Latest news with #Gaelic
Otago Daily Times
33 minutes ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Believe in yourselves, inductee tells students
Vietnam War veteran Lox Kellas (left) and former Blackcap Ken Rutherford stand in front of the King's High School Wall of Fame yesterday. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON A Vietnam War veteran and a former Blackcap have been honoured by their secondary school in Dunedin. Lox Kellas and Ken Rutherford were inducted into King's High School's Wall of Fame at an assembly yesterday. Mr Rutherford, who attended the school from 1979 to 1982, said it was remarkable to be recognised among his peers. His message to the King's students was "you've just got to keep going". "There's a lot to be said about reacting well to life's experiences when they perhaps don't go the way they're intended to and to have a real confidence in yourself that you can still achieve lots." Two years after Mr Rutherford left school, he was facing one of the most feared fast bowling attacks in the world in West Indies' Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner. He got three ducks in his first four innings and was subsequently dropped from the team. However, he worked his way back into the international side after scoring runs in domestic cricket and made 107 not out against England in Wellington in the 1987-88 tour. Mr Rutherford was now the Northern Districts Cricket Association chief executive. Mr Kellas, who attained the army rank of major, said the honour took him by surprise. "There are a lot more former pupils out there that have done a lot more than I've ever done," the Vietnam War veteran said. He recognised a few of the names on the King's Wall of Fame and did not expect to see himself on it. "Life's full of challenges and if you accept those challenges and do it well, that's the reward." Mr Kellas, who attended the school from 1961 to 1966, was awarded a Queen's Service Medal in 2007 for services to New Zealand Police. He was involved in the community through a variety of initiatives and organisations including as the Returned Services Association Otago and Southland district president, a founding member of the Dunedin Coastguard and a Otago Peninsula Community board member. Mr Kellas said he kept his remarks to the King's students very short and addressed them as "tomorrow's leaders". He offered them a Gaelic quote which translated to "lead but serve". King's principal Nick McIvor said it was great to celebrate the fascinating lives and remarkable achievements of former students. Alongside Mr Kellas and Mr Rutherford, Geoff Thomas, Philip Craigie, Al Fastier, Graham Fortune and Tony Merriman were also inducted into the Wall of Fame.
Epoch Times
5 hours ago
- General
- Epoch Times
How Scotch Whisky Came to Be
Commentary A single line in a royal financial account leads us into the fascinating history of Scotch whisky. On June 1, 1495, a secretary penned the following: 'To Friar John Cor, by order of the King, to make aqua vitae, VIII bolls of malt.' This is the earliest mention we have of the manufacture of distilled spirits in Scotland—eight barrels of malt to make aqua vitae , 'the water of life' (' usquebaugh ' in Gaelic.)
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
£1 million secured for redevelopment of historic Town House
Fife Council has successfully secured £1 million from the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) to support the "ambitious" redevelopment of Cowdenbeath's historic Town House. The funding marks a major milestone in the journey to breathe new life into the C-listed building -which has been closed since 2016 - and transform it into a sustainable and vibrant community and enterprise hub. Working in partnership with BRAG Enterprises, the council's vision is to repurpose the landmark building into a training and co-working enterprise space, alongside a welcoming social hub for the community. The project also seeks to celebrate Cowdenbeath's rich heritage, showcasing local artefacts and telling the story of its mining past and community activism. As a key part of the area's Local Community Plan, Fife Council said the redevelopment will boost access to employment, training, health and wellbeing services, while preserving an iconic part of the town's identity. READ MORE: First foot passenger fare approved for 'lifeline' ferry route Council to launch free Gaelic language courses for locals Emergency public meeting called over Flamingo Land decision Cllr Linda Erskine, Spokesperson for Communities said: "This is fantastic news for the town and a big step forward in helping us realise the community's vision for Cowdenbeath Town House. The building is steeped in local history and this project will ensure it continues to play a central role in the life of the town – now and for generations to come." Fife firm BRAG Enterprises will lead on delivering the project. Brian Robertson-Fern from BRAG added: "BRAG are delighted to be involved in finding a new future for this iconic local building. The building is part of the built and intangible heritage of Cowdenbeath and it has overseen the people who have lived and worked in the town for many years now. To local people it's also been a rallying point for where people could make their views known and it's a look back to the time when Cowdenbeath was once described as like the Chicago of Scotland. "We will aim to deliver a range of new services from this new space along with providing affordable and accessible enterprise space and community spaces alike. We also want it to showcase local heritage and history to influence the next generation. It will be a place for the people that celebrates Cowdenbeath and its people, creating new opportunities for all."
