelezet. Ar pal a diviset lakaat 15 plac’h ha 15 paotr war al bolitikel, dreist-holl. E votadegoù 1994, ne oa lakaat anezho da gemer perzh eus ar listenn añvet “rannvroel”. Evit an eil oa nemet 10% merc’hed dilennet e Bro gwellañ posubl, en aferioù ar parliamant. Ar rummad, añvet pastellioù-vro n’eus bet Gembre. E votadegoù 2003 e oa merc’hed feministed eus ar gevredigezh “Women Say nemet 6 plac’h evit 35 paotr. Al Lib.-Dem. o 50% eus ar gannaded. Da lavaret eo ul lamm Yes” d’an (1997) o deus graet ur deus kinniget 6 plac’h ha 15 paotr war al bras hag ur skouer evit ar bed ha bezh. Met sapre labour evit kas an traoù war ar raok. Ar listenn “rannvroel” hag 13plac’h ha 27 paotr daoust hag eñ Bro Gembre zo ur gwir skouer memez bloavezh (1997) ar Socialisted- war al listenn “pastellioù-vro”. Evit echuiñ evit ar vroioù all er kumuniezh Europaat pe Nevez o doa voted ul levr gwenn: “a voice ar Conservatourien o deus “kuzet” 8 plac’h un dra dreist-ordinal? for ”. E-barzh e oa skrivet: soñj a e-kreizh 72 paotr war al listenn “rannvroel”. Disoc’hoù ar 1añ votadegoù eus ar XXIved An Devolution: ur gwir digreizhenañ-21bn. kantved oa gortozet gant difiziañs. Setu zo deuet da vezañ 1añ ministr a perag gant 30 plac’h dilennet diwar 60 drugarez d’an devolution, er bloavezh 1997. kannad (50%), an disoc’hoù a zo bet dreist- Da heul an devolution e oa ar youl da lakaat ordinal. Dre-se Bro Gembre zo deuet da ar merc’hed hag ar minorelzhioù e-barzh ar vezañ ar vro gentañ er bed ha bezh evit ar jeu. Setu perag Parliamant Bro Gembre o padelezh, zoken. Ar Sokialisted-Nevez o deus degemeret ur gresk bras (40%) er deus graet kalz gant 19 kannadez diwar 30 votadegoù 1999. Evit hini 2006 ar sifroù oa plac’h. Da lavaret eo tost eus an div muioc’h eget hanter kant dre gant. Evit drederenn gant 63%. Plaid Cymru gant 6 komprenn ar perag eo dav mennegiñ traoù kannadez hag al Lib.-Dem. gant teir o deus disheñvel. Er penn kentañ tout ne oa ket eus reomp e vefe un dra vat ha yac’h evit an graet 20% ha 10% eus ar mec’hed dilennet. ar Parliamant-se araok. Ouzhpenn-se, demokratelezh, ma vefe muioc’h a merc’hed Evit echuiñ ar Conservatourien, gant 2 gwirioù ar Parliamant n’int ket ken kreñv o kemer perzh er votadegoù. Araok votiñ an kannadez o deus graet tro dro 7%. Benn ar eget hini Londrez. Memestra kalz kreñvoc’h destenn-se ez eus bet kalz añv eus ar kotaioù. fin an disoc’hoù dreist-ordinal zo bet tizhet a eget hini Breizh (< €1bn). Dreist holl, budget Ar pal a oa da vont an tu all eus eun drugarez d’ar merc’hed a oa bet dilennet an Bro Gembre a zo uheloc’h eget € 21bn. Mod drederenn (33%) evit ma vefe ul levezon war taol ar raok hag diwar ar gresk el listennoù all, ar mouezhiadur oa ur meskaj mat etre al lezennoù. Ar gudenn vrasañ zo deuet eus “rannvroel”. Memestra dav eo lavar n’eo ket unan muiañ-niver hag ar kenfeurel. Padal ar strolladoù lec’hel. Er pastellioù-vro-se bet aes da lakaat merc’hed e-plas ar paotred. ouzhpenn ar youl politikel kaset war ar raok (constituencies) an izili oa tec’het da zibab ar Tabutoù a zo bet war an dachennoù lec’hel. gant ar Sokialisted-Nevez e oa an nerzh hag re a oa araok war ar reñk, evit Londrez. Dreist-holl, dav eo trugarekaat Tony Blair e ar startijenn lakaet e-barzh ar stourm-se gant Dreist-holl, an divizoù oa graet war an Londrez evit mont war zu an demokratelezh. ar feministed. Ganto eo bet astennet al “dillid”. Setu perag e oa dav cheñch penn da Dav eo ivez trugarekaat Rhodri Morgan lezenn evit lakaat e pleustr positive action. wazh evit mont war ar raok. Ar Socialisted- o deus savet, er bloavezh 2000, ur Un doare nevez da vont war zu ar “positive Nevez ha Plaid Cymru o deus klasket mont governamant gant muioc’h merc’hed eget discrimination” savet gant J. F. Kennedy er war zu ar “Positive Discrimination”. Padal al paotred. E oa ar gwec’h gentañ da welet ur bloavezhioù tri-ugent. Ar Parliamant nevez a Lib.-Dem. hag ar Conservatourien n’ho doa plac’h e penn minitrerezh an arc’hant bras, zo bet savet a vez implijet en un doare kalz ket graet kalz strivoù. Memestra ar Edwina Hart he añv. modernoc’h eget hini Londrez. Setu perag an gevredigezh a zo aet war ar raok. Ar darempredoù zo bet gwelloc’h, efedusoc’h Socialisted-Nevez o deus dilennet 15 merc’h Disoc’h ar stourm ar raok votadegoù-2007: ha jentiloc’h etre an holl strolladoù politikel. diwar 28 (= 53%); Plaid Cymru 6 merc’h Ar galloudoù graet da Vro Gembre dre an diwar 17 (= 35%); Lib.-Dem. 3 merc’h diwar devolution ne oa ken kreñv eget ar pezh zo Votadegoù (1999) diwezhañ ar c’hantved 6 (= 50%), hag ar Conservatourien netra bet aotreet da Vro Skoz. Padal ar stourm Ar maout a zo aet gant merc’hed peogwir ez diwar 9 ezel. Benn ar fin 24 merc’h a zo bet kaset da benn gant ar merc’hed o deus graet eus bet ur stourm a feson e diavezh ar dilennet diwar 60. Da lavaret eo 40% en holl. ur skouer evit ar bed ar bezh. Dre-se Bro

Carn 5 Gembre zo anavezet kalz gwelloc’h el live etre-vroadel, eget ar raok. Evit ar bruderezh- Regionalisation se dav eo trugarekaat ar strolladoù politikel a oa prest da vont war hent ar “positive discrimination”. Evit mont pelloc’h er The Breton Democratic Union (or votadegoù a viz Mae-2007 e vo dav Unvaniezh Demokratel Breizh in Breton) kenderc’hel gant ur sistem voterezh held its two-yearly Conference in Kemper kenfeurel hag ur youl kreñv a-berzh ar on the 11th and 12th of November 2006. strolladoù politikel eus a bep tu, bounted During this conference Romain Pasquier, gant ar feministed a bep sort. Setu forzh who teaches political science at Rennes penaos “chañs vat” d’an demokratelezh e University, gave a talk about regional Bro Gembre a zo dija eus ar re gentañ er bed reform in France, followed by a debate. At ha bezh. first, he said, it is not easy to conceive the Gi Keltik way to reform regional policy. It is Courtesy V. Molinari necessary to take into consideration French political traditions and institutions as they Summary: Policies from the political are. French institutions are different from parties to increase the number of women those of Spain, Belgium, Italy, or the United Assembly members have resulted in the Kingdom. It is better to devise a middle Welsh National Assembly, with around half way of regionalisation which will be its AC’s women, having a greater degree of consonant with the spirit of French sex equality than any other parliament in the decentralisation. world. When you compare the French situation with the European one, you will notice a lack of both political power and democratic legitimacy. You naturally Romain Pasqier have to work in both these fields. Let us Breton Party-Strollad also keep in mind what is essential for furthered: to restrict more strongly the regionalisation: the changing of the plurality of electoral mandates to cut the composition of the French Senate, in which link between a national mandate and a Breizh celebrates 1 the defenders of the départements are regional one. This plurality tends to give SNP success! very strong, and the giving of a democratic the electors conflicting interests that meaning to regionalisation. prevent the clear expression of a national To have a true regional democracy, point of view about national questions. Breton Party-Strollad Breizh wishes to con- you have to reinforce the regional powers. Instead, voters tend to be influenced by gratulate the , Alex The French régions have to be allowed local interests, sometimes in a corporate Salmond, the whole SNP party leadership to manage more aspects of regional way. In countries with a clearly identified and all its militants for this fantastic victory. development. At present they have powers and responsible regional ruling class, the With its new 47 strong parliamentary group regarding the building of secondary schools link between the regional mandate and in Edinburgh, the SNP becomes the first and railway traffic; the value of their work the national one has been cut. party in the Scottish Parliament. This truly in these both fields is positive. The second Progress on regional reform is still historic moment for Scotland clearly shows part of decentralisation has strengthened going to be difficult. Unavoidably it will the will of its people to get a strong local the regional power in the field of economic come up against the defenders of the democracy. Breton Party-Strollad Breizh development and professional training and départements, numerous in the Senate. fighting for the very same ideas considers has opened the way to new experiment- The greater part of its members are ation. To go further it is necessary to have the consistent progress and victories of the representatives of the General Councils laws to give the metropolitan regions SNP as the best example for the democratic (governing the départements). For wider powers, which have already been future of Brittany. many decades the Senate has been given to the overseas départements and restricting the regionalisation of French regions; it will be a way to fit national For the Breton Party- decentralisation. To succeed in regional regulations to regional realities in many Strollad Breizh in London, reform it will be necessary to have all the fields (culture, environment, coastal Christian Guillemot, local authorities represented in the Senate. policy). Head of the External Federation. It will be necessary to act quickly to But regional democracy also means true overcome the organised opposition and to More information on regional parliamentary government. There give to the drive for reform the required http://www.partibreton.org/fedext are now in the regional council political momentum to win over public opinion. The groups and a presidentialised executive. idea of ‘participating democracy’ may be a External Federation of the BRETON But it is necessary to go further to have a way of promoting this. PARTY-STROLLAD BREIZH clear separation of the legislative from the 2 Cresswell Gardens, executive, which does not exist at present. 1 The département is a local authority as big as LONDON SW5 0BJ, The president of the regional council is or often bigger than a county. At the time of the UNITED KINGDOM at the same time leading the Executive French Revolution Brittany was divided into five  +44 (0) 787 981 1060 and presiding over the Assembly. There is départements. At present the Regional Council Fax : +44 870752 5683 only one region in France with a clear of Brittany includes members elected in only the four départements of the official région of separation of the executive from the E-mail: [email protected] Brittany. BP 50403 56104 An Oriant - Lorient Cedex legislative: it is the territorial community of - Breizh/Brittany Corsica with, on one hand, the Corsican (From an article by Romain Pasqier published in /Fax: 00 33 2 97 64 12 76 Assembly with its chairman, and on the the December issue of Le Peuple breton.) [email protected] other hand the Executive Council of Corsica Y Jardin www.partibreton.org and its President. There is also an important change to be © (All rights reserved)

