Gaelic – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

Dead Confederate sharpshooters of Hood's Division among the rocks in Devil's Den in front of Little Round Top.

CSA: Remembering the Bravery of “Irish” Company “K” – 15th Alabama – Little Round-Top [2.7.1863] – Gettysburg! (3.4.2025)

03/04/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

The weather was hot – and the Confederates had to advance over open ground before storming an inclined slope (in the form of a steep hill) – with the intention of sweeping the Federals off its top and consolidating the victory. The previous day had seen the Confederates sweep the Federals out of West and Central Gettysburg – and into the hills to its East. Washington was just 80 miles to the South – and legend has it that Lincoln was packing his belongings to flee! I have audio-typed part of a chapter from Stephen Sears’ book – carefully reproducing the text from an Audible edition (in my native British English). This provides a general background to the battle – but does not mention the Irish specifically – other than one or two fighting for the Union. For the story of “Company K” of the 15th Alabama Regiment of the Confederate States of America (CSA) – we must turn to the excellent work of Phillip Thomas Tucker – who has produced an excellent book examining the contribution to the Confederate cause made by the Irish!

China: Enhanced Co-Operation with Eire Announced! (18.2,2025)

18/02/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

During his visit, Wang also met with Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Simon Harris.

A unilateral visa-free policy to Ireland to facilitate personnel exchanges between the two countries was announced during Li’s visit last year. And 2024 saw the relaunch of a year-round direct Dublin-Beijing air route, which operates twice weekly.

According to statistics from Ireland’s government, China is Ireland’s largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region, with total bilateral trade of 36 billion euros ($37.7 billion) in 2023. Irish goods exports to China have increased by 529 percent in the decade since 2013.

Ireland also enjoys a trade surplus with China, with its exports to China being driven by medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, computer services, agri-food, and financial services.

UK: Gee’s Birthday Treat – Cornish Cream Tea! (5.12.2024)

05/12/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

The box is delivered by a private Courier and contains four scones, four pots of jam, four tea-bags, two-bags of biscuits, and a pot of clotted cream! We breakout the best China tea-pot and tea-cups and saucers to consume this magnificent gift! As my parents live in Devon, we often visit nearby Cornwall and appreciate the history and old buildings. Cornwall is essentially a “Celtic” region of the UK with kilts, bagpipes and a Gaelic language all of its own!

Eire: Remembering the Celtic Bravery of “Stephen Keenan” – Free-Diving [and Safety] Champion! (31.1.2024)

31/01/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

‘Last month, Stephen Keenan, aged 39 and from Dublin, drowned while overseeing a dive by the freediving world record holder Alessia Zecchini. While attempting to cross “the arch” of the Red Sea’s notorious Blue Hole using only a single breath, the 25-year-old Italian became disoriented. Keenan rushed to her aid and guided her to the surface. She made it out unharmed but he blacked out and was found floating face down some distance away.

Western Backers of Israel Complicit in Genocide!

Scotland and Ireland Pledge to Continue Their Funding for UNRWA! (29.1.2024)

29/01/2024 Adrian (釋大道)

On his “X” account, Scottish Prime Minister Hamzah Yousef said that the Scottish government will not stop or withdraw aid provided to UNRWA, stressing the need to continue supporting the agency to ensure that aid reaches the residents of Gaza.

For his part, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin announced that Ireland does not intend to stop funding the “vital work” carried out by UNRWA in the Gaza Strip.

In a post on the “X” platform, the minister said that his country provided UNRWA with 18 million euros last year and will continue to do so this year.

He noted that UNRWA provides life-saving assistance to 2.3 million people, adding that more than 100 of its employees were killed in the past four months of Israeli aggression.

Bonnie Prince Charlie: King James III, King Henry IX & Queen Maria Clementina of Great Britain, France & Ireland! (23.4.2023)

23/04/2023 Adrian (釋大道)

As matters transpired, the Pope over-ruled ‘King Henry IX’ and finally recognised Bonnie Prince Charlie as ‘King Charles III’ on his deathbed – just as he drew his last breath. I assume that the Pope believed this would allow him to enter Catholic Heaven as a ‘King’ – in recognition of his services to the Vatican – if indeed that was what they were (as I am not convinced this was his primary motivating drive). The thousands of Gaelic-speaking, kilted Scotsman who fought with sword and shield against musket, canon and bayonet were surely fighting for something far more visceral. Having visited the Battlefield of Colluden a number of times (and run across it as the Clansman did) this remains my viewpoint today! These brave and great Clansman ‘stood’ for nearly an hour whilst British canons blew their bodies into tiny pieces! They then initiated a Highland Charge after displaying such iron bravery the likes of which is rare throughout the history of military affairs! Surely reminiscent of the Spartans and the Zulu at their absolute best! Whatever the case, as the true ‘Celts’ of Britain – we lit incense sticks out of respect and placed them on the burial mounds representing each ‘Clan’! Hundred were killed in the fighting and then the British (government) soldiers bayonetted the wounded – rolling all the bodies into mass graves denoted by the differing colour of tartan (an institution inflicted by the British so that the various Clans could be easily ‘distinguished’).

1 2 »