The Celtic League is a pan-Celtic organization, founded in 1961, that aims to promote modern Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man – referred to as the Celtic nations; it places particular emphasis on promoting the Celtic languages of those nations. It also advocates further self-governance in the Celtic nations and ultimately for each nation to be an independent state in its own right. The Celtic League is an accredited NGO with roster consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (EcoSoc).

Aims

The Celtic League presents its aims as including:

  • "Fostering co-operation between Celtic peoples."
  • "Developing the consciousness of the special relationship and solidarity between them."
  • "Making our national struggles and achievements better known abroad."
  • "Campaigning for a formal association of Celtic nations to take place once two or more of them have achieved self-government."
  • "Advocating the use of the national resources of each of the Celtic countries for the benefit of all its people."

"Each Celtic nation is conditioned by a different history and so we must not expect uniformity of thought, but instead allow diversity to express itself within the Celtic League. In this way, we may better recognise those areas of possible co-operation and eventually formulate a detailed common policy. With this we can work out which kind of relations between our communities will enable them to enjoy freedoms and liberties at both individual and community level."

Celtic League, American Branch (CLAB) was founded in New York City in 1974, and has its own newsletter, but reported decreased activity , it was active with a website, Celtic-League.org (operated from the Isle of Man), from 2004 through 2010. There has been a separate England Branch, based in London, active at least from 2004 to 2007. There used to be a branch in Cape Breton Island, Canada, where a small Scottish Gaelic-speaking community still exists; this branch was moribund , though various consultations had taken place in efforts to restart it.

Publications

The Celtic League publishes a quarterly magazine, Carn, which highlights political struggles and cultural preservation issues. The articles are produced in the six Celtic languages in addition to English. The cover of the magazine is a map of the six Celtic countries with their respective Celtic-language names beside them. In the past, articles have appeared in French as well. For many years, Carn claimed to be the only regular publication carrying all six Celtic languages.

The Celtic League, American Branch (CLAB) prints its own quarterly newsletter, Six Nations, One Soul, CLAB also produced a wall calendar each year, with art from members, appropriate quotations, and anniversaries; publication ceased with the 2008 issue.

Campaigns

The Celtic League has also passed a motion to support the general aims of Independence First, which aims for a referendum on Scottish independence.

Posts

Nationality is indicated by letters after their names as so:

:B – Breton, C – Cornish, I – Irish, M – Manx, S – Scottish, W – Welsh

An arrow indicates the editor relocated to one of the other Celtic countries.

General secretaries

:Alan Heusaff: (1961–84), B→I

:Bernard Moffatt: (1984–88), M

:Davyth Fear: (1988–90), C

:Séamas Ó Coileáin: (1990–91), I

:Bernard Moffat: (1991–2006), M

:Rhisiart Tal-e-bot: (2006 – present), W→C

Editors of Carn (Established 1973)

:Frang MacThòmais: (1973–74), S

:Pádraig Ó Snodaigh: (1974–77), I

:Cathal Ó Luain: (1977–81), I

:Pedyr Pryor: (1981–84), C

:Pat Bridson: (1984-2013), M→I

:Rhisiart Tal-e-bot: (2013–present), C

The presidency and vice-presidency ran from 1961 to 1971 and were then abolished. They were held by Gwynfor Evans (W) and Robert McIntyre (S) respectively for the entire duration of the posts. The successor post, chairman, was held by Pádraig Ó Conchúir (I) from 1972 to 1978, then abolished.

J. B. Moffatt was serving as the organisation's director of information .

See also

  • Celtic union
  • Pan-Celticism

References

  • Ellis, Peter Berresford The Celtic Dawn
  • Tanner, Marcus Last of the Celts
  • Celtic League Website