6 Carn The Language of the Dragon

With a few more than half a million reaching a real official recognition. speakers, Welsh is not only the most spoken Recognition was further reinforced in 1988 of the , it is also the one that by the creation of the Welsh Language is reconquering more of what it lost during Board. Today, with a strength of 75 salaried the 20th century. But what are the causes of employees, this organism, that is anxious to such good health which are tragically so keep its independence in relation to the contrasted by those of its continental cousin? autonomous government, endeavours to give An analysis of a Breton journalist in the back to Welsh its rightful place in all aspects country of the red dragon. of daily life. From badges allowing speakers to recognize each other and to enter naturally The Determining Role of Education. into conversation in the language of the The end of the 19th century saw an country to the collaboration with the organised persecution by the English system multinational Microsoft for the realisation of of the popular languages of the people. It a computerised Welsh dictionary, its was the time of the “Not Welsh”, the insular missions are numerous. equivalent of the French “symbole”, which The W.L.B delegates for example to made as much devastation as the organisers in small communities where denouncement instituted in France with the strengths of the Welsh-speakers are The most recent statistics establish that regard to educational facilities. Yet, whereas decreasing, to create activity aimed at young today Welsh is spoken fluently by close to the French hexagon steers deliberately parents in order to encourage them to enrol 22% of the population, against only 18.7% in towards a policy of eradication of any their children in Welsh monolingual events 1991. Better still, in fifteen years the Welsh- linguistic diversity, the United Kingdom is or at least bilingual. speaking population of Cardiff has doubled, moving fairly swiftly towards a change of from 15 000 to 30 000 speakers. And the attitude. Since 1890, the use of bilingual 3-15 year old age group represents close to a manuals has been allowed there. In 1939, third of the totality of Welsh speakers. This some years before the opening of the first reversing is explained largely by this simple school using the in Plestin, observation of Prys Davies: “Today, it has an entirely Welsh private school was become an advantage to know Welsh. Before founded in . But whereas the that it was the opposite!” French government mercilessly closed the One is well aware, alas, in Brittany, of this one in Plestin in 1944, its British counterpart reverse of this tendency. The French state created in 1947 the first state school in persists in its refusal to ratify the European Welsh. A Shining Media Landscape Charter of Regional or Minority Languages, More than half a century later, in a system The united efforts of the school system and whose acceptance is one of the conditions of where school politics depend extensively on the W.L.B would probably not be sufficient the entry in the EU of the new member states. the local authorities, the Welsh language if it were not for efficient and coordinated The National Assembly has just repulsed, almost shows evidence of unashamed health. media politics. Already, since 1936 which last January, an amendment to Article 2 of In 1988, four years before the European saw the setting up of a service of the B.B.C the Constitution, proposed by the Breton Union drafted the European Charter of in Welsh, the strengths of journalists and the Deputy Marc Lefur, in favour of minority Regional or Minority Languages - still not number of weekly hours dedicated to the languages and the Ministry of the Education ratified by France - The Education Reform language of the country has increased. But regularly violates the State-Region plan Act made obligatory the teaching of the the most important event of the last thirty carrying on the yearly creation of posts of Welsh in all educational establishments in years was probably the creation of a real bilingual Breton-French teachers. the country. A law that has borne extensive monolingual public TV channel. Promised Thierry Jigourel fruits, since in the five years that followed its by the Tories at the time of their election adoption, the number of primary schools campaign of 1979, Sianel Pedwar Cymru where teaching was fully in the Welsh was created in 1981, after much canvassing language increased from 417 to 460. They and a threatened hunger strike by Gwynffar account today for 29% of the strength of the Evans that governed the destinies of Plaid school population. In the same time, the Cymru, the Welsh nationalistic party at that Ar Bed Keltiek English monolingual schools disappeared time. Twenty-five years later, S4C is a completely. dynamic channel, that employs 210 people directly and that generates more than 1200 On line books, records, Celtic art. The Welsh Board indirect jobs. Kemper: 02.98.95.42.82 These results would probably not have been obtained without the continuing effort Trends Brest: 02.98.44.05.38 of the whole Welsh society and in particular The results of this popular linguistic http://www.arbedkeltiek.com of its cultural representatives. If the creation politics could not wait. Following the vote by of the Welsh Office, in 1964, created the British Parliament, in 1993, of the Deddf conditions favourable to the use of Welsh in Iaith Gymraeg (Law on the Welsh language), Ar Bed Keltiek (2 Str. Ar Roue Gralon, every day life, it was necessary to wait until that reinforces the principle of equality of the 29000 Kemper). 1967 and the vote on the Welsh Language languages in administration and justice, the When phoning from abroad, Act, that recognised the validity of Welsh language of the sons of the red dragon began omit the 0 in the prefix. and English in administration and the courts, to reconquer the land lost since the beginning to see the language of Dylan Thomas of the 20th century.

Carn 7 AN IMPORTANT RENDEZVOUS

When politics and the people meet up begun to feel somewhat overwhelmed and around a ballot box, the result can be powerless in an organization that has now anything but predictable as the French 27 members. rejection of the European constitutional treaty on the 29th of May 2005 showed. During the French referendum campaign, The French “non” was a significant rebuff the opponents to the treaty based their at 54.68 per cent with a high turnout at arguments on the fact that the EU was around 70 per cent. As in 2002, it more concerned about economic policy represented an unambiguous level of than about social policy, that is, more dissatisfaction with the main political engrossed in ensuring that no member of parties who had rallied around the treaty. the Euro zone had a deficit exceeding 3 per It plunged the Socialist party once again cent of its GNP (Gross National Product), into disarray, as well as dealing a major than in tackling factory closures and social dumping by implementing fiscal blow to Jacques Chirac’s hopes of injecting Maura Stewart some life into his somewhat unpopular harmonisation. However, if the EU seems second presidential term. Furthermore, more efficient on the economic front than this result was a terrible blow for the on the social front, it is because France’s European Union (EU), in which France had desire to use the EU as a means of re- future depends on France’s future. always played both a founding and leading establishing or creating its economic Henceforth, all eyes are on the French role. It called not only into question potential was far greater than its wish to presidential election whose campaign has the direction that Europe had been taking strengthen the powers of the European so far been more diverted with stories in relation to enlargement and free institutions, even if special care was about the secret services and political movement of services, but also its future, always taken to express this wish in gaffes than with an open exchange as Europe is still searching for a way to written form in several European treaties. of ideas concerning unemployment, immigration and Europe. Will these relaunch its constitutional project. Thus, one could say that if the EU is elections allow hope to spring in a country perceived as too liberal or “Anglo-Saxon”, The aim of my thesis, entitled The 29th of that is still in a somewhat cynical, it is perhaps due to the fact that France May 2005 referendum. A European citizen gloomy mood following the “non” to the inadvertently overlooked the institutional at the bedside of a sick France, was to European constitutional treaty, the urban limitations of its own organization, while it analyse the reasons why France had voted riots of November 2005 and the street was busy attending to its economy. In no to this latest European project, a protests against the government’s recent addition, one could argue that the culmination of French leadership in the endeavour to introduce flexible labour pessimistic idea of Europe as being a form of a former French president, Valéry laws? They say that “hope springs eternal”. contributing factor in France’s economic Giscard d’Estaing, and of French design, Unfortunately, Europe cannot wait forever. that is, a project that incorporated previous and social woes conveniently allows France Maura Stewart treaties with the French stamp of approval. to escape the unavoidable truth: Europe’s The “non” was more influenced by the French context than by the text of the treaty itself. It was the result of a negative vision of the EU as being the cause of most Yann-Kel Kernalegenn Remembered French economic problems, as well as being a threat to the French social model. This vision is very much different to France’s positive view of European construction, from the fifties right through to the late eighties, as a means of ensuring peace on the continent after the two world wars, and more importantly, as a way of safeguarding her economic interests. It included a weak and divided Germany, and excluded , thanks to General Charles de Gaulle’s objections. France could happily impose her “dirigiste” (planned economy) style of command, which consisted of controlling and distributing the gains and losses in Thirty years ago on the 29 of September 1976, Yann-Kêl Kernalegenn died. He was an FLB activist and advance by negotiation. However, with worked on the construction of the Ti-Voujeret military camp. Yann – Kel was deeply involved in all the end of the Cold war, the reunification aspects of the Breton struggles. He was a Breton language activist and worked hard in the trade union movement and was also a member of the military organisation which was active in the 70’s. of Germany, the subsequent entry of 12 In remembrance, the Souvenir Committee, specially formed for the event, organised a commemoration new member states from eastern and on the 30th October last in the Kêrfeunteun cemetery, where some eighty people participated. Eminent central Europe and their marked interest in Breton language activist Pêr Denez, a University Lecturer, sent texts in both Breton and French which was copying their British counterpart’s free read on the day. market style of economics, France has

8 Carn TOWN AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS TO GIVE Cymru OPINION ON HOMES4LOCALS.COM

The anti-colonisation pressure group Cymuned has sent over 600 letters, one to Cynhadledd Ai’ta! 2007 every town or community council in Wales, to ask them to declare their support for the Cynhaliodd Ai’ta!, y mudiad newydd yn cyrraedd eu cyflwr difreintiedig, sydd wedi ideas on the group’s website Homes4 Llydaw sydd yn ymgyrchu dros y Llydaweg arwain at gilio ac edwino. Mae gwladwriaeth Locals.com. The website calls for planning drwy weithredu uniongyrchol ers ei sefydlu Ffrainc, fel Prydain Fawr hyd at y degawdau permission for new residential building to ym Mawrth 2005, eu cynhadledd gyntaf, diwethaf, wedi gweld ac yn dal i weld ei hun be restricted to local need only, as is Gouel Ai’ta!, ddydd Sadwrn y 14eg o Ebrill fel endid unffurf mewn iaith a diwylliant. already happening in Yorkshire and ym mhentref Tonkedeg ger Lannuon yn Bro Nid oes arni eisiau cydnabod yr amrywiaeth Shropshire in England. Dreger. ‘Roedd dirprwyaeth o aelodau o ieithyddol ar ei thiriogaeth. Ond ni fydd yn “We believe the voice of our town and Gymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg ymysg y gallu aros yn hir ar ymylon y symudiad byd- community councils is extremely important cynrychiolwyr o rai mudiadau iaith eraill a eang tuag at barchu amrywiaeth ieithyddol a in the context of the current housing oedd wedi cael gwahoddiadau i gymryd rhan diwylliannol, a diystyru adroddiadau ac crisis,” says Aran Jones, Cymuned’s Chief mewn trafodaeth ar y cyd. argymhellion cyfreithiol rhyngwladol. Executive, “and although too much power Yn y bore cafwyd trafodaeth rhwng “Gallwn ddysgu o’r datblygiadau yn y has already been moved from community aelodau o Ai’ta! o wahanol rannau o Lydaw system gweidyddol ym Mhrydain. Mae’r councils to county councils, the opinion of - Bro Dreger, Roazhon, Kerne Izel, Naoned, camau ymlaen a wnaed gyda’r iaith yng Bro Wened - ynghylch strategaeth ac Nghymru yn y blynyddoedd diweddar ym ymgyrchoedd y mudiad. meysydd addysg, y cyfryngau, a statws, yn Drwy’r prynhawn cynhaliwyd trafodaeth dangos canlyniadau’r gydnabyddiaeth gyhoeddus (yn Ffrangeg) gyda swyddogol mae’r Gymraeg wedi’i chael, ac chynrychiolwyr o Ai’ta! ac o’r mudiadau effeithiolrwydd y grym gwleidyddol iaith eraill a wahoddwyd sef Cymdeithas yr gymharol fawr yng Nghymru. Iaith o Gymru, Hartèra o Ocitania, ac ”Dyna pam y credwn na ellir adfywio a Angelets de la Terra o Ogledd Catalwnia (y datblygu ieithoedd lleiafrifol gwladwriaeth rhan o Gatalwnia a reolir gan Ffrainc). Ffrainc heb gydnabyddiaeth a statws Cafwyd sgwrs gan lefarwyr Ai’ta! a phob un swyddogol. Galwn felly ar Arlywydd o’r grwpiau eraill yn eu tro am sefyllfaoedd newydd Ffrainc** i arwyddo Siartr eu hieithoedd ac amcanion eu mudiadau, ac Ewropeaidd yr Ieithoedd Llai eu Defnydd, wedyn trafodaeth agored i’r gynulleidfa o cam anhepgorol os ydyw’n hieithoedd i fyw. tua 60 ynghylch amddiffyn ieithoedd Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Cymru) difreintiedig a’r anawsterau mawr oedd yn Hartèra (Occitania) wynebu’r ieithoedd oedd o dan weriniaeth Angelets de la Terra (Catalunya) town and community councils has to be Ffrainc. ‘Roedd aelodau o ganghennau Ai’ta! (Breizh) “ taken seriously - they see the shattering Breizh a Chymru o’r Undeb Celtaidd yn consequences of the current system bresennol. Terfynwyd y diwrnod gyda fest noz mawr on a day to day basis in their own Ar y diwedd cynhaliwyd cynhadledd i’r yn y neuadd a roddodd esiampl o communities.” Wasg lle crynhowyd trafodaethau’r fywiogrwydd y diwylliant yn Bro Dreger. Cymuned’s letter to all the town and prynhawn, a gwnaeth y cyrychiolwyr o’r Llond neuadd o ddau gant o bobl, a’r rhan community councils of Wales asks for pedwar mudiad oedd yn bresennol - fwyaf yn siarad Llydaweg. two responses - for the council to Cymdeithas, Angelets de la Terra, Hartèra, Robat ap Tomos answer Cymuned via post or e-mail to Ai’ta! - ddatganiad ar y cyd. Nodiadau: declare support for the ideas on “Yr ydym ni, Cymry, Catalaniaid, Cymraeg, Llydaweg, ac Ocitaneg. homesforlocals.com, and for the council to Ocitaniaid, a Llydawyr, wedi dod ynghyd contact the local County Council to request yma heddiw yn Tonkedeg er mwyn ** Cynhaliwyd y gynhadledd ychydig o them directly to implement those ideas. cyfnewid ein profiadau fel siaradwyr ddyddiau cyn rownd gyntaf etholiad “This is the first step in a particularly ieithoedd difreintiedig ac, yn fwy na hynny, arlywyddiaeth Ffrainc. Erbyn hyn, wrth important campaign,” says Aran Jones. fel amddiffynwyr yr ieithoedd hynny. Er bod gwrs, gwyddom mai’r ceidwadwr Nicolas “There’s been talk about the housing crisis ein sefyllfaoedd i gyd yn wahanol, mae ein Sarkozy ydyw’r Arlywydd newydd. for over five years now, but attempts to hieithoedd i gyd yn rhannu’r cyflwr o fod yn solve it have been few and limited. Too ddifreintiedig - o gael eu gwthio allan o Summary: much emphasis has been placed on fywyd cyhoeddus gan y Saesneg neu’r The relatively new Breton language affordable housing and not enough on Ffrangeg. Mae eu defnydd cymunedol wedi movement Ai’ta! held a conference at ensuring sustainable local markets. If the lleihau cymaint bod tair ohonynt* ers 2002 Tonkedeg in Bro Dreger on April 14th, with town and community councils of Wales ar restr UNESCO o ieithoedd mewn perygl. guest representatives from Cymdeithas yr respond positively to our request, every “I ni ac i bawb sydd â chydymdeimlad tuag Iaith of Wales, and North Catalan and will need to engage in at amrywiaeth ddiwylliannol, nid ydyw’r Occitan language movements, taking part in serious discussion on this matter as part of fath dynged yn anochel. Am resymau a debate on minorized languages. A joint their Assembly election campaign this gwleidyddol mae ein hieithoedd wedi declaration was issued at a press conference. year.”

