Carn No 151 Jan 2012:Issue No 138 October 2007.qxd 12/01/2012 14:31 Page 1 No. 151 Winter 2011/12 €4.00 Stg£3.00 Ÿ Dè thachair ris an Çedilla? Ÿ Sectarianism in Scotland Ÿ The Rising of the Red Bonnets in Breizh Ÿ First Imprisonment in New Campaign to Save S4C Ÿ From Bad to Worse under the Troika Ÿ Kernow - Not So Delectable Duchy ! Ÿ Manx Election: New Chief Minister In Post Ÿ Celtic League 50th AGM Falkirk ALBA: AN COMANN CEILTEACH BREIZH: AR C’HEVRE KELTIEK CYMRU: YR UNDEB CELTAIDD ÉIRE: AN CONRADH CEILTEACH KERNOW: AN KESUNYANS KELTEK MANNIN: YN COMMEEYS CELTIAGH Carn No 151 Jan 2012:Issue No 138 October 2007.qxd 12/01/2012 14:31 Page 2 Celtic League 50th AGM 2011 This year’s AGM was held in the Town Chambers in Falkirk, Alba at the end of October. The meeting marked the founding of the League 50 years ago. It was held in Falkirk Town Chambers at the invitation of Angus MacDonald, MSP, with the assistance of Iain Ramsay of the Alba branch. In addition to the general range of AGM business including the election of officers for the coming year there was a Public Session ‘The Celtic Nations, 50 years of Progress’, with a number of talks and presentations to mark the event as well as an open forum concluding it entitled `The Way Forward for the Celtic Nations and Inter Celtic Co-operation’. Professor Kenneth MacKinnon delivering Peter Berresford Ellis’s keynote address. The keynote talk, written by respected CELTIC LEAGUE FLAG (a project Celticist, historian and author Peter undertaken by the Breton branch) was Beresford Ellis, entitled ‘The Celtic Nations performed by Gi Keltik, who outlined the – 1961 v 2011, a Sea Change? was delivered basis of the design. The flag was flown by Professor Kenneth MacKinnon, in the outside the Town Chambers for the absence of Mr. Ellis who was unable to weekend. A report on the SNP election attend. In the speech Mr Berresford Ellis victory was given by David Alexander, SNP explored some of the developments within Group leader in Falkirk. An interesting the Celtic countries over the fifty year period question and answer session then took place. from when the League was first established On the Saturday night a ceildh, hosted by Provost of Falkirk, Pat Reid, in 1961 and outlined his opinion on what Angus MacDonald, MSP, with financial aid welcoming delegates to the progress had been made, or not made. In his from the SNP to cover costs of the excellent Celtic League 50th AGM. concluding remarks, Mr Berresford Ellis Gaelic group from Lewis, the Norrie wrote: “…our descendants still have much to MacIver Trio, took place in the Park Hotel. It The meeting opened with a welcoming do during the next fifty years if ever we can was an excellent event. speech from the Provost of Falkirk, Pat Reid, hope to see anything remotely looking like Following a Sunday morning business who invited delegates into his office for a sea change that takes us significantly along session focusing on how the League should drinks reception before the meeting began. the path to approaching the aims and ideals now progress, which the Provost attended to This was followed a brief address by the sole of this Celtic League. The text of this talk is say farewell, delegates were taken on a surviving member of the Celtic League, available on the League web site historical and cultural tour. This was Scottish branch member, Seamus Filbin www.celticleague.net with a link to a video undertaken by Les Mac an Ultaigh and (sadly the only other surviving founder of the delivery of the speech. A special Nicky Sanderson who volunteered their member of the League, Breton Yann Fouére, thanks to Peter and Ken for this stimulating professional guide services. Delegates saw passed away just two weeks before the AGM talk and presentation. many of the historic sites in the area, at the grand old age of 101). However his Professor MacKinnon then went on to including Bannockburn, Stirling Castle and son, Erwan Fouére, delivered a short provide a comprehensive briefing on the the Wallace Memorial. All in all a very appreciation of his work and a minute’s ‘Second National Plan for Gaelic’. This was successful 50th AGM and our deep silence was held in tribute to Yann and other followed by a report by the General appreciation to Angus Mac Donald, Pat deceased members of the League. Iain Secretary, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, on the Reid, David Alexander and others who Ramsay made a presentation on behalf of the League’s activities and campaigns over its welcomed us to Falkirk and to all who Alba branch to Seamus. fifty years of existence. The launch of the prepared presentations and delivered them. Seamus Filbin, sole surviving founder Cathal Ó Luain (Convenor), Angus MacDonald, MSP (showing Alba branch member addressing the AGM. membership card), Erwan Fouére and Rhisiart Tal-e-bot (Gen Sec.) at the ceilidh. 