Latest news with #Normans
Western Telegraph
3 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire towns named among most popular UK breaks
According to Independent Cottages, Newport and Milford Haven, both in Pembrokeshire, have seen a significant rise in popularity for summer breaks. The holiday provider analysed internal data from 2023 and 2024 to determine which destinations have grown in popularity the most during the summer season. Newport took the top spot, followed by Grassington, Harrogate, both in Yorkshire, Shorwell on the Isle of Wight and Milford Haven. Founded by the Normans in the 12th century, Newport is known for its medieval history and beautiful natural settings. The town's history is evident in its local landmarks, including an ancient church, ruined castle, and stone cottages. The town's creative and community spirit is reflected in its craft shops, art galleries, and seasonal festivals. Popular activities close to the town include hiking, kayaking, and sailing in the nearby Nevern Estuary, or relaxing on Newport Sands, popular for beach activities and watersports. Milford Haven, known for its maritime heritage, is another destination on the Pembrokeshire coast that has caught Brits' attention for the summer season, coming in fifth position in Independent Cottages' rankings. The historic port town's waterfront is one of its most iconic landmarks, with its timeline dating back to the 18th century, where its journey to becoming a key whaling, fishing, and later oil port began. Now, Milford Marine is filled with restaurants, galleries, and shops for visitors seeking an enjoyable outing, and its heritage museum is a landmark showcasing its rich history and notable events. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path allows visitors to enjoy the extensive natural beauty of this corner of the UK, with stunning views and ample coastline to explore within arm's reach. Matthew Fox, CEO of Independent Cottages, said: "While destinations like Ashbourne, the gateway to the Peak District, and Keswick in the Lake District National Park, are popular outdoor locations, under-the-radar spots are on Brits' radars in summertime. "Many of these destinations are within easy reach of, or in, the UK's areas of natural beauty, illustrating how Brits not only want to connect with nature in countryside and coastal locations, but also explore gems that are beyond the most well-known tourist spots."
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Sinn Féin vs the Normans: a cartoonish version of history
What did the Normans ever do for us? This small proto-nation of Viking origin in what is now northern France had a remarkable impact on medieval Europe and hence on the world we now live in. At one point Normans held sway over territories from the Mediterranean to the North Sea. The most famous of them, in the English-speaking world at least, was William, Duke of Normandy, better known as William the Conqueror, the 1,000th anniversary of whose birth falls in 2027. To coincide with the occasion, authorities in modern Normandy have initiated an international event, with participation from France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands, Italy, Norway and Denmark. The Normans reshaped the political order in Sicily and southern Italy, contributed to the emergence of modern France, ended Anglo-Saxon rule in England and, from the 12th century onward, became a powerful force in Gaelic Ireland. The State's involvement in the commemoration has aroused the ire of Sinn Féin's spokesman on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and Arts, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, who deems it 'offensive' due to the connection with William, and by extension with the Norman invasion of Ireland which took place a century after the battle of Hastings. READ MORE This seems hard on William, who never showed any interest in Ireland. But it appears that in the eyes of Sinn Féin he is to be blamed for Strongbow, the Statutes of Kilkenny, Cromwell, the Penal Laws, the Famine and last year's 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland at Wembley. Such a historical nonsense would be laughable were it not for the fact that it trades in the same chauvinistic victimology that is driving the rise of the extreme right across Europe. Sinn Féin is usually keen to present itself as a modern, progressive and tolerant political movement. But occasionally the mask slips to reveal a pinched and narrow ethnonationalism that denies the complexity of the past and clings to a cartoonish version of history. It is time for the party to decide which version of itself it prefers.
