Celtic union

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A Celtic union or Celtic alliance refers to political unity between the Celtic nations either within the UK or together as independent countries.

Contents

Historical proposals

In 1864, Charles Jules Joseph de Gaulle proposed a Celtic Union that would establish and develop links between Celtic countries. There should also be a Celtic "Esperanto" to facilitate communication and which would be created from common elements in all Celtic languages and a Pan-Celtic festival. [1] [2] : 108 

'Celtic Alliance' - co-operation within the UK

In 2010, Plaid Cymru and the SNP formed a "Celtic Alliance" with the aim of increasing their influence on a UK government via agreements over policies and funding. [3]

In November 2016, the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon stated the idea of a "Celtic Corridor" of the island of Ireland and Scotland appealed to her. [4]

In a Plaid Cymru conference in 2019, leader of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald stated "We need a pan-celtic anti-Tory political culture. A shared political culture that respects each other’s sovereignty and right to nationhood. A shared political culture grounded in principles of common interest and common purpose." [5] She echoed these views in a supportive video message to YesCymru in July 2022. [6]

In June 2022, Bangor University lecturer and journalist, Ifan Morgan Jones has suggested that "a short-term fix for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland might be a greater degree of cooperation with each other, as a union within a union." he also suggested that "If they could find a way of working together in their mutual interest, that’s a fair degree of combined influence, particular if the next General Election produces a hung parliament." [7]

In July 2023, the Welsh Government announced a "Celtic Heritage – Cornwall-Wales Collaboration Agreement" focused on cooperation in the following areas;

In August 2023, political leaders from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia and Asturias met at the first ever Celtic Forum. Areas of discussion included a "Celtic Erasmus", Maritime transport, fishing & offshore wind power and native languages. Native languages include; Asturian, Breton, Cornish, Galician, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh. [9]

In January 2024, a Celtic Alliance was again proposed by a journalist Farrell Perks as a political co-operation between the Celtic countries within the UK to advance the cause of self-determination. [10]

Celtic Union of independent countries

In March 2017 a letter to the Irish Times proposed a Celtic union of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Scotland as an alternative to Brexit where "Northern Ireland is a swing vote". [11]

In April 2017, a Celtic union of the whole of Ireland, Scotland and Wales was proposed as an alternative to Brexit. Such a union would require the independence of Scotland and Wales and the reunification of Ireland [12]

In January 2019 the leader of the Welsh nationalist Plaid Cymru party, Adam Price spoke in favour of cooperation among the Celtic nations of Britain and Ireland following Brexit. Among his proposals were a Celtic Development Bank for joint infrastructure and investment projects in energy, transport and communications in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, and the foundation of a Celtic union, the structure of which is already existent in the Good Friday Agreement according to Price. Speaking to RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster he proposed Wales and Ireland working together to promote the indigenous languages of each nation. [13] [14]

In August 2019, Alastair Kneale of the Celtic League Mannin Branch said that the Isle of Man should also be open to a Celtic union. [15]

In the same month, Jason O'Toole writing for the Irish Mirror suggested a 'Celtic Pact' between Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, similarly to the Scandinavian Nordic Council. [16]

In June 2020, journalist Gina Tonic suggested a "United Celtic Republic" including Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Brittany and a United Ireland. [17]

In July 2020, the potential "Celtic Corridor" bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland was proposed as a potential link for a Celtic union. [18]

In 2022, journalist Jamie Dalgety has also proposed the concept of a Celtic Union involving Scotland and Ireland but suggests that lack of support for Welsh independence may mean that a Gaelic Celtic Union involving may be more appropriate. [19]

See also

Celtic union may also refer to:

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Price</span> Welsh politician and former Plaid Cymru leader

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celtic Congress</span> Celtic cultural organisation

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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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh nationalism</span> Nationalism in Wales

Welsh nationalism emphasises and celebrates the distinctiveness of Welsh culture and Wales as a nation or country. Welsh nationalism may also include calls for further autonomy or self-determination, which includes Welsh devolution, meaning increased powers for the Senedd, or full Welsh independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pan-Celticism</span> Political, social, and cultural movement in Northwestern Europe

Pan-Celticism, also known as Celticism or Celtic nationalism is a political, social and cultural movement advocating solidarity and cooperation between Celtic nations and the modern Celts in Northwestern Europe. Some pan-Celtic organisations advocate the Celtic nations seceding from the United Kingdom and France and forming their own separate federal state together, while others simply advocate very close cooperation between independent sovereign Celtic nations, in the form of Breton, Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scottish, and Welsh nationalism.

Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock, as well as a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context. It has been prolific since the early 1970s and can be seen as a key foundation of the development of successful mainstream Celtic bands and popular musical performers, as well as creating important derivatives through further fusions. It has played a major role in the maintenance and definition of regional and national identities and in fostering a pan-Celtic culture. It has also helped to communicate those cultures to external audiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celtic nations</span> Territories in Northwestern Europe in which Celtic cultural traits have survived

The Celtic nations or Celtic countries are a cultural area and collection of geographical regions in Northwestern Europe where the Celtic languages and cultural traits have survived. The term nation is used in its original sense to mean a people who share a common identity and culture and are identified with a traditional territory.