Carn 9 Rally in Bangor for New Language Act

250 members and supporters attended “The fact that Morrisons have not kept A Cymdeithas spokesman’s reply stated: another in the series of rallies being their word to introduce a bilingual policy is ”It is strange that Alun Pugh should have organised by Cymdeithas yr Iaith (the Welsh proof of the need for a New Language Act. such a strong attachment to the 1993 ) for a New Welsh We therefore call on all the political parties Language Act, a piece of legislation passed Language Act, this time in Bangor, to commit to supporting a language act that by the last Conservative government and Gwynedd, on January 27th. The speakers would ensure a role for Welsh equal with which was justifiably condemned at the time included , Plaid Cymru MP English in the private sector.” by the opposition Labour Party for its for Caernarfon and party language Cymdeithas used this protest to draw weakness. spokesman, and Cymdeithas national attention to the need for the private sector to ”We must ask why he is so intent on chairman Steffan Cravos, as well as local be included in language legislation. This was treating ‘promoting the language’ and ‘new cysylltydd cell Bethan Williams. the last rally before Cymdeithas presented a legislation’ as opposites. Surely it is obvious At the end of the rally the nearby petition calling for a new Welsh Language to everyone legislation is necessary if we Morrisons supermarket was targeted as an Act with over 10,000 signatures to the wish to promote the language effectively? example of a company whose unwillingness National Assembly on February 7th. The “Mr Pugh’s limp and weak attitude to the to use Welsh exemplifies the need for Assembly’s Culture Minister, Alun Pugh language is completely contrary to the legislation. The shop was occupied and the (New Labour) had been invited to receive the consensus now growing amongst the entrance blocked, while three members - petition and meet a Cymdeithas delegation to opposition parties in the Assembly in favour Gwenno Teifi, Stiwart Edwards, and Bethan discuss the issue, but he refused. Pugh, seen of new language legislation.” Williams - were arrested for sticking posters by some as one of the most hostile to the Cymdeithas have drafted a provisional on the shop. Cymdeithas representatives had language in the Assembly, had already taken Welsh language law in consultation with a travelled to meet Morrisons at their an anti-language act stance. Pugh said: number of prominent individuals including headquarters in Bradford, England, last year “My position on the bilingual future of former Archdruid Robyn Léwis, and various and were given to understand that the Wales is well known to all. I believe that it is bodies including the government’s language company would adopt a bilingual policy, but far more important to concentrate our efforts quango. nothing had changed. Steffan Cravos, on promoting the Welsh language for the Cymdeithas chairman and leader of the sake of all rather than on creating new protest, said: legislation.”

WIGLEY THANKS FORMER FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER PLAID CALL FOR BILINGUAL JURIES At the annual dinner of the Paris Welsh Society on the On the 16th of January in the London parliament Plaid MP for 9th of March, , former Plaid Cymru leader Caernarfon, Hywel Williams, presented a 10 Minute Rule Bill which and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly of would allow a knowledge of Welsh to become compulsory for juries in Wales, conveyed thanks to former French Foreign Minister Welsh-medium court cases. Mr Williams said: Michel Barnier, recalling the way in which M. Barnier - at “At present the 1974 Juries Act allows for jurors to be disqualified on the that time Regional Commissioner of the European Union basis of that they do not have a significant understanding of English. I - responded to a plea for help for Wales in problems they believe there is wide support for this provision to be extended to the Welsh were suffering with the English government. language in certain cases. After meeting a delegation led by Dafydd Wigley, “There has been growth in the number of cases heard through the medium including two Plaid Cymru members of the European of Welsh. Since the Juries Act was passed the Welsh Language Act of 1993 Parliament - and Eurig Wyn - M. Barnier raised has been enacted which is based on the principle that Welsh and English with the Treasury in London the question as to why should be treated on the basis of equality. Even though simultaneous European regional grant money intended to help the translation has been used in courts across Wales I believe it is important Welsh economy, was not in fact being passed on to Wales, that in certain cases the jury should have a direct understanding of the but was being kept by the English Treasury in London, evidence. The practical way to achieve this is to have juries that are with Wales getting no additional benefit whatsoever. bilingual. Dafydd Wigley said “Following our representations, and “The Government has consulted on this matter over the last 18 months, M Barnier’s timely intervention, Wales was given £442 however they are yet to bring forward any proposals. I hope that this Bill million (€630 million) which was of great benefit to the will encourage the Government to take action. The Bill has support by both Welsh economy. Coming here to Paris today, I want to sides of the House, and is also supported by a wide range of legal opinion place on record our thanks to M. Barnier for his help”. in Wales including senior members of the judiciary.”

10 Carn PLAID MAKE GAINS IN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

The third Welsh General Election, to elect election, and Gareth Jones the members of the National Assembly of (a strong supporter of the language) respec- Wales, took place on May 3rd 2007. The tively regaining their former seats. Plaid’s results saw Plaid Cymru gaining 3 seats, and third gain was in the South East regional list, holding all those they already had, to give where Mohammed Asghar gained a seat them a total of 15, and the ruling Labour from the Tories to become the second Plaid Mohammed Asghar party lose seats, dropping to 26 out of the 60 member in the region, joining Jocelyn members so that they no longer have enough Davies. Mohammed Asghar is originally the electoral system they did not lose many seats to govern alone. from Pakistan, and was hailed in the media as seats this time. However in 11 of the 24 con- Plaid entered the election holding five of the first Assembly member from the “ethnic stituencies they won their majority is now the 40 constituency seats, the five most minorities” (not counting the Welsh-speakers less than 2000, less than 1000 in four of these Welsh-speaking seats around the Bro as such). Plaid held all their other regional and less than 100 in two, so they will be Gymraeg in the west, and seven regional list list seats - in the North, Nerys defending many marginals next time with not seats. Since the previous election there had Evans taking over the Mid & West seat, much room for a further hostile swing with- been radical boundary changes in the north and Chris Franks in South out serious losses. west that saw the most Welsh constituency, Central, and Bethan Jenkins and Dai Lloyd in The Conservatives (or Tories), who on the Caernarfon, broken up between two not quite South West. surface at least seem to have given up their so Welsh areas. However Dafydd Elis Plaid’s nearest miss was in Carmarthen anti-devolution hard-unionist approach, Thomas won the new Dwyfor Merionnydd West & South Pembrokeshire where John gained four constituency seats from Labour seat for Plaid with the largest majority in the Dixon had only 250 votes less than the but it cost them two of their regional list 40 contstituencies, over 59% of the vote. The Conservative who beat Labour by 98 votes in seats. One satisfaction for nationalists was to new seat of Arfon also gave a mandate for what is now a very close 3-way marginal. see the Tories take Clwyd West, the seat of Welsh independence, with Plaid’s Alun Other disappointments were the failure to Alun Pugh, Labour’s “Culture” minister and Ffred Jones taking over 50% of the vote, as win a second regional seat in the North, one of the greatest opponents of the language did Carmarthen East & Dinefwr where where the former leader Dafydd Wigley was in the Assembly, who is thus removed. The was re-elected. Plaid second on the list and whose experience Liberal Democrats won the same six seats as held the seats in Ceredigion, where Elin would have been valuable, and the failure to before, for the third election running. Jones, taking 49%, withheld a strong Liberal make significant progress against a relatively The make-up of the new Assembly, shortly Democrat challenge, and Ynys Môn unpopular Labour party in the Valleys, where to be given extra powers, is thus: Labour 24 (Anglesey) where leader Plaid had won two seats in the 1999 high seats (down 4), Plaid Cymru 15 (up 3), won. Plaid re-gained, from Labour, Llanelli tide, or elsewhere in English-speaking Conservatives 12 (up 1), Liberal Democrats in the south and Aberconwy in the north Wales. 6 (as before), Independents 1. Labour’s (previously Conwy, with different bound- On the unionist side the Labour party, Rhodri Morgan continues to be First Minister aries), two semi-Anglicized seats adjoining squeezed by the Tories and Plaid, took its of Wales, but he may need the support of this bloc, which they had held after their best lowest proportion of the vote in Wales since Plaid to be able to govern. ever performance in the 1999 first Assembly 1918, in its formative years, but because of Robat ap Tomos

CRE CYMRU DIRECTOR SPEAKS AT CYMUNED ANNUAL CONFERENCE The Director of CRE (Commission for appropriate discussion on a very emotional Racial Equality) Cymru, Chris Myant, was a subject - the future of our communities’. guest speaker at Cymuned’s Annual Cymuned believe that newcomers to the Conference in Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd, Bro Gymraeg (Welsh-speaking areas) face a on Saturday 14th of April. The civic responsibility to learn and use the Commission’s largest ever project in Wales, Welsh language in order to avoid doing the ‘Croeso’ project, was under discussion, irreparable damage to the future of the and Chris Myant considered the language and the future of rural Welsh responsibility communities face to welcome communities. newcomers, and the responsibility ‘The Commission and Cymuned are agreed newcomers face to integrate into their new that the challenge for both of our communities. organisations,’ said Chris Myant, ‘is to find ‘We are particularly pleased to welcome ways of focusing on the bigger issue: how Chris Myant to our Annual Conference this the increasing movement of people into and Chris Myant Director of CRE year,’ said Aran Jones, Cymuned’s Chief out of Welsh-speaking areas of the country, Executive. ‘We have worked increasingly the overwhelming majority of which takes aspect of the life of these communities and closely with the Commission over the last place without friction or rancour, can be one which will be taken up and shared by three years, and we are very grateful for their accompanied by a strong development of the incomers as much as by those born into support as we attempt to encourage Welsh language as a welcoming, confident Welsh-speaking families.’

Carn 11 bhfuil an dá thuairim ann faoi i measc náisiúnaithe. Ceist eile a sheachnaíonn siad is ea an rogha idir poblacht agus monarcacht. Dá dochreite is atá sé d’Èireannaigh tá roinnt Éire mhaith náisiúnaithe in Albain a bheadh sásta ligint do mhonarc Shasana leanacht ar aghaidh mar cheann stáit ar stát neamhspleách. Ach tá níos mó agus níos mó plé á Albain ar bhóthar na saoirse dhéanamh ar an gcineál neamhspleáchais atá Is í ceist an neamhspleáchais an bhuncheist pharlaiminteach acu agus atá ar son roimh na hAlbanaigh. Sin comhartha sóirt i bpolaitíocht na hAlban anois. Ní hé “An neamhspleáchais is ea Páirtí Sóisialach na go bhfuil céim mhór glactha cheana féin ag bhféadfadh?” an cheist atá á plé a thuilleadh hAl;ban (SSP) agus Páirtí Glas na hAlban. cuid mhór den phobal, go bhfuil an chonstaic ach “Arbh fhearr?” nó, go deimhin, “Cathain?” agus “Cén chaoi?” Léiríonn pobal bhreitheanna go bhfuil lucht tacaíochta an neamhspleáchais — an móramh — seasmhach ina dtuairim, go bhfuil an dearcadh sin forleathan i measc gach aicme den phobal agus i ngach áit in Albain agus, níos spéisiúla fós go nglacann na daoine atá ina aghaidh leis go dtiocfaidh neamhspleáchas luath nó mall. Ní hamháin sin ach léirigh daonáireamh i dtús na bliana go raibh 59% de dhaoine a ceistíodh i Sasana féin i bhfabhar scarúint na hAlban ó Shasana. Tá Tony Blair agus imithe fiáin ag argóint ar son na Ríochta Aontaithe. Táthar ag tabhairt le fios go mbeadh Albain scriosta ó thaobh na heacnamaíochta de dá mbrisfeadh sí le Sasana, rud nach bhfuil bunús leis. Is í tuairim chuid shuntasach de Paráid Independence First i nDún Eadain ag deireadh Márta lucht gnó na hAlban gur a mhalairt a tharlódh agus níl an tuairim sin bunaithe an Tacaíonn an SNP, an SSP agus na Glasaigh shíceolaíoch maidir le briseadh an aontais oiread sin ar ola fharraigí na hAlban. Níl aon le heagraíocht den ainm Independence First sáraithe acu. Buille ollásach in aghaidh an cheist ach go bhfuil fadhb mhór ag na atá ag iarraidh feidhmiú mar chineál fronta impiriúlachais a bheas ann nuair a bhrisfidh haontachtaithe. Le fada an lá tá Páirtí an aontaithe ag náisiúnaithe. Chomh maith leis Albain le Sasana. Nárbh fhada uainn an lá! Lucht Oibre i Sasana ag brath ar Albain le an trí mhórpháirtí úd tá páirtithe beaga mar Colm de Faoite tromlach a thabhairt dóibh in Westminster. an Free Scotland Party, an Scottish Sin fadhb do Shasanaigh ach dáiríre is mó Independence Party, Solidarity agus an SUMMARY d’fhadhb pháirtíchumhachta í ná aon rud eile Scottish Enterprise Party páirteach. Sheas an This article deals with the progress made in ó is beag difríocht atá idir polasaithe na Conradh Ceilteach le Independence First ón Scotland in the drive towards Independence; dTóraithe agus an Lucht Oibre le deich tús agus nuair a bhí paráid ag an eagraíocht i it is now no longer a question of ‘if ‘but mbliain anuas. Le linn an fheachtas nDún Eadain ar 31 Márta i mbliana bhí ‘when and how’. Independence First toghchánaíochta níl aon dabht gur éirigh le díorma de bhaill ó Éirinn i láthair le tacú le is a platform of parties who campaign for driopás mhuintir Blair agus a gcur chuige craobh na hAlban. Iompraíodh bratacha na a referendum to be held on independence. an náisiúnachas Albanach a neartú. Bhí sé dtíortha Ceilteacha ar fad agus cuireadh In addition to the SNP, the Greens and sin chomh soiléir sin gur thug ceannaire suntas mór i bpáirtíocht an Chonartha. the Scottish Socialist Party it comprises na dTóraithe, , faoi Dar le Independence First is í an chéim is the Free Scotland Party, the Scottish “mhaistínteacht” Blair ach ansin dúirt sé gur práinní reifreann a bheith ann faoi cheist an Independence Party, Solidarity, the Scottish ceart d’Albain fanacht sa Ríocht Aontaithe neamhspleáchais. Geallann an SNP go Enterprise Party and the Scottish Branch of mar go mbíonn Sasanaigh agus Albanaigh mbeidh sé sin ann taobh istigh de thrí bliana the . A major rally was held at “níos sibhialta” i dteannta a chéile. A ó theacht in oifig.dóibh. Éilíonn the end of March in Edinburgh. A delegation leithéid d’eitnealárachas! Ach in ainneoin Independence First nach mbeadh ina leithéid from the Irish Branch traveled across to na glórtha seo tá an stát Sasanach — an de reifreann ach ceist shimplí amháin ar dhul support the event. They were warmly fíorstát — ag ullmhú don bhriseadh. Féach “An bhfuil tú i bhfabhar Albain a bheith welcomed and the flags of all the Celtic gur nochtadh tamall ó shin go raibh neamhspleách?” Is í an imní atá orthu go nations were carried at the colourful event pleananna ann an lárionad fomhuireán gcuirfí sraith de roghanna faoi bhráid an which culminated in an open air concert with núicléacha a aistriú ó Faslane na hAlban go phobail, rud a d’fhéadfadh go leor daoine a some of Scotland’s major performers. The Portsmouth Shasana a luaithe agus a bheadh chur trína chéile agus a mbeadh toradh weekend was also availed of for discussions neamhspleáchas ar íor na spéire. doiléir ann dá bharr. Creidtear go mbeadh na with Alba Is é an léiriú is suntasaí ar neart an Liobrálaithe Daonlathacha sásta tacú lena branch members náisiúnachais an vóta mór atá bainte amach leithéid de reifreann ilrogha leis an t-éileamh and to sample ag Páirtí Náisiúnta na hAlban (SNP) ach tá ar neamhspleáchas a chur ó mhaith. the traditional an-chuid Albanach i bhfabhar deireadh a Seachnaíonn Independence First mar music and song chur leis an Ríocht Aontaithe taobh amuigh eagraíocht ceisteanna a d’fhéadfadh which is plenti- de lucht tacaíochta an pháirtí sin. Dhá pháirtí náisiúnaithe a dheighilt dar leis, ar nós na ful in the city. measartha láidir a bhfuil ionadaíocht ceiste faoi bhallraíocht san Aontas Eorpach a

