The European Council is due to vote on the European status of two Celtic languages today (Tuesday 15th July 2008), after talks begun between the Westminster Government and Europe early last month. If agreed, the Scots Gaelic and Welsh languages will be given the same EU status currently enjoyed by the Basque, Catalan and Galician languages, where citizens have the right to send correspondence to the EU in their native language and receive a reply in that language.

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THE World Archaeological Congress has urged the Government to ensure that no large commercial or residential development is allowed along the route of the controversial M3 motorway. And the forum, made up of practising archaeologists, has said that excavations carried out along the motorway route in Co Meath — which runs near the hill of Tara — were performed to the “highest professional standards”.

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Pic: Save Pendarve’s Quoit

Pendarves Quoit, in a collasped condition, is in an area of beautiful countryside to the south-west of the mining Town of Camborne in West Cornwall. Surrounded by bluebell woods the Quoit is by an ancient way which can still be followed from Copper Hill Moors to the sea at Gwithian. The Quoit stands on private setaside farmland. The Sustainable Trust (Patron: Satish Kumar) is in negotiations with the owners to buy the five acres of land on which the Quoit is situated for community and conservation use. It is hoped, with the help of English Heritage, Cornwall Archaeological Unit and the Heritage Environment Service to rebuild the Quoit to its former glory. On the land around the Quoit we hope to explore ancient farming methods and ways of life. It is proposed that there will be linking wildlife corridors between the existing woods on either side of the field (Pendarves Nature Reserve is next to the site).

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Pic: BBC

The BBC reports that an ancient Perthshire yew has made the top 10 in a list of the most important trees in the UK. The Fortingall Yew, which grows at a churchyard near Aberfeldy, could be up to 5,000 years old and is among the oldest living organisms in Europe. Local legend has it that Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who oversaw the crucifixion of Jesus, was born in its shade and played there as a child.

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Pic: Novopress

On Sunday, July 13, the 55th Festival of Embroidery brought together 35 young women in dress and large cap for the traditional election of the new queen of embroiderers of Pont-l’Abbé in Brittany. They say it is to.. ..pay tribute to those who still wear the costume and traditional headdress high, even if they are not very numerous. It is a gesture of identity. It’s exceptional to say that despite the abandonment of costume on a massive scale, it is still a garment and not just a costume. The preservation of this identity has become the driving force behind Celtic Circle Ar Vro Vigoudenn who were crowned last year as Champions of Brittany.

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Pic: kathryn_rotondo

You, our dear listeners, know how important Tara (Teamhair in the tales) is within the ancient myths of the Celts and now the full story has been revealed in an article published by the Epoch Times. They report that at the archaeological heart of Ireland, one of the most horrific acts of cultural desecration has been taking place for the last two years. Over 46 heritage sites and national monuments have already been destroyed,and the majority of us are oblivious, unaware that anything is happening.

The new M3 motorway is under construction in the Tara Skryne valley, Ireland. SIAC and Ferrovial road companies, with the support of the Irish government are building a motorway through valley. It has already cost more than 950 million euros (at the last count in March 2008), yet is only going to cut current journey time by a matter of minutes. The Navan Dublin rail link that has lain dormant for many years could have been re-opened for a fraction of the price or the existing N3 could have been expanded. This is an unnecessary and inexcusable desecration of heritage and waste of money.

The Irish government has gone against EU directives in building this road, destroying a site of world importance before it was properly researched or received the appropriate attention. The road builders are also contravening the human rights of the Irish people; the right to the protection of their archaeological and historical sites, religious and cultural sites.

Pic: indymedia

The Tara Skryne Valley is home to over 60 such sites, the oldest being more than 6,000 years old. The richness of the archaeology and history is practically unrivalled in Ireland. It is the land of Irish folklore, home of the Irish Kings, of the legendary Cu Chullain and Finn of the Fianna. The Hill of Tara holds the legendary Stone of Destiny. The dead from the Battle of Tara in the 1798 United Irishmen Rebellion lay in the valley; their bodies recently dug up and ploughed through in

one of the most disturbing acts of desecration in the road building to date. Daniel O’Connell held his monster meeting, the biggest ever gathering in Ireland, at Tara in 1843.