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26trim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26crop%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
13 hours ago
- General
- Scotsman
Three ancient stone circles go on market — including one of Scotland's finest
The ancient Bronze Age sites in Aberdeenshire are looking for a new owner. Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ancient, mysterious and revered, the stone circles of Scotland's deep past are not something you expect to come across in an estate agent's brochure. But now, not one, but three Bronze Age stone circles have gone up for sale in Aberdeenshire - including one of the country's finest. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Easter Aquhorthies stone circle near Inverurie is one of the finest examples of its kind. It is now on the market as part of a sale of farmland. Picture: Aberdeenshire Council. | Aberdeenshire Council The scheduled monuments are included in sales of farmland across the area, with the archaeologist for the region describing the three listings as 'remarkable' and a 'rare chance' to acquire a piece of Scotland's pre-history. Among the sales are Easter Aquhorthies near Inverurie, a recumbent stone circle that dates to around 4,000BC. Probably used as a cremation and memorial site, the location has been described as one of the best preserved of its kind. The scheduled monument sits between two fields, which are part of six being sold for a combined price of £530,000 or as two separate lots. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: Campaign to save Sunset Song church in heart of rural community that inspired Lewis Grassic Gibbon Archaeologist Bruce Mann, senior historic environment officer at Aberdeenshire Council, said the name of Aquhorthies hinted at the site's past use and derived from the Gaelic word meaning 'field of prayer'. He said: 'Easter Aquhorthies is one of the best-preserved recumbent stone-circles in the region and, as such, is incredibly important.' Mr Mann added: 'The fact that we have three stone circles for sale at the same time is remarkable as they rarely change hands, being often part of a wider farm or estate. The sales, especially that of Easter Aquhorthies, offers a rare chance for someone to purchase an important example of North East Scotland's prehistory. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Owing such a site, with its national designation as a scheduled monument, means careful management on behalf of the nation. The new owners will need to expect that people will continue to visit the stone circles, and that as owners they are custodians of part of our regional identity. 'They will also need to carefully consider what they will be able to do with the surrounding land, as the setting of these stone circles, within the land that is being sold, will need to be maintained.' Also for sale is the stone circle and ring cairn of Little Eslie near Banchory, which is being sold as part of 10.5 acres of land suitable for grazing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The circle is part of an important landscape during the Bronze Age period, with the Nine Stanes and Greater Eslie stone circles found nearby. South Ythsie, near Tarves, completes the stone circle sales. Made up of six upright stones, with the tallest measuring 2.4m high, the monument sits in 151 acres or arable and pastureland, which is being sold for a combined total of £740,000. Mr Mann advised that anyone buying the sites should seek advice both from local authority planners and from Historic Environment Scotland. James Presley, of Aberdeen and Northern Estates, who is handling the sales, said: 'We do have lots of stone circles in Aberdeenshire, but to be selling three properties at once, all which have stone circles, is rare.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said there had been 'strong interest' in the three separate land sales, but mainly from those interested in the farmland. 'There probably have been a few inquiries regarding the stone circles,' he said.
Irish Independent
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Former Louth and Armagh inter-county star Padraig O'Neill to be remembered with charity walk
The walk in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation is being organised by Cillian O'Neill and will take place on Saturday, July 19. The route will take walkers across the Cooley mountains from The Lumpers Bar in Ravensdale and down into Carlingford, where Padraig, who was affectionately known as 'Bucket', had lived with his family at Grove Road. The Newry-native moved to Carlingford with his family at a young age, and during the course of his career lined out for both Louth and Armagh. He first played Gaelic football to a high standard as a student at the Abbey Christian Brothers' Grammar School in Newry and as a student of Ulster University, won three Sigerson Cup titles. His club career began at juvenile level with Cumann Peile Cuchulainn before moving to the Cooley Kickhams underage sides. Louth MFC and Louth U21FC titles followed and he made his senior team debut in 1982. He won several Cardinal O'Donnell Cup and ACC Cup titles in a lengthy career that ended in 2005. He captained Armagh minors when they were defeated by Derry in the 1984 Ulster MFC final. He went on to play for the under-21 team and was also part of the senior team beaten by Donegal in the 1990 Ulster SFC final. He later declared for the Louth senior football team. On his retirement from playing, he was involved in team management and coaching. He was manager of the Naomh Malachi team when they won the Louth IFC title in 2009, and was also associated with the Cuchulainn Gaels and Cooley Kickhams. The 58-year-old suffered a fatal heart attack on is way home from the 2024 All-Ireland SFC semi-final and died at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, on July 20 last. Now his family and those organising the walk are hoping that his friends from college, work and the world of GAA will join in the walk, celebrate his memory and raise funds for the Irish Heart Foundation. Anyone interested in taking part is asked to contact Daryl Bailey on 087 905 4282 and let him know they can join the hike. A donation of €25 per person is being requested.
