FOCKLE AYNS DTY CHLEAYSH

Optimism for Celtic Broadcasting

"Luvies" from around the Celtic world descended on the Isle of Skye a fortnight ago for the annual Celtic Film and Television Festival. They heard that exciting times lie ahead for film makers and broadcasters (particularly television) following the devolution of power from the UK Government to National Assemblies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Coming as this does at the dawn of digital broadcasting it was made clear that the next few years will be extremely influential in shaping the future of broadcasting well into the next century.

I was lucky enough to be invited to represent the Isle of Man at a 'youth forum' (I was greatly reassured to discover that youths include 34 year olds) at which representatives from each of the six Celtic countries discussed the future of Celtic film making and broadcasting. Representatives from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and Mann gave a brief account of film making, broadcasting and the media in their country and delegates were very interested to learn of the exciting work of the Isle of Man Film Commission and the Manx Gaelic Broadcasting Committee.

The debate on the effects which the new assemblies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will have on Celtic language broadcasting was very interesting. Naturally the Irish, Scots and Welsh dominated the debate, however, there was no clear idea as to whether devolution would be good or bad for the Celtic languages. Some felt that a national parliament or assembly would be more likely to support its indigenous language while others believed that a scarcity of money would lead to cuts in the support currently given to Welsh, Irish and Scots Gaelic.

Significantly many thought that the 'Council of the Isles' (an initiative which comes from the 'Good Friday Agreement' in Northern Ireland) could play an important role in supporting the Celtic languages. It was felt that the Council, which will be made up of representatives from all the Governments and assemblies in the British Isles including Mann, could be very useful in lobbying the London based UK Government for increased broadcast time for the Celtic languages (even after devolution, London will retain power over how much time is given to Celtic language broadcasting).

Later a question and answer session was held at which the controller of BBC Scotland and Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, a Governor of the BBC, told the assembled audience that that the BBC was undergoing a process of change which involved listening to 'the people' and providing a service that 'the people' want. As there is no evidence of the BBC providing even half decent coverage of Manx affairs perhaps we should all write to the BBC and ask for Manx news, documentaries on Manx politics, history and culture, programmes in Manx Gaelic, entertainment programmes for Manx people, programmes made in the Isle of Man. If enough of us write then maybe, just maybe, the BBC might listen.

Skeeal Jerkallagh son Ymskeaylley Celtiagh

Hie "Guillyn Baney Bog" veih dy chooilley ard jeh'n theihll Cheltiagh gys yn Ellan Skianagh shiaghtin ny ghaa er dy henney lesh shilley er yn 'Eailley Film as Chellveeish Cheltiagh Vleinoil. Cheayll ad dy jig traaghyn bioyr as symoil lesh jeantee film as ymskeaylleyderyn (chellveeish er lheh) tra vees pooar er ve jee-veanit veih Reiltys yn RU da ny Quaiyllyn Ashoonagh ayns Ullee, Nalbin as Bretin. Hig ymskeaylley bun-earrooagh ec yn traa cheddin as shoh as myr shen hed cummey ymskeaylley yn cheead shoh cheet er croo car ny bleeantyn shoh cheet.

Va mee aighoil dy liooar tra haink cuirrey dooys dy gholl gys yn 'eailley ass lieh Mannin gys sorch dy cho-whaiyl beg ny h-aegid (as nagh row taitnys mooar orrym tra hooar mee magh dy vel mee foast aeg as mish kiare blein jeig as feed dy eash). Ronsee sleih aeg voish ny shey cheeraghyn Celtiagh cooishyn trome bentyn rish tra ry-heet ymskeaylley as jannoo filmyn 'sy theihll Cheltiagh ec y cho-whaiyl shoh. Hug peiagh reiht voish Nerin, Nalbin, Bretin, y Vritaan, y Chorn as Mannin fys dauesyn v'ayn cre gollrish va ymskeaylley, jannoo filmyn as yn cloudeyrys ayns y cheer oc as va anaase mooar er slieh dy eddyn magh yn obbyr jantyssagh as bioyr va cheet veih Barrantys Film Ellan Vannin as Bing Ymskeaylley Gaelgagh.

Va mee goaill anaase mooar ayns y resoonaght va goll er cummal mychione yn aght vees ny quaiylyn noa ayns Ullee, Nalbin as Bretin caghlaa yn aght bee ny chengaghyn Celtiagh goll er ymskeaylley. S'dooghyssagh ve dy row Yernee, Albinee as Bretnee jannoo kioneys er y resoonaght agh cha row ad shickyr dy beagh jee-veanaghey mie ny sie son ny chengaghyn Celtiagh. Smooinee paart jeu dy beagh quaiyl ashoonagh smoo arryltagh dy chooney lesh yn chengey eck agh smooinee yn cheu elley nagh beagh wheesh dy chooney jeant kyndagh rish genney dy argid. Er lhieu nagh vod Celtiee freayll arrey kiart er nyn varrys cheer - s'lesh ny Sostynee ny schleiyn argidoil!

Haink eie cowreydagh magh ass yn resoonaght shoh dy beagh 'Coonceil ny h-Ellanyn' scanshoil as ymmydoil son cooney lesh ny chengaghyn Celtiagh. Va'n coonceil shoh cheet magh ass yn 'Choardail Jeheiney Caisht' as bee olteynyn aynjee veih dagh quaiyl ashoonagh as reiltys ayns ny ellanyn shoh as shen goaill stiagh Mannin neesht! Er lesh yn cho-whaiyl dy voddagh shin ymmyd y yannoo jeh'n choonceil dy chur er Reiltys yn RU ayns Lunnin dy vooadaghey ny ooryn vees lhiggit dooin son ymskeaylley ayns ny chengaghyn Celtiagh (eer dy jed pooar dy liooar da ny quaiylyn nee Lunnin freayll greim chionn er ymskeaylley ayns ny cheeraghyn Celtiagh).

Ny yei shen va caa dooin ooilley cur feyshtyn er reireyder y VBC ayns Nalbin as y Reejerey Kenniagh Bloomfield, kiannoort y VBC voish Ullee. Dinsh ad da'n slieh v'ayn dy row y BBC caghlaa ec y traa t'ayn as beggan er veggan t'eh geaishtagh rish yn theay. Nee yn BBC ymskeaylley claareyn dy gerrid ta'n theay geearree er.

Cha nel y BBC jannoo obbyr vie son Mannin jiu as s'treisht lhiam dy jinnagh yn BBC cur geill da femeyn ny Manninee 'sy traa ry-heet. Lhig dooin fakin claare son Mannin er lheh mychione cultoor, shennaghys as politickaght Vannin, claareyn naight son Manninee as claareyn jeant ayns Mannin. My vees bart mooar jin screeu rish y VBC, foddee dy jig yn chooish lhien.

Phil Gawne