Celts Unite

Alan PengellyJune 3, 2010 at 9:16pm

Subject: Celtic Discussion Forum

The Celtic Link shall be launching it's much awaited Discussion Forum in the next week or two.....!

The main focus of the discussion forum is to create an open communication channel between people across the globe on all things Celtic! Having the ability to network with people on such a diverse range of topics is extremely valuable in this area, and the sharing of information will hopefully bring the Celtic world closer together!

Before it goes live, we would be interested to hear if there are any particular areas of topic you would like to see in this forum. Please send any thoughts or comments to info@thecelticlink.com

For those of you that are new to The Celtic Link, please check it out http://www.facebook.com/l/84f75;www.thecelticlink.com 

Old Skibbereen

[Am] Oh [G] father dear I [Am] oft-times hear you [G] talk of [F] Erin´s [Am] Isle

Her lofty [C] scene and [Am] valley [G] green, her [Am] mountains [C] rude and [Am] wild

They say it [C] is a [Am] pretty [G] place where-[Am] in a [C] prince might [Am] d´well

Then [G] why did you [Am] abondon it? The [G] reason [F] to me [Am] tell.

 

My son I loved our native land with energy and pride

Until a blight came on the land and sheep and cattle died,

The rent and taxes were to pay, I could not them redeem,

And that´s the cruel reason why I left old Skibbereen

 

It´s well I do remember that bleak December day,

The landlord and the sheriff came to drive us all away;

They set the roof on fire with their demon yellow spleen,

And that´s another reason why I left old Skibbereen.

 

It´s well I do remember the year of forty-eight

When I arose with Erin´s boys to fight against the fate,

I was hunted through the mountains for a traitor to the Queen

And that´s another reason why I left old Skibbereen.

 

Oh father dear, the day will come when vengeance loud will call,

And we will rise with Erin´s boys and rally one and all,

I´ll be the man to lead the van beneath our flag of green,

And loud and high we´ll raise the cry:´Revenge for Skibereen´.

 

She Moved Through the Fair - Michael Collins - OST - Sinéad O'Connor

Skibbereen Girl

Abusive Behaviour Begets Violence

An individual who suffers violent abuse and is persistently reviled at a young age frequently grows up to be a disturbed and abusive character himself in later life. The same can be said about nations. Years of persecution have a dire and untold effect. This is true of Israel which has adopted its Old Testament teaching of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Violence begets violence and there is no end to it. The result is mutual destruction.
The whole world will condemn Israel for its excessive zeal in protecting its "Promised Land".

A Time to Remember

Dermot KellyMay 31, 2010 at 12:14am

Subject: The Abergele Martyrs 2010

The Abergele Martyrs are remembered each year by Welsh Republicans and by Republicans and supporters of liberation from around the globe. This years commemoration parade takes place on the 3rd of July at 13.00hrs. The 2010 Parade will be led by the Liverpool Irish Patriots RFB (Republican Flute Band), the James Larkin RFB and the Cambria Drum Band the only Welsh Republican marching band, they are led by John Jenkins. Jenkins was the leader of M.A.C. Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (the Movement for the Defence of Wales). The Martyrs Alwyn Jones and George Taylor were Volunteers in M.A.C. and were killed in a premature explosion intended to prevent the investiture of Charles Windsor an Anglo-German as the prince of Wales in 1969. All Republicans are invited to attend the commemoration of the two men and republican groups and banners are very welcome. There is camping available for the weekend in the Celtic Nations Camp with music, poetry, a BBQ and a remembrance bonfire, with a visit to the area of the 'University of Freedom' Fron Goch Camp near Bala where the Volunteers were imprisoned after the 1916 Rising. This is an event not to be missed For more details follow the links below. The posters are copyright free and can be copied printed and posted wherever Patriots and Celts gather. Fe Godwn Ni Eto- We Will Rise Again. TAL
Dermot.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=81521055553&ref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=81990956443&ref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/l/e2cd7;www.abergelemartyrs.webs.com/
Email: Abergelemartyrs@rocketmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023054&id=1569831117&l=51453d0d9d

Click on the link HERE

Celebrate the Welsh Prince of Wales

From "Owain Glydwr Communicates" blog

28 May 1354 OWAIN GLYNDŴR'S BIRTH DAY - 28 MAY 2010 Rise Up The Flag For Our Last, Present and Future Prince of Wales and keep it flying high........

Yes, for those of you who did not know,tomorrow(Mai 28th) is our Prince's birthday.OwainGlyndŵrwas born on28 Mai1354.

..