Welsh republicanism or republicanism in Wales is the political ideology that advocates for Wales to be governed by a republican system, as opposed to the monarchy of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh independence</span> Welsh political philosophy

Welsh independence is the political movement advocating for Wales to become a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pan Celtic Festival</span> Celtic-language music festival

The Pan Celtic Festival is a Celtic-language music festival held annually in the week following Easter, in Ireland, since its inauguration in 1971. The first Pan Celtic Festival took place in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. Its aim is to promote the modern Celtic languages and cultures and artists from six Celtic nations: Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornish devolution</span> Political movement in Cornwall, England

Cornish devolution is the movement to increase the governing powers of the County of Cornwall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Separatism in the United Kingdom</span> List of separatists movements in the UK

Separatism in the United Kingdom may refer to the secession of any of the countries of the United Kingdom from the union. Less significant movements for separatism exist such as Cornwall within England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unionism in Wales</span> Overview of unionism in Wales

Unionism in Wales is the political view that supports a political union between Wales and the other countries of the United Kingdom. As well as the current state of the UK, unionism may also include support for Federalism in the United Kingdom and a United Kingdom Confederation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federalism in the United Kingdom</span> Proposed constitutional reform of a division of powers

Federalism in the United Kingdom aims at constitutional reform to achieve a federal UK or a British federation, where there is a division of legislative powers between two or more levels of government, so that sovereignty is decentralised between a federal government and autonomous governments in a federal system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh devolution</span> Transfer of legislative power to Welsh authorities from UK government

Welsh devolution is the transfer of legislative powers for self-governance to Wales by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The current system of devolution began following the enactment of the Government of Wales Act 1998, with the responsibility of various devolved powers granted to the Welsh Government rather than being the responsibility of the Government of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proposed United Kingdom confederation</span> Proposed constitutional reform of a confederation of sovereign states

A British confederation or a confederal UK has been proposed as a concept of constitutional reform of the United Kingdom, in which the countries of the United Kingdom; England, Scotland, Wales, as well as Northern Ireland become separate sovereign states that pool certain key resources within a confederal system with a central authority. Under the system, the central authority exists with the consensus of the constituent countries, which also maintain a right to secession, if they wish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proposed Welsh independence referendum</span> Political proposal

A referendum on Welsh independence from the United Kingdom (UK) has been proposed by pro-independence supporters, including independence campaign group YesCymru, pro-independence political party Plaid Cymru and other groups and individuals. These follow similar calls for a proposed second Scottish independence referendum. Pro-independence party Plaid Cymru has pledged to hold a referendum should they win a majority of seats in the Senedd.

There have been calls for further Welsh devolution, increasing the autonomy for Wales, since the Welsh legislature of the Senedd was founded following the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum.

References

  1. ↑ Charles de Gaulle Les Celtes aux dix-neuvieme siecle, Nantes, 1864, p. 351-358
  2. ↑ De Barra, Caoimhín (2018). The Coming of the Celts, AD 1860: Celtic Nationalism in Ireland and Wales. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN   9780268103378.
  3. ↑ Carrell, Severin; correspondent, Scotland (2010-03-31). "SNP and Plaid Cymru form Celtic alliance to influence hung parliament". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2023-09-22.{{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  4. ↑ "Scottish first minister backs calls for 'Celtic corridor'". independent.ie. 29 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "'Time to build a pan-Celtic political culture to defeat Toryism' - Sinn Féin President tells Plaid Cymru conference". www.sinnfein.ie. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  6. ↑ "twitter.com/yescymru/status". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  7. ↑ "Might a 'Celtic union' be one route to shifting the balance of power within the UK?". Nation.Cymru. 2022-06-12. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  8. ↑ "Written Statement: Celtic Heritage – Cornwall-Wales Collaboration Agreement (18 July 2023) | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  9. ↑ "What is the Celtic Forum and why are leaders meeting in Brittany?". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  10. ↑ Perks, Farrell (2024-01-07). "Emerald unity: the power of a Celtic Alliance". Bylines Cymru. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  11. ↑ "Why a Celtic union could counter Brexit". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  12. ↑ "David Hamill: A Celtic Union as a Brexit alternative?". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  13. ↑ Nualláin, Irene Ní (2019-01-10). "Welsh party leader calls for Celtic political union". RTÉ.ie.
  14. ↑ "Adam Price: Scotland and Wales must form our own Celtic Union". The National. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  15. ↑ "Would stronger celtic union benefit IOM?". Manx Radio. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  16. ↑ NationCymru (2019-08-12). "Irish newspaper calls for union between Ireland, Wales and Scotland". Nation.Cymru. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  17. ↑ Tonic, Gina (2020-06-08). "The Case for a United Celtic Republic". Vice. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  18. ↑ "The Bridge to Scotland. A Unionist Umbilical Cord or A Link to a Celtic Union?". Slugger O'Toole. July 23, 2020. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  19. ↑ says, Austen Lynch (2021-09-25). "Thought Experiment: A Celtic Union". The Glasgow Guardian. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
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