MANNIN: SUPPORT FOR CHRONICLES CAMPAIGN

- Rapport -

The General Secretary of the of the Celtic League has written to Isle of Man newspapers congratulating the paper on its current campaign for the permanent return of the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and The Isles to the Island. In a related move the Celtic League Cornish branch has also said

Cathal Ó Luain Par Celtic League le 20/08/07 12:15

In a related move the Celtic League Cornish branch has also said it "fully support(s) all and any efforts to have the Chronicles of Man returned to their rightful home".

Copies of the relevant correspondence are set out below:

"Dear Paul Speller

Chronicles of Mann

I am writing to congratulate you and your newspaper on its current campaign to permanently return The Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles to their rightful home on the island.

The return of the Chronicles - and other Manx artefacts - has been a long standing campaign by the Celtic League and has urged the British Library and successive British Ministers to return the texts for a significant number of years. Like other items that have originated in Mann (or elsewhere in the Celtic countries for that matter) the Chronicles have greater value and significance for the Manx people than any other. The continued retention of the Chronicles by the British Library is therefore unjust and incomprehensible.

The Chronicles were acquired by the British institutions as a consequence of what can only be described as cultural looting, at a time when the British imperial power held this to be their right. The British Library's 'ownership' of the texts is therefore questionable.

As it stands however, if the British Library want to retain ownership of the Chronicles, there is no reason why it could not give the Chronicles to Manx National Heritage on 'permanent loan', so that they could be at least located on the island. In this way the Chronicles could be better utilised as an exhibit and a research tool than they are now.

Many congratulations once again on taking up this important cultural campaign and we hope that the Isle of Mann Government finally sits up and takes notice of the support that it has garnered.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot

General Secretary"

"Celtic League Honorary Secretary: Michael John Tremayne Chappell Kessenyans, Little Water, Goonhavern, TRURO, Kernow TR4 9QG tel/fax: 01872 540516 e-mail: michael.chappell [at] ...

Isle of Man Newspapers Publishing House Peel Road Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 5P

Z9th August, 2007

Dear Editor

The Chronicles of Mann

The Cornish Branch of the International Celtic League have been given to understand that the Chronicles of Mann, described by many as the most important document in Manx history, are currently the centrepiece of an exhibition at the Manx Museum.

Apparently they are only in the Island on loan and are due to leave again in December. Their ownership is claimed by the British Library, although it is not fully clear how they first fell into English possession.

We also understand that current thinking is that they are believed to have fallen into private hands after Rushen Abbey was dissolved in 1540, during the reign of Henry VIII.

This Tudor period of history had adverse effects on many of the Celtic nations including our own, Cornwall, when the horrendous slaughter of 10% of the Cornish people occurred in the name of English religious and linguistic practices, destroying the indigenous religion and outlawing the use of the Cornish language. Only recently, the Bishop of Truro has finally expressed regret on behalf of the Church of England for what has become known as the 'Cornish holocaust' of 1549 and stated that Kernow (Cornwall) had been 'saddled with the English problem.'

We therefore fully support all and any efforts to have the Chronicles of Mann returned to their rightful home and to be readily available to the indigenous Celtic people of the Isle of Man. Icons and symbols are important and such a return should be viewed as a further correction of a terrible period in history.

Dhiso yn lel/Yours in sincerity

Michael J.T. Chappell Secretary - An Kesunyans Keltek Scoren Kernewek

Copy:

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