The 'Son of Prophecy' was born at Sycharth although, Penfro also claims that he was born at Trefgarne Owen. Whichever was the case, he was descended from the Princes of Powys on his father's side and from the Princes of Powys on the side of his mother.

..

. Family links with Gwynedd were weak but Glyndŵr sought Welsh royal rights by claiming descent from the Gwynedd Royal Families, and recognised Gwynedd as the Gwlad of the 'High' Kings and Princes of Wales. Thus, yes, the Four Lions Rampant 'Baner Glyndŵr' was inspired by 'Baner Llywelyn' the last Prince of Gwynedd and 'PuraWallia but, Glyndŵr wished to make it absolutely clear that he was seeking to be a native Prince for all of Wales and not just those areas that were once under the authority of 'Baner Llywelyn' so he adapted the 'Llywelyn Baner' to display the four 'passive lions' as being 'rampant' so, logic follows surely, that if we are to be absolutely true toGlyndŵr's cause for an all Wales independent of English rule, then we must one and all accept that the only true baner for such a cause is the 'Four Lions Rampant' of Owain Glyndŵr..

.

.Llysgenhadaeth Glyndŵr has been actively promoting the flying ofBaneri Glyndŵr since we were established in 1998. It is now flown widely on Dydd Glyndŵr - 16 Medi annually by national institutions such as the Welsh Assembly, the Millennium Stadium, County and Town Councils, Universities, the National Library and other Libraries, Castles, schools and on the homes of individual patriots throughout Wales and beyond. I addition, many businesses such as hotels, pubs, caravan, holiday parks and, indeed, whole streets of shops in towns such as the towns of Pwllheli, Caernarfon, Porthmadog,Penrhyndeudraeth, Dolgellau and Machynlleth now display seas of 'Baner Glyndŵr' throughout the summer months.

.

The Cause of Independence is on Track

Although the desperate state of the economy has overshadowed everything else in the politics of Britain the cause of independence for Scotland and Wales (and let us not forget England) is on track. In addition, northern Ireland is on track to join with the Republic and Ireland will eventually be reunited. It is only a matter of time.
The general election and its outcome, a Liberal-Conservative coalition, is a welcome development following thirteen years of retrogressive "socialism" veering towards totalitarianism which characterised the regime of New Labour, and acted as a brake on progress towards a new era for the nations of the British Isles. The previous Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were diffident if not opposed to the holding of referenda on further radical devolution. With a return to a golden era of civil liberty and greater democracy which has been promised by the present coalition the insistent cause of independence is once more on track.

American Support for Ireland

SUBJECT : Reunification of Ireland

SOURCE : Author


DIGEST : This resolution expresses California
Legislatures strong support for Irish reunification and
urges the California Congressional delegation to support
the final reunification of the island of Ireland by all
electoral and diplomatic means necessary.

ANALYSIS :

This resolutions states:

1. The logic of history, international law, human rights,
and peace dictate the reunification of the island of
Ireland, and the realities of the moment, including the
Good Friday Agreement and the development of the
all-Ireland institutions of governance, attest to this
momentum.

2. In the past, the State Legislature adopted the MacBride
Principles for Northern Ireland and offered its informal
endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement among the
previously warring parties.

3. The contribution of Irish-born and Irish Americans to
this state and this nation are legion.

This resolution states that the Legislature strongly
supports Irish reunification and urges the California
Congressional delegation to support the final reunification
of the island of Ireland by all electoral and diplomatic
means necessary.

FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No

SUPPORT : (Verified 5/13/10)

California Ancient Order of Hibernians
California Irish Cultural Society
Campaign for a United Ireland
County Antrim Society of Northern California
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of San Diego County
Ground Zero Player of San Diego
Irish American Caucus of the California Democratic Party
Irish American Democratic Club
Long Beach Commodore of the Ancient Order of Hibernian
Orange County Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in
America Inc.
Residential Builders Association
San Diego Commodore of the Ancient Order of Hibernian
San Diego Irish American Historical Society
San Francisco Chapter of the Irish American Unity
Conference
San Francisco Gaelic Athletic Association
The Tyrone Society of California
United Irish Society of San Francisco
Veteran For Peace, San Francisco Chapter 69

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : In support of this bill, he United
Irish Societies write, "The purpose of the United Irish
Societies of San Francisco is to preserve an perpetuate the
democratic principles of the Irish people, and of those for
the freedom of Ireland and of the United States of America,
to enlist the goodwill and cooperation of our fellow
citizens in support of such democratic principles and to
coordinate the functions of member societies through the
maintenance of a master calendar of events. This
Organization is exclusively for charitable, religious,
educational and athletic purposes, including, for such
purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that
qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 c (3) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

"It is therefore only fitting that we support this
resolution calling for the reunification of Ireland a right
that is enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement. Support of
the peace process ahs created conditions for reunification
through democratic and peaceful means."