2 Carn Carn No 151 Jan 2012:Issue No 138 October 2007.qxd 12/01/2012 14:31 Page 3 Nova Scotian crowned Alba as Bard at 2011 Mod A link with the Gaelic speaking diaspora was brought to the 2011 Mod in Stornoway as the distinguished “Bardic Crown” was presented to Canadian Lewis MacKinnon, with the award crossing the Dè thachair ris an Çedilla? Atlantic for the first time. Mr MacKinnon, a published poet and Ciamar a chanas sibh diacritic? Tha iad Brezhoneg tha dà sheòrsa “ch” cuideachd, teacher is CEO of the Office of Gaelic gann sa Bheurla Shasannach, ged a bheil iad ach nithear diofar soilleir eatorra, m.e. Affairs in Nova Scotia. The Gaelic version of gu math cumanta sna cananan Ceilteach. “gwelloc’h” (“guallach”) agus “duchenn” the poet laureate is a major part of the Mod Gheibhear srac is “fada” gu leòr anns a’ (“duisean”)) celebrations and is traditionally handed out Ghàidhlig is Gaeilge na h-Èireann, agus tha Tha diofar mòr mòr eadar an “ch” a chì sinn during the literature events. John MacLeod, president of Mod an circumflex (ad bheag?!) air a chleachdadh ann an “loch”, agus am fear a chìtheas sinn organisers An Comunn Gaidhealach, said: sa Chuimris. Ann a’ Bhrezhoneg, chì sinn ann am facal “hatch”. Anns an litreachadh “We’re delighted to bestow this prestigious rud caran Spainnteach, sin an tilde sa bhios againne, cluinnidh sinn am fear mu honour on Lewis MacKinnon. While the air an litir “n” bho àm gu àm. dheireadh sna faclan mar “càite” agus “tìr”. distance between this year’s Mod in the Chan eil diacritics cumanta anns a’ Leis an fhirinn innse, cha tuiginn gur e “ch” ‘heartland of Gaelic’ and his home in Nova neo “çh” ann seo gun a bhith criomag na Chòrnais, neo Gàidhlig Mhanainn a- Scotia is considerable, it is really just a short Gàidhlig bhriste agam. Nam bheachdsa, bharrachd. Mar a tha fios agaibh, gun step in linguistic terms across the wide teagamh, chaochail an dithis seo mòran b’fheudar dhan cedilla a bhith ann fad na h- ocean that separates us and we hope that bliadhnaichean air ais, agus fhuair iad seòrsa ùine, nuair a sgrìobhas fear sam bith Gaelg our event will continue to reinforce these “aiseirigh” mar a bha Eabhra. Ach tha iad Vannin. Chan eil argamaid sam bith agam close links. caran “neo-mharbh” a-nis, coltach ri Dracula leis an obair sgoinneil a rinn Maighstir (Droch-Fhuil neo Droch-Fhiaclan?) san MacStoyll rè na bliadhnaichean, ach tha uirsgeul is na filmichean ainmeil. Dè tha mi Gaelg fhileanta aige, agus is dòcha nach eil ciallachadh? Uill, ged a tha luchd-labhairt cuimhne aige air an strì sa bhios aig an Còrnais is Gaelg ann, chan eil mòran dhaibh neach-ionnsachaidh nuair a tha esan neo ise fileanta idir, agus cha d’ionnsaich iad aig a’ tòiseachadh ri leughadh. Ach is math a glùn na mathar, ach ri taobh na buird neo rinn e leis an artagail a sgrìobh e air neo- bhon leabhar a leugh iad. Chan eil dad ceàrr eiseimealachd na h-Alba, agus tha e soilleir ri sin, ach tha e uabhasach duilich mion- gu bheil greim nas fheàrr air na connspaidean chànan ri ionnsachadh co-dhiu. Uime sin, ma a tha ceangailte ris. Greim fada nas fheàrr na tha rud sam bith ann, a tha freagarrach, agus BBC neo ITV co-dhiu! Ma tha sibh a’ nach eil a’ dèanamh cròn air a’ chànain, bu leughadh na pìos seo, a Bhriain chòir, chòir dhuinn ri chleachdadh. cumaibh oirbh, ach tha mi’n dòchas gun B’àbhaist dha a bhith cedilla anns a’ cleachd sibh an cedilla nas trice! Ghaelg, ach dè thachair ris? Tha fhios agam Lewis MacKinnon nach eil cedilla cho furasta ri taidhpeadh, ach nam bheachdsa, tha iad gu math feumail sa Summary “In the words of the Canadian boat song: chainnt Mhannaineach. ‘S ann do chànan ‘Mountains divide us and the waste of the Frangach a bhuineas an cedilla, agus sa “The Case of the Missing Cedilla”: Manx is sea, yet the blood is still strong.’” The newly crowned bard of the Gaelic Fhraingis fhèin, cleachdar mar soidhne a revived language, most of whose speakers world was born in Cape Breton, the district sèimheachaidh – nuair a tha cedilla air an are adult learners, which exists in a highly where Gaels first landed after emigrating litir “c”, caineamaid “s”, mar ann an abairt anglified environment. Therefore, anything from the Highlands. He has written a book «ça va?» (“sà-bhà”) Ach tha doigh- which helps learners to pick it up, is to be of poetry in the Nova Scotian dialect.