12 Carn Northern Power Sharing Executive Agreed

On May 9th power sharing was reintroduced The DUP increased to 36 seats from 30 underpin the devolved Stormont executive for in the North with the appointment of the Rev seats four years ago, giving them four of the the next four years. , leader of the Democratic Unionist ten executive departments. Sinn Fein, up four The parties also committed to agreeing a Party, as First Minister and Sinn Féin MP seats to 28, is now 12 seats ahead of the programme for government. Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister SDLP, compared to 2003 when it was only 6 Within quick succession we had Dr. of a Northern Executive of ten ministers. The seats in front. As well as Martin McGuinness, Paisley’s visit to Bertie Ahern at the site of occasion was marked by conciliatory as a deputy first minister, it will also have the Battle of the Boyne and the address by speeches by both men. ‘I believe that has come to a time of peace, a time when hate will no longer rule. How good it will be to be part of a wonderful healing in our province’, said Dr. Paisley, a remarkable statement indeed from one of the organisers decades ago of the attacks on the civil rights marchers at Burntollet and who opposed the Agreement. He also said ‘I have not changed my unionism, the union of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom which I believe is today stronger then ever.’ Martin McGuinness stated ‘ I am proud to stand here today as an Irish Republican who believes absolutely in a ’. He also said ‘As joint heads of the Executive the First Minister and I pledge to do all in our power to ensure it makes a real difference to the lives of all our people by harnessing their skills through a first rate DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin President education system, caring for our sick in the finally together for the first time best health service we can provide and building our economy through encouraging three ministries. The Unionist Party Ahern to the joint Houses of Parliament in investment and improving our infrastructure.’ dropped to 18 seats , down 6 from 2003, but it Westminster, the first Irish Taoiseach to be While there were welcoming speeches from did manage to remain ahead of the SDLP, invited to do so. In this speech while urging Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who spoke of ‘the which means that in a reinstated Stormont it the need to sustain the hard won historic beginning of a new era for Northern will have two ministries. That edge over the achievements made in the North he claimed Ireland’ and British Premier Tony Blair (who SDLP also means unionists will have the that the relationship between Ireland and said ‘During the past decade the relations majority of seats in the executive – six to four. Britain has changed fundamentally for the between Ireland and Britain had been The basis for the dramatic development in better. Sinn Fein’s Ard Comhairle meanwhile transformed. Today we are partners and agreement on a power sharing executive had had given approval for three party members friends’) the day itself was almost an anti been set in place at proximity talks involving to take seats on the Northern Ireland Policing climax in comparison to the one at the end of Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson of Board. Among the objectives the party had March when it was announced that agreement the DUP. The Sinn Fein chief negotiator and set was to ensure that: on the restoration of devolution had been deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist  A civic policing service, accountable and reached. Party did not have face-to-face discussions. representative of the community was If most commentators has been pessimistic However, they did work in neighbouring delivered as quickly as possible. about the possibility of ultimate success in offices at Stormont castle a short distance  The Chief Constable and the PSNI would achieving agreement in the run up to the final from Parliament Buildings and communicated be publicly held to account and that deadline set by the British and Irish through senior officials. Among the policing with the community was Governments in the St. Andrew’s Agreement documents transferred between the two were achieved as a core function of the service. for agreement on power sharing in a new drafts of the leaders’ statements. What they  That political policing, collusion and ‘a Executive between the Democratic Unionist agreed formed the basis for a six week force within a force’ along with any Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin it was not programme leading to the restoration of involvement of MI5 in civiv policing surprising given the many twists and turns in devolution and power sharing at Stomont and would be a thing of the past. the last 11 years and the attitude of the DUP. the appearance together for the first time at A key element on the way to agreement was talks in Stormont of Rev. Ian Paisley and Sinn  That the issue of plastic bullets was the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, held after a series of Fein President Gerry Adams. In addition to properly addressed. public meetings across the North, which regular meetings between Dr. Paisley and Among the party’s manifesto launched in mid endorsed participation in policing on the basis Martin Mc Guinness, as prospective First May for the general election campaign in the of policing and justice powers being Minister and Deputy First Minister, meetings Republic were commitments that Sinn Féin, if devolved. Another step on the road to success were held among all four of the parties who in Government would complete a Green was the results of the Local Assembly are entitled to seats in the new executive. Paper on Irish Unity within the first year, elections which confirmed the dominant Further talks have since been held with introduce six counties elected representation positions of Sinn Féin on the nationalist side Chancellor Gordon Brown on a peace in the Dáil and have a referendum on Irish and the DUP on the unionist side. dividend and a financial package which will Unity simultaneously North and South.

Carn 13 Campaign for SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE Northern Language OF IRISH-MEDIUM EDUCATION Act continues The grave decision of the Minister for Education and Science with regard to the The campaign for an Act practice of immersion education in the in the North, POBAL, was very satisfied State’s Irish-medium primary schools has with the fact that 93% of the 575 been received with astonishment and dismay submissions made were in favour of the by GAELSCOILEANNA TEO. and by Irish- legislation. 2500 signatures were collected medium schools throughout the country. The on the internet appeal and 1,266 post cards decision, taken by the Minister in mid May, sent in support. However a later U turn by is such that Irish-medium schools will be the British Government when they pulled compelled to formally teach English by the back on a commitment to pass legislation beginning of the second term of junior in Westminster was condemned. While a infants at the latest. In the words Gaelscoileanna Teo.’s Chief Executive, draft Bill was published in mid March the of GAELSCOILEANNA TEO.’s Chief Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin British Culture Minister, Maria Eagle, Executive, Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, “This announced another round of consultation action is not only ill-advised but has no It appears that this decision dismisses the which would take three months. In the educational, expert or linguistic basis to it”. international expertise, the NCCA’s own draft bill seventeen public bodies will At the request of the Minister, the National recommendations, the recommendations and have to prepare implementation schemes Council for Curriculum and Assessment submissions of the key players in the Irish- which a Language Commissioner would (NCCA) implemented a public consultation language and education sectors, as well as supervise. Irish could be used in the court process on the development of language and the results of the widespread research and system and some official forms would literacy in Irish-medium primary schools. As submissions that were collected from parents be available in Irish. There was much a result of this process, which was based on and teachers throughout the country. however omitted, broadcasting in Irish and expert research on international best-practice Gaelscoileanna has said that it does not the question of signage in the language, for of immersion education, four models as well accept any decision that will be to the example. Janet Muller of POBAL said that as recommendations were submitted to the detriment of the Irish-language immersion the British Government ignored the 93% Minister in January 2007, based on system as a whole and has demanded of support and while they were now claiming international best-practice with a view to the Minister not to issue the planned circular that the public should have the opportunity developing a national policy on immersion and to implement immediately the to comment on the draft legislation they education. recommendations of the NCCA. had refused to present these in the first consultation process. It is unlikely now that this legislation will be passed in Irish in the Gaeltacht Westminster and it would go to the reconstituted Local Northern Assembly. That the actual areas within the Gaeltachtaí figures show that some of the stronger larger With the two unionist parties having stated in which Irish is spoken are much smaller then Gaeltacht regions have weakened while some openly that they would oppose such those enclosed by the official boundaries of of the weaker and smaller Gaeltachtaí have legislation it will be a difficult fight there. the Gaeltacht has long been known and of strengthened. POBAL stated that one of most significant course the number of Irish speakers is conse- D. Ó hÉallaithe reckons, based on the 2002 omissions in the second document was that quentially much less then the actual total pop- census figures and a population growth of 6%, no mention was made of status for Irish as ulation within the Gaeltacht regions. that there were about 10,000 families in the an official language. Furthermore even in areas where the language Gaeltacht regions eligible to apply for the Interestingly an old Unionist myth, is a community language there are many non scheme. 3,495 applied and 2,260 were award- cultivated by the likes of John Taylor in Irish speaking families now. In such a situa- ed the full grant with a further 893 receiving a opposition to demands for an Irish tion it is difficult to gauge the real status of the reduced grant. Detailed breakdowns for the language act, that there are more speakers language. An index that has been and is used different regions and areas within them show of Chinese then Irish in the six counties, to gain some knowledge of the real strength of that in Conamara most of the southern coastal was laid to rest when the same J. Taylor the language as a family and community lan- region, (taking An Cheathrú Rua, na hOileáin received an answer to a parliamentary guage is what is now termed ‘Scéim Labhairt and Cois Fharraige together) has improved question at Westminster that the actual na Gaeilge’ (Scheme for Spoken Irish). This somewhat with a total of 709 in 2005/6 as number of Chinese speakers is 8,000. The started in 1934 as a one which gave a grant of against 674 in 1995/6 but against that the 2001 census confirmed that there are £2 for each child in an Irish speaking family; Camus/Rosmuc area dropped from 83 to 66 75,000 speakers of Irish in the six counties this was then increased decades later to £10. and the Aran Islands from 107 to 95. along with another 167,000 who have The scheme was revised and given its present Northwest Donegal registered a drop from some knowledge of the language. title in 1993 with a grant of £200 (now €260) 515 to 468 (with Aranmore island dropping POBAL intend to intensify their which has remained unchanged since. Many from 34 to 19) as did the West Kerry campaign and have another demonstration of the specific Gaeltacht agricultural and Gaeltacht, from 160 to 138. In the small Ring in support planned to take place in Belfast housing grants were linked to this scheme Gaeltacht, in Co. Waterford, the numbers for June 9th. The first march in February although that too may have altered in recent increased from 12 to 24, in the West Cork saw many organisations and a crowd of decades. Muskerry region there was an improvement 5,000 turn out. Figures were issued on the statistics of the from 32 to 59 and in Rath Chairn (in Co. On the issue of rights it may be noted that scheme for 2005/6 by the Department of Meath) an increase from 18 to 20. A number Maire Nic a Bhaird (see previous issues Rural Affairs, Community and the Gaeltacht of years ago a review of the scheme was of Carn) was found guilty in Jan. of in March. An analysis of these by the announced but nothing has yet emerged. It is disorderly conduct in her oft adjourned Conamara based language activist, Donncha clear that such is overdue as is a substantial court case related to speaking Irish in Ó hÉallaithe, and comparisons with the increase in the grant amount which has lost public, she intends to appeal the verdict. 1995/6 figures was presented in Foinse. The considerable real value in today’s terms.