RJG:do 5/13/10 Senate Floor Analyses

SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE

The SDLP - a nationalist party?

SDLP swearing oaths

DURING the Westminster election campaign, SDLP leader Margaret

Ritchie repeated the following mantra ad nauseam: "We'll be there

when it matters, where it matters."

Undoubtedly, Tuesday, May 25th, will be one these really important

occasions when we will see all three SDLP MPs troop into the British

Houses of Parliament to make the following crucial intervention:

"I [Margaret Ritchie, Mark Durkan, Alasdair McDonnell] do solemnly,

sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and

bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and

successors, according to law."

When it matters, where it matters indeed!

COLMÁN

Mac ANCHROSÁIN
West Tyrone

A Bigger and Better Democracy?

Click on the link: 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8690882.stm

With this in place the people of Wales, Scotland, Ulster, Cornwall and the Isle of Man can decide their future.

Developing the Argument.....

It has been stated before, on this blog, that the best thing for the cause of a Welsh Parliament and Scottish Independence would be a Conservative government. As it turns out we have gone one better and elected a Liberal Conservative government. Although Labour have introduced devolution into the British Isles (which they believed should be regional devolution) events overtook them and what we are seeing is a growing demand for national, not only regional, devolution. If we carry the logic further the result would eventually be  the break-up of the "United" Kingdom and Scotland and Wales would become independent countries within Europe as Ireland is today. That is not what Labour intended.

The antipathy which exists in Scotland, and to a lesser degree in Wales towards a Conservative administration at Westminster, which generated feelings that still rankle over the excesses of the Thatcher years when local industries were closed down forever and the unemployed were expected to retrain as yuppies or  cease work entirely to survive on social benefits and later tax credits, will doubtless increase. The people of Wales and Scotland will see that they are not represented as they would wish, and must be aware that they are governed by parties which overwhelmingly represent the English electorate and not their own.

Thus, the desire to turn inward and support their own national institutions and systems of government will become stronger, leading them inevitably farther in the direction of the establishment of a Welsh Parliament, and will strengthen the cause for Scottish independence. The final act of this scenario is that following Scottish independence Wales will take the same path and opt for an independent Cymru.

Hastening the Cause of Independence

Why does "Independence Cymru" say that, under the circumstances of the election, The Liberal Conservative Coalition is a Good Thing?


It is because the great majority of the Scottish and Welsh electorate are left of centre and in contrast to England they voted in general for radical and progressive policies, and this alienation from the "national" trend increases greatly the prospect of a "Yes" vote in the referenda for a Welsh Parliament and Scottish Independence.

Supporting the Breton Language

The Old Guard and the Progressives

There is a certain reluctance by the Liberal and Conservative Old Guard, notably Charles Kennedy, David Steele and to a lesser degree Vince Cable, as well as others, to accept the changes that the electorate voted for, in particular the liberal, compassionate progressive government which David Cameron and Nick Clegg are in the process of  creating.

The new leaders appear to have the vision of a new, radical and progressive approach to politics which senior politicians of both parties find difficulty in accepting, having spent their political lives in traditional combative left v. right combative politics. The alternative view was no doubt pioneered by Barack Obama, and a wind of change has blown around the world since his inauguration as president of the United States. The coalition which the electorate has foisted on Westminster has the makings of a new conciliatory type of politics, a politics of consensus, the vision of which the Old Guard fail to grasp.

They are the "yesterday's men", a phrase coined by Adam Price MP to describe the dinosaurs of the Welsh valleys, those MP's, mainly Labour, who remain stuck in the stultifying atmosphere of 20th century politics. They are supported by a vocal section of the public who feel that the principles on which the parties were founded are somehow being betrayed. Consequently the new progressive liberal conservatives are seen as a paradox and a contradiction (how can Conservatives be at the same time progressive or put forward radical innovative policies?).  They question how a Liberal Democrat party can associate itself with Conservatives when it is traditionally left of centre and holds dissimilar ideas.

Meanwhile the policies of New Labour are increasing seen as out of touch with the times, and with the electorate, who have moved on and away from old-style divisive politics. The Old Guard are failing to understand a fundamental change in at the heart of British politics which, if it suceeds, will transform the nature of politics and government in these islands forever.