There were nine possible routes for the M3. The chosen route is the most archaeologically damaging. When looked at from a bird’s eye view it is a dot-to-dot of heritage sites, cutting through the highest concentrate of known archaeology in the valley. There has so far been no explanation for this choice of route, it being neither the cheapest nor the quickest. The current route is twenty minutes slower than the next slowest choice; a total of four believed to be quicker. For an expected saving of 100 million euros the route could have by-passed the valley completely.

Included in the sites already destroyed has been: a 6,000 year old grave yard; a 2,000 year old wood-henge housing a megalithic pattern-engraved stone; an ancient feasting ground of heroes and nobility; the first Christian settlement in Ireland and a set of twelve round-house style sou-terrains, largely intact and interconnected by a network of tunnels, representing the largest known complex of its kind in Ireland.

Pic: indymedia

The National Roads Authority has been lying continually in their official findings and covering up the discovery of important archaeological sites. The sou-terrain complex at Roes town was originally described by the NRA as a set of three and set of four roundhouses, of little archaeological value. Two days before evidence showing an intact group of twelve was published, their story changed, more closely representing true findings.

An archaeologist working on the Lismullen site was told for his first three weeks of work that there was no need for him to carry out any excavation but if questioned to say work was being done but nothing had been found. The archaeologist in question later joined the protest camp and has been involved in writing many of the archaeological reports published by the “Save Tara” campaign.

In July 2007, a royal feasting ground at Baronstown, was destroyed by diggers at 4am in the morning.

At Collierstown graves more than 6,000 year old, were left uncovered for months, open to the elements, with their bones eventually being plastered on the road and picked up by local school children.

Tara has lain for thousands of years as a sacred, spiritual place, it is sad this should be happening now, when we are finally beginning to realise the fragility of our land and importance of our past. When will we learn that there are things much more valuable than money? When it is too late?

The full text of various statements and petitions and more information can be viewed at www.archaeological.org and the “Save Tara” campaign’s website www.savetara.com .

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Deal in Kent, UK you can get to see the Green Man Festival on Sunday the 27th. They say on the Magical Festivals site: Seasonal Gatherings, Festivals, Fayre’s & musical evenings are held throughout the year at a number of locations. Our main events are held in the beautiful seaside town of Deal in Kent where people of all paths come together to enjoy a selection of Talks, Workshops and Performances and browse through our exhibitors stands. Our events are held inside but have be known to spill into the high street!

Many Special Guest Speakers and Performers attend our events. Some of our 2008 visitors are Maxine Sanders, David Wells of Most Haunted, Damh The Bard, Cat Von Trapp, Touch The Earth plus many more! We welcome people of all paths to come and spend a day with us and enjoy what Magical Festivals has to offer.

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Pic: bogenfreund

Wales Online reported on the 12th July that the Holy Grail may have rested in Wales, as an academic claimed. Cardiff University folklore expert Dr Juliette Wood,  said theories linking the Grail to Scotland, such as those in Dan Brown’s hit book The Da Vinci Code, were relatively new. The work has sold 60 million copies since 2003 by suggesting Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh may have been the iconic Grail’s home. In her new book Eternal Chalice: The Enduring Legend of the Holy Grail, Dr Wood says Wales’ claims on the ancient relic are far stronger. The Holy Grail, believed to be the cup from which Christ drank at the last supper, is thought to have magical powers.

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Pic: Bridgman Pottery

Wales Online reports that the allure of the Holy Grail has fascinated writers and ensnared knights for more than 1,000 years. From Malory to Monty Python, the eternal chalice – said to be the very cup from which Jesus drank at the last supper – has become enshrined as one of popular culture’s most spiritual icons. But while Scotland has been given the credit for being the Grail’s final resting place – thanks largely to Dan Brown’s hugely-successful novel The Da Vinci Code – a new book by a Welsh academic says Wales’ claim to the relic is stronger.

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Pic: IceNews

A complete interactive listing of all the museums, galleries and multimedia exhibitions in South Iceland has been launched on the new travel website, South.is.The huge area of South Iceland, with its few inhabitants and many sheep, does not immediately seem like prime museum territory – but the website South.is begs to differ. Listings on the site exist for dozens of museums and galleries, and over 40 churches of interest.

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