14 Carn 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TREATY OF ROME – TEN POINTS WORTH BEARING IN MIND

1. THE EU’S MYTH OF ORIGIN: field”. What Brussels has once occupied, stays minorities freely to obey majority rule. The myth of origin of the EU is that it was a occupied. Minorities are willing to do this because they peace project designed to make war regard the majority as their majority, that is, impossible between France and Germany. The 4. THE PUZZLE AS TO WHY NATIONAL as belonging to their own people and national truth is however that it was the American POLITICIANS WELCOME THE GROWTH OF EU community and as having the democratic Government’s insistence on German POWERS: legitimacy and authority which derive from rearmament to meet the needs of the Cold Government Ministers and aspiring Ministers that. This normally requires that people are War that precipitated the European Coal and welcome the transfer of powers from the able to communicate with one another in a Steel Community in 1950, which was the national level to the supranational because it common language, and share the same foundation of European integration. The means a big increase in their own personal territory, culture, historical experiences etc. pooling of coal and steel under a power, at the cost of a diminution in power for That is why democracy can exist at the level of supranational authority, the precursor of the their own Parliaments and fellow citizens. At Europe’s ancient national communities. There Brussels Commission, was crucial in national level if a Minister wants to get is however no European people or “demos” overcoming French hostility to rearming its something done, he or she must have the that transcends and is superior to Europe’s ancient enemy. Jean Monnet, America’s man support of that country’s national Parliament. many nations and peoples, and one cannot be in the affair, saw it as a way of pursuing the Remove that particular policy area to Brussels artificially created from above by Brussels. The project for a supranational Europe which he however, where laws are made primarily by EU can therefore never be a genuine had been nurturing since World War 1. It was the EU Council of Ministers, and the Minister in democracy. Cooperation between Europe’s the Cold War, not the EEC - later the EC and EU question, who is part of the executive arm of countries can only be built from the bottom - that kept the peace in Europe between the government at national level and responsible up, with the free agreement of the peoples, end of World War 2 in 1945 and the end of the to an elected parliament, becomes a powerful not from the top down at the behest of USSR in 1991. During that time neither legislator at EU level - one of an oligarchy, a political and economic elites who to America nor Russia would have permitted a committee of lawmakers, making laws for 500 build a European superstate which they see war between the member States of either million people as a member of the exclusive themselves as running. rival bloc. After 1991 war broke out again in club of the EU Council of Ministers, which is Europe, in Yugoslavia and Chechnya. irremoveable as a group. Simultaneously 6. THE EURO CANNOT ENDURE WITHOUT A senior national civil servants, who prepare EU POLITICAL AND FISCAL UNION; YET THE LATTER 2. THE DREAM OF WORLD POWER OF THE laws in interaction with the Commission IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE NECESSARY EU EU’S FOUNDING MEMBERS: bureaucracy, are freed from questioning by SOLIDARITY DOES NOT EXIST: The six founding members of the original EEC their fellow citizens. There is an intoxicating All independent States have currencies of their had all been, apart from Luxembourg, imperial own and all currencies belong to independent powers, with colonies and dependencies in States. A currency is necessary to enable a Africa and elsewhere. France, Germany, Italy, State to influence its rate of interest and Holland and Belgium were defeated and exchange rate in the economic interests of its occupied during World War 2. After that war people. The interest rate is the domestic price they found themselves in a world dominated of a currency and determines the cost of credit by the two superpowers, the USA and USSR. to citizens. The exchange rate is the price of Their traumatised political classes were still the currency in terms of other currencies and is nostalgic for world power. They decided that if a key influence on a country’s economic their countries could no longer be Big Powers competitiveness. Abolishing one’s national in the world on their own, they would seek to currency and replacing it with the euro means be a Big Power collectively through the EU/EC. that a country surrenders control of its rate of One formula for understanding the EU is this: interest and exchange rate to the European Take five broken empires, add a sixth one Central Bank in Germany, which is later - Britain - and try to make one big neo- independent of all government control. The colonial empire out of it all. ECB’s prime concern is not the welfare of the country in question, but what it decides is in 3. THE NEED TO REPATRIATE LAWS FROM the interest of the eurozone as a whole. In BRUSSELS TO THE MEMBER STATES: Manuel Barosso, practice this means the interest of the Two-thirds of all legal acts in the 27 EU EU Commission President eurozone’s largest members, Germany and Member States now come each year from France. The euro is a political project designed Brussels. Only one-third originate in each increase in personal power for the politicians to give the European Union one Member State. This shows the loss of national and bureaucrats concerned, and a of the key features of supranational statehood, democracy and independence entailed by corresponding reduction in the power of their using economic means that are quite membership of the European Union. The first fellow citizens, national Parliaments and unsuitable for that purpose. “The two pillars of step in remedying the EU’s widely admitted countries. the nation State are the sword and the democratic deficit is to repatriate policy- currency, and we have changed that,” boasted making powers from Brussels to the Member 5. THE EU CANNOT HAVE A STABLE Commission President Romano Prodi in 1999. States. Any new EU Treaty should provide for DEMOCRATIC BASIS BECAUSE A However there is no example in history of a this. Despite much rhetoric about subsidiarity EUROPEAN PEOPLE, AN EU “DEMOS”, DOES lasting currency union that was not part of one from the EU Commission, there is not a single NOT EXIST: State, and therefore also part of a political example in the 50 years of European Democracy means rule by the people, the union and fiscal union, with the common taxes integration of a national power that was “demos”. There cannot be a political and public services which all national States surrendered to Brussels being repatriated. democracy without a people, a “demos”, a possess. The existence of such common taxes What is known in EU jargon as the “acquis national community, a “we”, whose members and services serves to compensate to some communautaire” is sacrosanct. That is why feel sufficient solidarity and mutual extent the poorer regions of a national some call it the “doctrine of the occupied identification with one another as to induce currency union for their inability to balance

Carn 15 their payments with others by utilizing their is why the proposed EU Constitution or any Nice can be done in the Accession Treaties of own interest rate and exchange rate. Yet replacement Treaty based upon it that would the new States concerned, as was done with there is no possibility of the EU having seek to replace the existing EU/EC by a new previous EU enlargements. It does not require common taxes and public services because Union with its own legal personality should be institutional changes or a Constitution that the solidarity that is needed to underpin these opposed by democrats across Europe, would centralise the EU further and make it - the solidarity that induces richer regions to irrespective of their views on other things. even less democratic. finance transfers to poorer ones within each individual country - does not exist at the EU 9. WHY PEOPLE SHOULD SUPPORT THE These points have been issued by the National level. The euro-currency therefore cannot last. INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT IN DEFENCE OF Platform EU Research and Information Centre, It is only a matter of time before the strains NATIONAL DEMOCRACY: 24 Crawford Avenue, 9, Ireland; Tel.: that stem from its member countries being The thrust of the EU integration project is to 00-353-1-8305792 unable any longer to control their own interest erode the democracy of the nation States of We have recently produced the draft of a rate or exchange rate must force some Europe. Internationalism presupposes the critical booklet on the EU and on the need for countries to leave the eurozone. existence of nations. The champions of EU democrats in Ireland and the other EU integration are seeking in effect to erode the countries to resist the attempt to make us all 7. THE EU’S EROSION OF NATIONAL democratic heritage of the French Revolution - into citizens of a new country called “Europe” CITIZENSHIP: the right of nations and peoples to self- by means of the proposed EU Constitution, All independent States have evolved over determination - in order to clamp a form of which the current German EU presidency is generations the right to decide who financial feudalism on Europe. Hence now seeking to revive. This booklet critically are their citizens, in order to maintain democrats in every EU country, whether they examines Ireland’s experience of the EU. To their labour standards or their social are on the political centre, right or left, have a get this printed and decently published will cohesiveness as communities. They are free to common interest in taking part in the cost some 6000 and if you think this work is decide for themselves the rules they apply for international movement in defence of national worth supporting, I would like to ask you if you giving rights of citizenship to people born in democracy against the EU. could send us a donation to help us to produce other countries. But in the European Union it. such fundamental features of citizenship as 10. FURTHER EU ENLARGEMENT DOES NOT Anthony Coughlan the right to residence, to work, to buy NEED AN EU CONSTITUTION: property, to receive social maintenance when Enlargement of the EU beyond the 27 dependent, and to vote in local elections, are Members provided for by the 2002 Treaty of automatically extended by supranational EU/EC law, following a transition period, to whatever proportion of the population of the other 26 member countries decides to settle Election result in Republic - FF and Ahern back again in a particular country. Thus rights of EU citizenship displace key rights of national At the beginning of the election campaign it Sinn Fein in the pre-election TV debate with citizenship as part of the effort to turn the EU seemed that there was a chance that the pre- remarks about alleged criminality and the into a supranational State, in which European election pact of the two main opposition . Sinn Fein had citizenship and allegiance to a new country parties Fine Gael (centre right) and Labour expected to increase their percentage vote called “Europe” will transcend and be legally (centre left) would pay of and that a change considerably with a commensurate increase superior to one’s national citizenship and of government might ensue. It was also in their number of seats but while they did go allegiance. anticipated that the Green up one percentage in their overall Party would do well and vote they actually dropped from 5 8. THE PROPOSED EU CONSTITUTION AIMS TO increase their representation to 4 seats and failed badly to gain in MAKE US REAL CITIZENS OF A NEW while the same was expected key target constituencies putting an EUROPEAN UNION IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL for Sinn Fein, with the bonus end to any hopes of being in FORM OF A SUPRANATIONAL EU STATE: of the being in government government in both parts of Ireland. The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for in the newly functioning The Green’s did not fare so badly, Europe proposes to do this by five precise Northern Executive. In the retaining their 6 seats. The airwaves legal steps: (1) This Treaty would repeal all the were thick with comments about existing EU/EC Treaties and thereby replace event all the pundits were the smaller parties and the existing EU and EC with a new European proven wrong. The outgoing Union that would be founded like any State government party, Fianna Fail- FF, (who had independents (down from 14 to 5) being upon its own Constitution; (2) It would been in coalition with the small Progressive squeezed by the resurgent two major parties. transfer the powers and institutions of the Democratics –PDs) held on to their vote and The result of all this was to leave outgoing existing EU/EC to this new Union, which would almost their number of seats, 78 as against FF Taoiseach Berties Ahern, who said have the authority to decide all areas of public 80. While Fine Gael did recover from the stability would be his key goal, with a choice policy for its Member States either actually or losses they suffered in the 2002 election, of coalition options in the 166 seat Dail. One potentially; (3) It would give this new Union increasing their seats from 31 to 51 the would be with the two remaining PDs but legal personality so that it could act as a combined strength of Fine Gael and Labour requiring the support of a number of political entity in its own right, distinct from (who dropped from 21 to 20) was insufficient independents, some of whom are like minded and superior to its individual Member States, to form a majority taking account of the but from others from the left also such as whether as regards their domestic or foreign positions adopted by smaller parties in Tony Gregory and Finian McGrath, both policy. At present it is the EC, as part of the relation to prospective coalition partners. elected in Dublin in disadvantaged current EU, that has legal personality; (4) It The PDs lost badly, dropping from 8 to 2 constituencies and who indicated that would make the Constitution of this new seats with the Party leader, Michael support would be forthcoming if they got Union and the laws made under it superior to McDowell loosing his seat in cliff hanger to benefits for those constituencies. The second the Constitution and laws of its component alternative was to get the Greens into Member States; (5) It would make us all real the Green Party’s John Gormley. The PD government but even that needed some citizens of this new Union, and not just Party Chairman also his seat. McDowell nominal or honorary EU citizens as at present, resigned from politics entirely (and many independent support. The indications were so that EU citizenship would be who disliked his right wing views and that Ahern would go for the PD option. By constitutionally superior to the citizenship pugnacious style were glad to see him go) the time you read this it will have been attaching to one’s own country or State. That but he was credited with having damaged decided, the money is on the former.