The Journal
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
'Look, 40% of the southeast have Norman names': Browne defends William the Conqueror millennium
HERITAGE MINISTER JAMES Browne has said the year-long commemoration of the Normans is 'not celebrating anybody' amid claims the event is 'offensive'. A plan to commemorate the first Norman king of England William the Conqueror in 2027, one thousand years after his birth, was proposed to cabinet this week by Browne and was sharply met with dismay from Sinn Féin. The year-long commemoration were labelled 'offensive' by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh . He said it beggared belief, given the 'legacy of William's successors invading and subjugating Ireland in the name of his English crown'. Asked about the criticism today, Browne told The Journal that the events were about 'respectfully commemorating a historical event that hugely influenced Ireland's future'. 'Look, around 15% of the population in this country are Norman heritage. When you go down to the southeast, up to 40% of surnames are Norman heritage.' The Normans, who landed in Wexford's Bannow Bay in 1169, were responsible for the foundation of many Irish towns. They also built castles, abbeys and cathedrals that are still standing today. These include St Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral. The first Norman king of England, William the Conquerer, began his reign after he won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, defeating King Harold's English army. Advertisement Following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Browne said the Normans 'left their mark in monumental ways' and he wants this new initiative to leave a lasting legacy, by promoting tourism and boosting the economy. Heritage Minister James Browne clarified that the events were not celebrating any particular person. Muiris Ó Cearbhaill / The Journal Muiris Ó Cearbhaill / The Journal / The Journal Today, he clarified that the events were about commemorating – not celebrating – a group of people who arrived to Ireland and 'ended up with a tagline of being more Irish than the Irish themselves'. 'They adopted Gaelic culture, they married into Gaelic families, and they fought for Irish freedom on many, many occasions. So we're right to commemorate it. We're not celebrating anybody, so we're not.' Ó Snodaigh this week slammed Browne's plan as amounting to 'scraping the barrel of colonialism, imperialism and English royalism' for the sake of 'themed tourism'. He said we should 'take pride in the rich architectural, cultural, and literary heritage' of Anglo-Norman Ireland, but that his party draws the line at focusing the commemoration around England's first Norman king. Asked about Ó Snodaigh's remarks, Browne told The Journal : 'I'm a little bit worried that Sinn Féin have increasingly taken any opportunity to hint at nativism. I think, you know, we really have to be very careful with this type of language.' The 'European Year of the Normans' will consist of multidisciplinary events, such as exhibitions, live performances, cross-border artistic residencies, re-enactments, student exchanges, sports, research and more. It will also involve partners from Normandy, the Channel Islands, Italy, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Denmark. The events will take place from March to October 2027. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
European ‘year of the Normans' reopens debate over Irish identity
Nine centuries after the Normans clanked ashore with swords and armour, Ireland is still wrestling with the question: what did they ever do for us? A decision by the government this week to join a European cultural initiative called 2027 European year of the Normans has reopened a debate that goes to the core of Irish identity. On the one hand, say historians, they built castles and cathedrals and enriched culture and literature; on the other, they dispossessed the native Gaels and paved the way to invasion and occupation. Sinn Féin, the main opposition party, said the commemoration was offensive because it would honour William the Conqueror, England's first Norman king, and the subjugation inflicted by his successors. 'What will they think of next: a festival of Cromwell? A Famine Queen jubilee?' said the party's culture spokesperson, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, referencing Oliver Cromwell's bloody 17th-century conquests and Queen Victoria's reign during the 1840s famine. 'We Irish know well enough the legacy of William's successors invading and subjugating Ireland in the name of his English crown, with Strongbow ushering in the 900 years of occupation, with the north still under the descendants of William the Conqueror's crown.' Strongbow was the nickname of Richard de Clare, the second Earl of Pembroke, who landed with an Anglo-Norman military force in 1170 and unleashed historical forces that in the 20th century partitioned the island and left Northern Ireland in the UK. However, the Normans also intermarried with Gaels, bequeathed family names such as Burke, Griffith, FitzGerald, Lynch and Walsh, and became, in a celebrated phrase, 'more Irish than the Irish themselves'. The heritage minister, James Browne, who on Tuesday obtained cabinet approval for participation in the trans-European initiative, said Sinn Féin was missing the point. Ireland's lands, laws, monuments and built environment bore Norman heritage, and participation in the initiative would recognise that history while boosting tourism, he said. 'The year of the Normans is being led by our neighbours in Normandy, France, and it is an important and essential collaboration and commemoration – any distortion of this work is really disappointing and careless,' said Browne – a Norman name. 'So let's ask: is Sinn Féin's position that they will boycott all events related to the year of the Normans?' In addition to Ireland, the Normandy regional council has invited Britain, southern Italy, Norway and other countries and regions with Norman heritage to take part in the commemoration, which coincides with the millennium anniversary of William the Conqueror's birth. Ó Snodaigh said: 'Marking the birth of a future English king is not for us, even if it was 1,000 years ago. Rather, we should always be remembering those great figures of Ireland's past who actually lived here and contributed positively to our island story.' The row has prompted comparisons to the scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian when Judeans debate the benefits of Roman occupation. Jane Ohlmeyer, a Trinity College Dublin historian who specialises in early modern Irish and British history, said the Norman invasion profoundly shaped the history of Ireland, especially in the south-east. 'Like it or not, the past is no longer in the past, it is in the present. It is critical that we use opportunities like this one to better understand the nature of the conquest and to reflect on its legacies,' she said.
The Journal
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Should we celebrate the Normans?
THE 'EUROPEAN YEAR of the Normans' is due to take place in 2027, commemorating a millennium since the birth of William the Conqueror. The year-long, cross-country event aims to recognise the impact of the Normans on both Ireland and the rest of Europe. The Normans 'left their mark in monumental ways,' said Housing and Heritage Minister James Browne. Advertisement However, the announcement of this plan has been described as 'offensive' by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh. The TD described the plans as an attempt to 'scrape the barrel of colonialism, imperialism and English royalism' for the sake of 'themed tourism'. So today we're asking you: Should we celebrate the Normans? Poll Results: No (935) Yes (635) Unsure (213) Yes No Unsure Vote