16 Carn Mannin

Quoi va/ta ny Celtiee? Y feysht veayn

Haink lioar anaasagh magh er y gherrid. smooinee Herodotus dy row yn Danube goaill T’eh enmyssit ‘The Origins of the British: a toshiaght sy Rank sheear-ass. Ta genetic detective story’ as v’eh screeut liorish Oppenheimer gra dy row Herodotus kiart Stephen Oppenheimer veih Ollooscoill bentyn rish thalloo dooie ny Shenn Cheltiee – Oxford ayns Sostyn. She ard-oayllee eshyn son shickyrys va’n thalloo dooie oc sy Rank stroshey) veih’n neear-ass (y Spaainey as y bentyn rish cooishyn GDN (DNA) as lorgey sheear-ass, reir Oppenheimer. Agh, reir Rank sheear-ass), as y fer elley veih’n niar as ny arraghyn jeh pobbleyn harrish ny eashyn Oppenheimer, hug marran Herodotus er ny y niar-hwoaie (Loghlin as y Ghermaan). Shen meeillaghyn dy vleeantyn er dy henney. Dy sheelogheyn ny lurg dy ghra dy row thalloo y fa, ta Oppenheimer gra (choud’s ta mee dy çhelleeragh as mish jeeaghyn er y lioar dooie ny Shenn Cheltiee mygeayrt y mysh yn hoiggal eh) dy vel anchaslyssyn eddyr yn hoshiaght, va mee beggan boirit ec y fockle Austeyr, er yn oyr dy row fys kiart ec ny sleih ayns Nerin, Nalbin, Bretyn, Mannin, Y shen ‘British’. Dooys, shen fockle hie er croo sheelogheyn shen raad ghow yn Danube Chorn as Sostyn sheear er un çheu, as y leih ec impiroilee Sostnagh tree ny kiare cheead toshiaght. ayns Sostyn shiar er y çheu elley. Agh, harrish blein er dy henney ry hoi tayrn ry cheilley er As, reir Oppenheimer, cha nel eh shickyr dy ooilley ny çheeraghyn shen, s’lajer ta’n undin egin hene ooilley ny pobbleyn ayns y Vretyn nee shenn Cheltiee hug ny cultooryn La Tène gien-oaylleeagh ‘Bascagh’. Vooar as Nerin as ny ellanyn elley as cur as Hallstatt er bun. Ta Oppenheimer shickyr nagh daink orroo dy ve nyn Sostnee arrymagh. Agh tra Ny sodjey na shen, ta Oppenheimer gra nagh earrooyn mooarey dy h-Anglo-Hostnee dys y t’ou lhaih paart jeh’n lioar shoh, t’ou feddyn vel undin Celtiagh ec y sleih t’ayns ny ellanyn Vretyn Vooar shiar-ass ec yn un cheayrt lurg magh dy vel Oppenheimer gymmydey shoh. Foddee dy daink kuse dy Cheltiee stiagh da ny Romanee v’er naagail, as dy ren ny focklyn myr ‘British’ er aght ta beggan seyr. ayns ny ellanyn shoh tra ghow yn eirinys Anglo-Hostnee shen marroo meeillaghyn dy Myr sampleyr, t’eh gymmydey yn fockle toshiaght. Foddee dy daink ny çhengaghyn chummaltee v’ayns shen hannah. Cha row ‘England’ myr dy beagh y çheer rieau er ve Celtiagh stiagh ayns ny ellanyn shoh ec y traa kynney-ghunverys jeant, er lesh, er y fa nagh ayn – eer syn Eash-Rioee. My oddys oo cheddin – foddey, foddey ny s’leaie na’n eie vel feanish jeh shen ry gheddyn. Ta shaghney doilleeidyn myr shoh, ta’n lioar cadjin dy daink ad stiagh beggan ny smoo na Oppenheimer smooinaghtyn dy row feer anaasagh as foaysagh, er lhiam, eer daa veeilley blein er dy henney. Agh my haink boghtynid as propaganda screeut ec Gildas, y mannagh vel oo toiggal cooishyn gien- Celtiee ‘firrinagh’ gys ny ellanyn shoh, va fer-shennaghys Sostnagh, tra screeu eshyn oaylleeaght (genetics). pobble elley ayn hannah – myr ta ram mychione ruegys Anglo-Hostnagh, as S’anaasagh y fockley ‘goaldagh’ ayns scoillaryn er ghra hannah rish ymmodee mychione ny Anglo-Hostnee cur mow Gaelg. My t’ou jeeaghyn er fockleyr bleeantyn. Agh ta Oppenheimer gra dy vel ‘Britnee’ dy bollagh. shennayraghyn yn çhenn phobble shen ayn Cregeen, ren çheet magh bunnys daa cheead Y red smoo arganagh ta bentyn rish barelyn hannah ayns ny ellanyn shoh foastagh – as ta Oppenheimer, ta shen dy vel eh blein er dy henney, t’ou feddyn magh dy nee laue yn eaghtyr oc er yn aght gien-oaylleeagh smooinaghtyn dy row Anglo-Hostnee ‘a guest’ va’n Baarle hug Cregeen er yn ockle (genetic). Ny sodjey na shen, ta’n bun gien- cummal sy voayl t’ad gra Sostyn rish roish my shoh. My t’ou jeeaghyn er fockleyr John oaylleeagh kiart goll rish shen ec ny Bascee. daink ny Romanee stiagh, as dy row sorch dy Kelly, va jeant ny smoo na daa cheead blein As hannee yn bun gien-oaylleeagh shen er Vaarle goll er loayrt ayns ‘Sostyn’ bleeantyn er dy henney, t’ou fakin dy row ‘goaldagh’ ny mayrn trooid meeillaghyn as meeillaghyn dy as bleeantyn roish y lhing shen. Foddee dy nee ‘Goaldagh’ keeallaghey ‘a guest’ as ‘Welsh, vleeantyn, ga dy vel kuse dy phobbleyn elley Germaanee va ny Belgee as cha nee Celtiee, English, foreign, Gaulish’. er jeet gys ny ellanyn shoh – Celtiee t’eh smooinaghtyn, kyndagh rish reddyn va Anaasagh. Ec y traa t’ayn, ta shin ‘firrinagh’, Germaanee, Romanee, Loghlinee, screeut ec Julius Caesar (shimmey scoillar ta gymmydey ‘Goaldagh’ myr ‘British’. Agh Normanee, as myr shen foast. Ta gra dy row kianglaghyn lajer eddyr ny Belgee cha nel shen ayns coardailys rish y spyrryd Oppenheimer gra nagh ren ooilley ny ayns y cheer vooar Oarpagh as ny Belgee ayns jeh lioar Oppenheimer: ta beoyn ersyn dy pobbleyn shen agh anchaslyssyn beggey da y Vretyn Vooar). Paart jeh’n oyr ta hayrn ooilley ny shenn phobbleyn jeh ny undin gien-oaylleeagh y phobble ayns ny Oppenheimer smooinaghtyn myr shoh, ta ellanyn shoh ry cheilley myr un phobble, ga ellanyn shoh. Hannee yn undin shen shen er y fa nagh vel feanish ayn dy row dy vel eh goaill rish dy vel reddyn er lheh ‘Bascagh’. kynney-ghunverys jeant myr va screeut ec bentyn da ny Sostnee. Ec jerrey yn Eash-Rioee, t’eh jeeaghyn dy Gildas, as yn aght quaagh dy vel eh jeeaghyn Er aghtyn ennagh, she lioar doillee t’ayn. daink sleih gys y Vretyn Vooar as Nerin dy jagh yn chengey er caghlaa cho aashagh Cha nel eieyn Oppenheimer ayns coardailys (jannoo ymmyd jeh enmyn jeianagh) veih’n ayns ‘Sostyn’ shiar lurg da ny Romanee v’er rish ny eieyn cadjin mychione ny Celtiee Rank sheear-ass. Ec y traa v’ayn, cha row yn naagail. Foddee nagh row chengaghyn ayns y Çheer Vooar Oarpagh ny ayns ny Vretyn Vooar as Nerin nyn ellanyn noadyr. Celtiagh goll er loayrt feiy’n Vretyn Vooar tra ellanyn shoh. T’eh gra dy vel ooilley yn stoo Agh, dirree yn keayn as she ellanyn v’ayn. haink ny Romanee, ta Oppenheimer shen mychione ny Shenn Cheltiee as y Myr shen, va’n sleih sy Vretyn Vooar as ayns smooinaghtyn. thalloo dooie oc syn Austeyr (Austria) ny Nerin scarrit rish y Çheer Vooar Oarpagh as Gyn ourys erbee, bee scoillaryn dy liooar boayl faggys da shen, dy vel eh slane haink ad dy ve pobble ‘er lheh’ (va sleih sy noi eieyn y dooinney shoh dy bollagh. My aggairagh. Haink yn eie shen, ta çheer vooar Oarpagh rieau smooinaghtyn dy t’eh kiart lesh eer paart jeh ny eieyn shoh, bee Oppenheimer gra, veih’n çhenn fer- vel sleih ayns ny ellanyn shoh ‘quaagh’!). Ta scoillaryn dy liooar d’aascreeu lioaryn dy shennaghys Herodotus, ren gra dy row ughtar y lioar smooinaghtyn dy row daa liooar. Shimmey lioar stoamey ta ry gheddyn thalloo dooie ny Celtiee faggys da’n voayl trooan gien-oaylleeagh roie stiagh ayns ny raad va’n awin Danube goaill toshiaght. Agh ellanyn shoh harrish ny eashyn: nane (y fer continued on page 18

Carn 17 “LANDMARK DECLARATION” CLAIM AS UK TIGHTENS ITS GRIP

What has been described as “a landmark “This is a significant step forward in the declaration” recognising that the Isle of Man Isle of Man’s evolution as a mature and “has its own identity and interests in the responsible democracy. It confirms in international arena” was announced in early writing that the Island has its own distinct May. and legitimate interests on the world stage, “The framework of principles” agreed which may differ from those of the United between the two governments of the United Kingdom”. Kingdom and the Isle of Man is supposedly “The understanding that has been reached aimed at reinforcing “the Island’s separate should help the Isle of Man to flourish as a status within the context of its constitutional reputable centre for international business. Tony Brown MHK, Chief Minister relationship with the UK.” There is now greater clarity about the The Isle of Man Chief Minister, Tony Island’s position, which will be useful in Framework for Developing the Brown MHK, who signed the document on dealing with governments, organisations and International Identity of the behalf of the Manx Government, said: businesses around the globe”. Isle of Man The new arrangement however, far from Following the statement of intent agreed on further loosening the ties with Westminster 11 January 2006, the Chief Minister of the Quoi va/ta ny Celtiee? closes off the potential for conflict between Isle of Man and the UK Secretary of State for the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom as continued Constitutional Affairs have agreed the the Islands government increasingly adopts a following principles. They establish a mychione ny Shenn Cheltiee as yn aght chroo divergent stance Internationally. framework for the development of the ad cultooryn Hallstatt as La Tène. Vel International affairs have long been a international identity of the Isle of Man. The ooilley’n stoo shen aggairagh? As bee eh feer retained perogative for the UK as far as the framework is intended to clarify the ghoillee da ram sleih dy yannoo lesh yn eie dy Isle of Man and its other metropolitan constitutional relationship between the UK row chengey Vaarlagh goll er loayrt ayns dependencies are concerned. There was and the Isle of Man, which works well and ‘Sostyn’ ymmodee bleeantyn roish my daink considerable behind the scenes irritation within which methods are evolving to help ny Romanee gys y Vretyn Vooar. Agh ta some years ago when the Manx government achieve the mutual interests of both the UK Oppenheimer heose rish cooish noa – gien- of the day openly developed cooperative and the Isle of Man. oaylleeaght. Nee Bascee shin? Surrys enn contacts with Ireland in opposition to the nagh vel ughtar y lioar shoh heose rish United Kingdoms operation of the Sellafield 1) The UK has no democratic chengaghyn Celtiagh. T’eh screeu ayns shen reprocessing plant. accountability in and for the Isle of Man nagh daink agh kiare focklyn stiagh ayns Since that time the Isle of Mans ability to which is governed by its own democratically Baarle veih chengaghyn Celtiagh son ‘plough its own furrow’ and have an elected assembly. shickyrys! Gyn ourys, ta ny sloo focklyn independent international strategy has been In the context of the UK’s responsibility for Celtiagh ayns Baarle na veagh oo jerkal rish, further enhanced and recent bilateral the Isle of Man’s international relations it is agh ta’n earroo foddey ny shlee na kiare. agreements with European States must have understood that - Er y laue elley, ta foddey ny smoo keeall worried the UK.  The UK will not act internationally on sy lioar shoh na ayns lioaryn goll rish The sub-text running through the so called behalf of the Isle of Man without prior ‘The Atlantic : Ancient People or “Framework”, a copy of which is set out consultation. Modern Invention’ liorish Simon James. Ta below, is that the United Kingdom, far from  The UK recognises that the interests of Oppenheimer gra nagh y lioar shen cairagh. loosening its grip on Mann’s ability for the Isle of Man may differ from those of T’eh jeeaghyn dooys dy vel claare independent international initiative, intends the UK, and the UK will seek to represent politickagh ec Simon James as e lheid. Ta to try to subtly control them. In point four the any differing interests when acting in an Oppenheimer gra nagh vel eh kiart dy United Kingdom stresses that its role will be international capacity. This is particularly chraidey mysh cooish ny Celtiee. Ec y traa one of support not interference but anyone evident in respect of the relationship with t’ayn, ta sleih dy liooar coontey’n chooish dy who has studied the track record of the European Union where the UK ve scanshoil da’n jarroo-enney oc. Shoh lioar successive UK governments and their interests can be expected to be those of an feer arganagh as lioar anaasagh, erskyn attitude to their dependencies will find it hard EU member state and the interests of the ooilley tra t’eh briaght y feysht ‘Quoi va/ta ny to accept this statement at face value. Isle of Man can be expected to reflect the Sostnee?’. Almost forty years ago the Joint Working fact that the UK’s membership of the EU Summary Party looking into constitutional relation- only extends to the Isle of Man in certain ‘The Origins of the British’ by Stephen ships between the Isle of Man and the United circumstances as set out in Protocol 3 of Oppenheimer is a contentious and interesting Kingdom identified that the sphere of the UK’s Treaty of Accession. book. Many people will be upset by ideas International relations could be the one area 2) The Isle of Man has an international that the Celtic Iron Age homeland was not which might provide the catalyst for a move identity which is different from that of the in Central Europe, that the virtually towards independence. UK. unperturbed genetic basis of most people in It seems that by granting the Isle of Man the 3) The UK recognises that the Isle of Man these islands is very similar to that of the ability to evolve and mature its democracy is a long-standing, small democracy and Basques, and that some form of English was the United Kingdom has subtly closed of that supports the principle of the Isle of Man spoken in what became England before the loophole. The May agreement means that the further developing its international identity. Romans came. But in no way does Isle of Man is still tied tightly to the ‘apron 4) The UK has a role to play in assisting Oppenheimer dump ‘the Celtic thing’ like strings’ of its UK ‘nanny’! the development of the Isle of Man’s some authors have tried recently. international identity. The role is one of Bernard Moffatt Brian Stowell support not interference.

18 Carn 5) The Isle of Man and the UK commit themselves to open, effective and meaningful dialogue with each other on any A New England? issue that may come to affect the constitutional relationship. The Progressive Patriot 6) International identity is developed effectively through meeting international by Billy Bragg standards and obligations which are important components of the Isle of Man’s 296pp, Bantam Press, £17.99 international identity. 7) The UK will clearly identify its priorities for delivery of its international It’s unusual to read positive things obligations and agreements so that these are about English nationalism here, maybe understood, and can be taken into account, because of negative associations such as by the Isle of Man in developing its own hooliganism, the far right, expansionism, position. and cultural imperialism. But what if you 8) The activities of the UK in the were a proud Englishman, and disgusted by international arena need to have regard to the this? Billy Bragg is, and as he says, “after Isle of Man’s international relations, policies years of feeling alienated by my country” and responsibilities. he wanted to explore “my own sense of 9) The UK and the Isle of Man will work belonging, to reconcile patriotism with the together to resolve or clarify any differences radical tradition.” Yet this man is also a vs. identity without Queen and Empire, in which may arise between their respective socialist and a pioneer of “Rock against the wake of Scots/Welsh devolution and interests. Racism”. Muslim terrorism. As he says, 10) The Isle of Man and the UK will work What’s more Bragg openly admits that “It’s been years since our Welsh and jointly to promote the legitimate status of the Wales has been a conquered country for Scottish neighbours stopped singing… ‘God Isle of Man as a responsible, stable and centuries and elsewhere has voiced save the Queen’ at sporting events. It mature democracy with its own broad policy support for Scottish independence. didn’t take an Act of Parliament… or the interests and which is willing to engage This book, part-history, part-biography, Monarchy to collapse… England’s positively with the international community part-polemic, is fascinating. Not only for continued attachment to the British across a wide range of issues. the tour of English radicalism, or his musical anthem smacks of a lack of self- confidence… Nobody ever makes the Signed on 1st May 2007 by: career, the rise of Punk, and his assumption that… a Welsh dragon on the The Rt Hon Lord Falconer of Thoroton engagement with English folk music (via back bumper [means it] must be driven by QC, Secretary of State America!), but for its very ordinariness and a racist… until recently, however, to Hon J A Brown MHK, Chief Minister originality. He critiques English xenophobia display the St George’s Cross on your car was to risk condemnation”. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS GROW ABOUT GRAVEL EXTRACTION PLAN However, he dwells too much on the Second World War, a British fixation, and Concerns, first articulated by the Celtic Organisation (MFPO) who are lobbying gov- overrates Magna Carta. He also says League, are growing as the potential for long ernment and local authorities on the issue. In “Britain” when he means “England” term environmental damage associated with a letter to the largest local authority in the sometimes. But all forgivable - given the the extraction of large amounts of aggregate North of the Island, Ramsey Commissioners, rest. from the sea-bed off the North East of Mann the MFPO not only highlight their own con- Amongst the surprises are his Italian becomes apparent. cerns about the impact on fishing stocks but ancestry, Barking’s ancient importance, The Isle of Man government, through its also highlight that the removal of thousands of and the revelation that the first influx of Department of Trade and Industry, has tonnes of aggregate could irreparably damage licensed an initial round of exploratory work sea water movement in the area and possibly Jamaicans, from the Windrush, had many covering a vast sea area from Maughold Head aggravate coastal erosion. RAF war veterans amongst them. He also to the Point of Ayre. The Celtic League believe that part of the issues stark warnings about a British Initial concerns from the Celtic League that impetus for the proposed sea-bed extraction security state which can arrest you on the activity could disturb radioactive pollution of such large quantities of aggregate is linked “hearsay evidence – that is gossip and in the settled sediment in the area have to the expansion of the Isle of Man Airport at rumour”, Muslim extremism and interracial already prompted the DTI to pledge that all Ronaldsway. The current somewhat question- relations in England. material from the exploratory works will be able proposal for this expansion involves This book gives me great hope. Bragg, monitored for radiation. extending the main runway several hundred and his ilk, are a credit to England, and are However the Celtic League has since raised metres out to sea in what will itself be a major trying to improve things. And in the end, further concerns about the general damage civil engineering project. Already concerns which may be caused to Marine life and the are being voiced in the House of Keys about England is our neighbour, so a better ecology of the North Irish sea area by what is this development and its cost. England is good for us too. Instead of the effectively the ‘strip-mining’ of aggregate to a It is hoped that other League branches, par- current set-up, it would give us all a future. depth of several metres over a vast area. We ticularly those in Scotland and Ireland, will have written to Agriculture Ministers in Mann, lobby their governments over this issue. The Scotland, Ireland and N. Ireland to express Mannin branch will probably submit a draft Celtic League our disquiet. AGM resolution on the issue to this years A response received from Isle of Man AGM, which is planned for late September in press releases Department of Agriculture Minister, Phillip Cardiff. Gawne MHK, is extremely positive indicating It is absolutely vital that this major environ- Those who would like Celtic League press that a number of issues that we raised are mental threat to the North Irish sea area is releases via Electronic Mail can subscribe also of concern to his Department. vigorously opposed. (free of charge) to the mailing list at: Meanwhile, a forceful stance is also being Bernard Moffatt adopted by the Manx Fish Producers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league

Carn 19 WORLD WIDE INTEREST IN CELTIC CONGRESS Kernow IN CORNWALL

WORLDWIDE interest continues to grow in the International Celtic Congress being held at the Combined Universities in Cornwall Kernowak: Standard Profys rag Screfa Campus at Tremough, Penryn this summer. At a recent Celtic Congress meeting, an Tavas Kernowak members were delighted to discover that there had been enquiries not only from local Ma bagas a dhyvers Kernowegoryon yn omgossulyans, henwys “Profyans”, dha people wishing to see the Campus in action dadn an tytel “UdnFormScrefys” ow lavyrya gawas kefrys rag kenyver onen a vo dâ during day visits and support from the Celtic warbarth dhia vys Gwydngala 2006 bìs dhodha govyn qwestyons bo gorra yn rag Nations who have hosted events during hedhyw rag darbary spellyans kesassoylys amendyansow. Vysytoryon a vedh abel previous years, but also from further a field rag an tavas. Pan vo va athves, y fedh an ynwedh dha dhysqwedhas mars er anjy ow due to the ranging themes which will profyans-ma danvenys dha Gomyssyon an scodhya an form kesassoylys-ma a’gan yeth highlight the contribution made by the Celtic Tavas Kernowak avell radn a Stratejy ny. people to the world of arts, science and MAGA rag an Kernowak. Na vedh an bagas golegy owth omgossulya industry. Th’eran ny, esely an bagas, owth ajwon dêw adro dha’n spellyans kynnygys marnas wàr Six different speakers, one from each of dra dha vos res rag an lytherednans amendys, an lyst henwys “Profyans”. Na vedh dadhel the will contribute by sharing mars eran ny whensys dh’y welas degemerys vìth kefys naneyl wàr an lyst-ma nag yn their experiences making full use of the state gen an nyver brossa a gowsoryon. Yma an tyller vìth ken. Th’eran ny ow qwetyas of the art audiovisual facilities available. dhêw dra-na pecar del sew. debatyans bêw. The packed programme (from Monday * Res yw growndya an spellyans wàr Rag UdnFormScrefys, 23rd July until Saturday 28th July, 2007) lytherednans an textys teythyak. Michael Everson includes details and prices of accommod- ation as well as all social events. * Res yw leveryans pùb ger dha vos apert Summary dhort an spellyans y honen. Kernowak: A proposed Standard Written Contact booking secretary, Jerry Rogers Parys yw lebmyn an kensa draft. An ehan- Form for the E-mail: [email protected] ma a’n tavas yw gelwys “Kernowak” hag yth Since September 2006, a diverse group of Telephone: 01344 775946 ywa an kensa form bythqweth a vue darbarys Cornish users, working under the name or from Tony Piper, gen bagas a dus, kyns es dre ober udn den y “UdnFormScrefys”, has been working E-mail: [email protected], honen oll. together to devise a compromise spelling for Telephone: 01209 711509 Y fedh draft a’n profyans settys hedhyw the language. When mature, the proposal dherag Bagas Lavyr an Tavas (yn dadn will be submitted to the Cornish Language Issued by Cornwall Branch of Celtic scous MAGA) hag y hyller y dhyscarga Commission as part of the Cornish Language Congress, Press Officer, ‘Kessenyans’ Little ynwedh avell restryn PDF dhort Partnership’s Strategy for the Cornish Water, Goonhavern, TRURO, TR4 9QG http://kernowak.com/. Ma bagas arbednek Language. [email protected]

THE TUDOR ROSE ST PIRAN SHALL LEAD OUR WAY! RETURNS TO KERNOW Following reports received from some of its Picture shows Headmaster of Perranporth members, the Cornish Branch has written to Primary School, Mr. Brian Odgers receiving the Director of ‘Visit Britain’ a Government donations and flags from Mike Chappell on body which exists to administer ‘Visit behalf of three Celtic and Cornish Donor England’ and ‘Enjoy England.com’. organisations. After years of well publicised protest in Perranporth Community Primary School has respect of the use of the English Tudor Rose been invited to take Cornwall’s National saint, on road signs which resulted in graffiti and St. Piran to the Hampton Court Flower Show destruction of these signs by activists, such on 2nd July this year. was the insult caused to many Cornish people The school, which teaches Cornish history, that a Governmental change occurred allowing more appropriate signage replacing culture and language from the Cornish ‘Sense those causing offence changing them to of Place’ syllabus, has been asked to perform display the St. Piran’s Flag or other non the new Perranporth Furry Dance and to take English symbol. the huge statue of St. Piran accompanied by All was well until the English Tudor Rose 48 pupils dressed as miners and bal maidens reappeared on metal plates outside approved to open the School Garden which is being tourist accommodation in the Duchy. designed by Chris Beardshaw of the BBC. Congress each donated £100 and Suzie Already, some are being spray painted The pupils accompanied by six teachers will Murley of the original Cornish Heritage indicating public feeling. Accordingly, a letter thus bring St. Piran, Perranporth and Cornwall Company donated three large St. Piran Flags has been sent to ‘Visit Britain’ asking for such and its distinctive heritage and traditions to and poles and no less than 48 St. Piran hand signs to be replaced or removed entirely as the widespread attention of many. flags. was the case when it was previously used in Following an appeal for funding, the To discuss sponsorship, please contact Mr. the Duchy. Cornish Branch of the Celtic League and the Odgers at the Perranporth School tel. 01872 Michael John Chappell separate Cornish Branch of the Celtic 572021

20 Carn CELEBRATION OF ENGLISH NATIONALISM NOT WELCOME IN CORNWALL

Council to change their minds was Celtic League Branch Secretary Michael Chappell, whose efforts during the whole campaign have been gargantuan to say the least. He succeeded in bringing together a number of different Cornish organisations to campaign collectively on this issue, has written a succession of letters and emails, spoken on the telephone to individual members of the Council, been interviewed by the media, received death threats and been threatened with arrest on more than one occasion. Yesterday around 40 people were present at the demonstration outside a City Hall under police guard at 0745. Approaches by Michael Chappell to those who staged the event were inconclusive. They seemed unable to comprehend the offence the decision to proceed with the event caused. Speaking after the protest the Kernow branch secretary said: “This was a well attended Vigil considering it was on a working day and Monday morning In mid March about 40 protesters gathered but the intention behind the tour was to raise and brought together representatives and outside City Hall in Truro, Cornwall in the the status and profile of England and St individuals from many different groups.” early morning to demonstrate their George in Cornwall. For some reason, Truro The protesters were also joined by a number disapproval of the so called ‘St George City Council voted to host the event and of Truro City Councillors and also the Deputy Loving Cup’ ceremony taking place inside become part of the tour. Obviously, as soon as Mayor of Truro Councillor Mrs Mills (nee among the Mayor and Councillors of the city. the news was made public in Cornwall there Vivian). If this artificially created icon to St George was an outcry and swiftly the organisers of Celtic League General Secretary, Rhisiart had never come to Truro, it is likely that very the tour and the City Council itself Tal-e-bot, himself a member of the Cornish few people in Cornwall would have actually understandably received a barrage of Branch believes that those who support events heard about this event at all and what this complaints. should be held accountable for decisions symbol of English nationalism was or The City Council at first commented that the which erode Cornish unique and separate represented. The Cornish Branch of the Celtic ceremony would be held on an early Monday identity: League was one of the first organisations to morning in order to avoid notice, but then “If it wasn’t for the huge effort that make their feelings known about the planned later added, after it was rumoured that they Secretary and the Branch put into this arrival of ‘the Cup’ to Cornwall, as part of its had called an emergency meeting to discuss campaign, the event may have gone tour of ‘50 English cities’. They rightfully whether the event should take place, that both unnoticed, setting a president for future concluded that as a symbol of English England’s’ National Day (23 rd April) and similar events which diminish the status and nationalism is was another attempt to Cornwall’s St Piran’s Day (5th March) could culture of our Cornwall. subordinate and diminish Cornwall’s distinct live comfortably together. A bizarre Congratulations are extended to Michael identity. suggestion in view of Cornwall’s unique Chappell and the Cornish Branch. For Truro to be included as one of these cultural status and distinct National identity. They provide an inspiration for the other English cities would have been bad enough, Spearheading the campaign to get the City Branches of the League.”

Sign The Pledge Thousands of our people were murdered by the English and the flag of St. George is a threatening and warlike symbol. www.pledgebank.com/No-to-St-George If 100 people agree with me, I will run one The Cornish are a Celtic People. A recent month of advertisements in the West Briton academic and scientific study by Professor Newspaper financed by a local wealthy Sir Walter Bodmer of Oxford University and Cornish businessman pointing out the fact other academics and scientists has that we Cornish do not care much for the established that the Cornish have the MC1R Flag of Saint George on our churches or gene which makes them true Celts. Their elsewhere. Our flag is the untarnished Celtic arrival on these islands pre dates the Anglo Flag of Saint Piran. Saxon English and their Country of England by thousands of years. The English Flag is http://www.thisisnotengland.co.uk not flown in Scotland, Wales, the Isle of http://www.cornishnotenglish.com Man, Brittany or Ireland, nor should it be http://www.theflagofsaintpiran.com flown in our Celtic Country of Kernow.

Carn 21 such a requirement prior to receiving official recognition. It is also unusual that, unlike the Mebyon Kernow Election Success other members of the Council of Europe that have ratified the Convention, the UK is the Mebyon Kernow - the Party for Cornwall only signatory state not to have produced achieved its best-ever results in the May an official list of minorities that it protects election for Cornwall’s district and town under the Convention. It is, therefore, and parish councils. extremely difficult to know whether the After putting forward its largest number of UK is compliant with the Convention, election candidates (33, of which 24 stood or not. Moreover, this important deficiency for district council seats), MK won seven renders the government’s claim, to be “fully district council seats, seventeen town/city compliant” with the terms of the Convention, council seats and four parish council virtually worthless as the government itself places. doesn’t know which minorities are covered. Bearing this point in mind, and by refusing to Highlights of the election include: acknowledge the right of the Cornish to exist CARADON DISTRICT COUNCIL. as a national minority, the government is Callington Mayor Andrew Long won effectively saying that it doesn’t possess a list MK’s first seat on Caradon for 24 years. of Framework Convention groups but, even if He topped the poll in his town’s three-seat it does, the Cornish would not be on it! ward with 726 votes. Although the government is claiming to the NORTH CORNWALL DISTRICT Council of Europe that decisions of this nature COUNCIL. John Chapman, in his first are the sole remit of the courts, in practice, contest as an MK candidate, successfully politically motivated decisions are being defended his Bodmin St Marys Ward with taken by the Executive that have an extremely 800 votes. adverse impact on the Cornish. KERRIER DISTRICT COUNCIL. Speaking after the election, Party Leader It is inequitable and unlawful to treat Loveday Jenkin and Helene Cullimore Dick Cole described the election result as a the Cornish in a different manner to other successfully defended their Breage & very good one for MK. “We are extremely analogous groups currently mentioned in the Crowan and Camborne South seats, while pleased to have polled well throughout Report in a Framework Convention context. Stuart Cullimore topped the poll in Cornwall. As a small political party, it To this end, a number of Cornish activists Camborne West with 759 votes to leave is a great achievement to win local are currently seeking judicial review of MK with a three seat group on the Council. government seats and we have done the government’s decision with a view to Sadly, Jane Acton failed to hold her seat in especially well to be represented on four of preventing this document reaching the Porthleven & Sithney against prominent Cornwall’s six district councils as well as a Council of Europe. It is vital that the Cornish independent candidates. number of town and parish councils. As are included within the FCPNM at this point. RESTORMEL BOROUGH COUNCIL. Party Leader, I would like to thank Should the Council of Europe accept the Party Leader Dick Cole topped the poll in everyone who supported the campaign of government’s position, it will be another two-seat St Enoder Ward with 859 votes Mebyon Kernow - the Party for Cornwall.” seven years before the Cornish can again and is joined by Matthew Luke who In the 2007 district council elections, MK challenge this unfair decision. Please express received the most votes in Treverbyn put forward 24 candidates of which seven your support and solidarity with the Cornish Ward. were successful. By contrast, the Labour national minority by urgently voicing your TOWN COUNCIL ELECTIONS. MK has party put forward 30 candidates in concerns to: maintained groups of five councillors on Cornwall of which four were successful Mr Ian Naysmith, Race Equality Unit, both Camborne Town Council and while UKIP nominated 27 candidates. Department for Communities and Local Penzance Town Council, with three new Only one was successful. According to the Government, 7th Floor Eland House, councillors also elected to Truro City BBC website, the United Kingdom Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU Council. The Party is also represented on Independence Party won only five council Email: [email protected] town councils in Callington, Liskeard and seats over the whole of ‘England’ - less Copies of complaints etc should be copied to Penryn. than what MK managed in Cornwall. Council of Europe: Mr Antti KORKEAKIVI, Executive Secretary, Council of Europe, Directorate General of Human Rights - DG The 2nd UK Draft Framework Convention for the II, Secretariat of the Framework Convention Protection of National Minorities Compliance Report for the Protection of National Minorities and of the DH-MIN The UK’s belated Report, received by Once again, the only group to be F - 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Cornish NGOs on 13 December 2006, specifically excluded by the government from Tel +33 (0) 3 90 21 44 33 produced to comply with a Council of Europe the Framework Convention for the Protection Fax +33 (0) 3 90 21 49 18 treaty obligation, was finally submitted for of National Minorities (FCPNM) is the [email protected] public consultation in draft form, nearly three Cornish on the grounds that this group has not Further information on the recent application years late. Consultees were given only 5 solved the government’s Race Relations Act to the High Court, mentioned earlier, can be weeks to complete their criticisms by the “formula” by not having set a successful found at: deadline of 20 January 2007 and it is felt that precedent to a case of discrimination brought http://cornishstannaryparliament.co.uk this 5 week opportunity was deliberately under this Act. We trust the other Celtic Nations and their made to coincide with the busy Christmas/ Whereas, the Cornish are obliged to submit people can help us here in Kernow by giving New Year holiday period in which the main their ethnic/national credentials for judicial this as much publicity as possible. contributors of criticisms would have been scrutiny in the courts, other groups mentioned otherwise occupied at this time of year. in the Draft Report have not been subject to Dr Nigel Hicks

22 Carn is homage to a strong leader from Irish history and makes use of the Irish language, portrays customs based on Brehon law and sensitively treats the systematic destruction of feudal Celtica Irish society by the Elizabethan regime. Bringing these topics to the Broadway stage is a significant feat. The strong female character of Grainne as an cluttered with a too rapid development of her intelligent, independent and charismatic fig- early life. Elizabeth I is a caricature more than ure is in stark contrast to the Stepford enter- a character that plays off of Grainne’s tainment of venues such as “Celtic Woman”. THE PIRATE championing of her people’s cause. The show The show should be enjoyed and supported stealer is the character of Richard Bingham, by the Irish community at large. Audience Lord Governor of Ireland. He is undoubtedly appeal makes a successful show not the QUEEN the best English villain since Tim Roth’s critics. See while visiting New York City or Archibald in “Rob Roy”. catch when it comes near you on a road show. A REVIEW On the historical and cultural level the play Le Tomás agus Mairéad Magrath On April 29th, we completed our viewing of a trilogy of works relating to Irish history, language and culture by viewing “The Pirate Queen” at the Hilton Theatre. The trilogy began with Brian Friel’s “Translations” which was thoroughly enjoyable and featured an unexpected treat. At the end of the play, audience interaction was encouraged with such notables as Nuala O’Faolain and Dr. Seamus Blake. We then viewed Ken Loach’s compelling film “The Wind That Shakes The Barley” which was capably reviewed in the last CLAB newsletter and then hoped for a gratifying end to our Fenian cycle with “The Pirate Queen”. We were apprehensive due to the utterly awful reviews the musical had received in the major press. The New York Times review stated that it only contained knee jerk appeal to nationalism and feminism. Of course for both of us that content isn’t much of a The Pirate Queen Cast – left to right problem. Stephanie J. Block (Grianne), Hadley Fraser (Tiernan) and Linda Balgord (Queen Elizabeth) On the Broadway show level the musical is a disappointment. Using the benchmark of do you leave the theatre humming a show stop- ping signature tune (such as “Who Will Join in Our Crusade” from Les Miserable) the answer is sadly no you don’t. The show is ONGAN Riverdance with a dramatic plot about English C oppression of the Irish. This fact alone is A CELTIC SAINT OF THE ISLES enough to leave in the trendy Left Anglophiles THE HIGHLANDS & ABERDEENSHIRE at the Old Gray Lady writhing in agony. IN HISTORICAL PERSPETIVE The greatest challenge faced was getting composer Claude-Michel Schonberg to join BY HAROLD WALLACE GARNER the musical. For The Celtic League this man is a wonderful attribute to the Celtic world. He is a Hungarian Jew who grew up in Published in January 2007 by TIMOLEON Brittany and was very familiar with Celtic 1 Coastguardstation, Banff, Aberdeenshire, music. There are echoes of “Miss Saigon” but AB45 1JG U.K. there are also moments when Pirate Queen is massively Irish in its sounds. The fiddles and Price £8 plus postage and packaging step dancing are woven into the score repre- ISBN 0-9553837-0-6 and 978-0-9553837-0-0 senting Ireland as a country. There is one scene in the Second Act that is my favourite Also obtainable from by W. Peters & Sons, and sets the scene for over 400 years of agony. Printers and Publishers 16 High Street, Turriff, The scene is called “Surrender” which depicts Aberdeenshire AB53 4DL the chieftains taking the Queen’s schilling. Tel. 01888 563589 www.wpeters.co.uk Eerily similar to what has happened in the [email protected] north of Ireland recently. The character of Grainne does not develop fully until the second act and the first act is

Carn 23 Deeds should match State Membership pledges for Irish and Subscriptions Pledges regarding the provision of state  Another case highlighted in the report services through the medium of Irish are not involved a significant delay in the always matched by deeds, according to the publication of an Irish version of child All those who agree with the constitution 2006 annual report of An Coimisinéir protection guidelines issued by the and aims of the Celtic League are eligible Teanga, which was launched in March 2007. Department of Education and Science to for membership. The membership/ The report shows that the number of all post primary schools. subscription rates (including Carn) are: complaints made to the Office of An  The report also highlights the fact that €23.00, Sterling £13.50, Europe (airmail) Coimisinéir Teanga has increased bonus marks are not being granted to £17.00, Outside Europe £20.00. US$30.00 significantly in the past year, up 47% on the pupils who provide their work through (US funds, cheques drawn on a US bank). previous year. Irish in sections of the state examination This reflects an increase in public system. These sections include projects For information about the Celtic League awareness of linguistic rights, rather than and research work. This puts pressure on contact secretaries: a decrease in services provided through all-Irish schools to allow their pupils Irish, according to Seán Ó Cuirreáin, An undertake these assignments through ALBA. Iain Ramsay, 22 Denholme Coimisinéir Teanga. English, as many of the sources of Gardens, Greenock, PA16 8RF, Scotland However, a number of selected cases information are available in that language BREIZH Gi Keltik BP44-29880 highlighted in the report show a wide only. Plougherne, Breizh/Brittany. disparity between the perceived state support CYMRU Robat ap Tomos, 11 Heol for the language and what is actually Gordon, Y Rhath, Caerdydd, CF2 3AJ. provided. ÉIRE Pádraigín Mylevreeshey 33 Céide na Grianóige, Ráth Cúil, Co. Átha  One such case involves the refusal of Cliath. Tel- Éire (0) 14589795 local authorities to allow members of the KERNOW Mike Chappell, Kessenyans, public to use addresses in Irish in the new Little Water, Goonhavern, TRURO, register of electors. An Coimisinéir Kernow/Cornwall TR4 9QG Teanga has suggested that such a practice MANNIN Cristl Jerry, 6 Glenfaba Road, undermines the concept of recognising Peel. Tel: UK (0) 1624 843869. addresses in Irish, or the use of bilingual placenames, signage or road signs. It ENGLAND BRANCH Florence Kenna, would also ensure that the English 72 Compton Street, London, EC1V 0BN. version of addresses would be given USA Margaret Sexton, c/o P.O. Box further currency by their use in election 20153, Dag Hammarshjold Postal literature, polling cards and for other Centre, New York, NY 10017. official purposes, he argued. Seán Ó Cuirreáin, An Coimisinéir Teanga INTERNATIONAL BRANCH  The report also casts doubt on the validity Mark Lockerby, 12 Magherdonnag, of specific pieces of legislation in relation The Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga dealt Pony Fields, Port Erin, IM9 6BY, to natural heritage protection in certain with 611 new complaints in total from Isle of Man. Gaeltacht areas. Since March 2005, the members of the public during 2006, an English version of official Gaeltacht increase of 47% from the previous year. GENERAL SECRETARY placenames no longer have any force or Almost a third of these came from Gaeltacht Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, Calle Mayor 8, 4°, 09240 Briviesca, BURGOS, Spain. effect in Acts of the Oireachtas or in areas (30%), while a further third came from Tel: Spain (+34) 692497877 statutory instruments. It appears, Dublin (38%). Not all of the complaints, UK (+44) 7787318666 however, that English placenames were however, were in relation to specific Email: [email protected] used after this date in statutory breaches of the Official Languages Act and instruments which dealt with natural many were of a more general nature EDITOR Ms P. Bridson, heritage protection in certain Gaeltacht concerning interactions through Irish with 33 Céide na Grianóige, Ráth Cúil, areas and consequently appear to be state organisations at this introductory stage Co. Átha Cliath, Éire. invalid. of the language legislation. Email: [email protected]

Articles for Carn should be e-mailed to the Celtic League Editor. Appropriate photographs should be American Branch sent with them. Material for the next issue of Carn should AGM 2007 reach the Editor no later than 1st August Internet Site 29th Sept. CAERDYDD (Cardiff) 2007. Articles sent for publication in Carn must relate to our aims. All materials www.celticleague.org Contact National Secs. copyright © Carn unless otherwise stated. The views expressed in Carn are not necessarily those of the editor or of the Celtic League Internet Site Celtic League. http://www.manxman.co.im/cleague/ ISSN 0257-7860 Email: General Secretary: [email protected] Email: Assistant G.S.: [email protected]

24 Carn