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BBC News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Celtic festival 'celebrates music, song and dance' on Isle of Man
An annual festival bringing the Celtic nations together on Manx shores for a week to celebrate traditional music, song and dance will get under way Chruinnaght, which means The Gathering in Manx Gaelic, will see artists from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall joined by local players for a series of back to 1977, organisers said the annual event remained true to its original aims of "promoting and celebrating the traditional culture of the Isle of Man in an appropriate way, amongst friends".Among the artists performing are Cornish folk quartet The Brim Ceilidh Band, eight members of young Welsh ensemble Avans and renowned Scottish folk band Rura. The week-long celebration will also see a special concert with harpist Rachel Hair and acoustic guitarist Ron Jappy performing The Deer's Cry, a piece written to celebrate the work of artist and designer Archibald well as formal concerts, the festival will include busking, traditional music sessions, displays, crafts and workshops, and food and folk sessions themed to highlight the Celtic nations. Monday 11:30 YC House Band busking outside Marks & Spencer, Douglas13:00 Scottish Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas19:30 Rura concert, with support from Tree ny Kiare, at the Centenary Centre, Peel20:00 Festival Friends traditional music session at the George Hotel, Castletown21:30 Festival Friends late night session at the Whitehouse Pub, Peel Tuesday 11:00 Pop-up Gaeltaght (Manx conversation) at the House of Manannan, Peel13:00 Manx Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas19:30 Song Night at the Masonic Hall, Peel Wednesday 12:00 Displays and Workshops at the House of Manannan, Peel13:00 Cornish Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas19:00 Conference of the Gaels: Manx/Irish panel discussion hosted by Raidió Fáilte at the Centenary Centre, Peel19:30 Celtic Myths & Legends Celi at the Masonic Hall, Peel19:30 Summer Concert with Yn Chruinnaght collaboration at the Sailor's Shelter, Peel20:30 Festival Friends traditional music session at O'Donnell's Pub, Douglas Thursday 11:00 Pop-up Gaeltaght (Manx conversation) at House of Manannan, Peel13:00 Welsh Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas17:00 Annual Ian O'Leary Lecture ("Ná habair é, déan é!" Don't say it! Do it! – an informal lecture on the development of Irish Gaelic in Belfast by members of Radió Fáilte) at the Atholl Room, Centenary Centre, Peel17:30 Celtic Myths & Legends Concert at the Centenary Centre, Peel21:30 Festival Friends late night session at the Whitehouse Pub, Peel Friday 10:00 Archibald Knox themed Mini Musicians workshop with Mannin Music at the Manx Museum, Douglas12:00 Displays at the House of Manannan, Peel13:00 Irish Food and Folk session at Noa Bakehouse, Douglas19:30 Mega Manx Ceili with music and dance for all the family at St German's Cathedral, Peel19:30 Rachael Hair & Ron Jappy Concert celebrating 160 years of Archibald Knox at the Royal Chapel, St John's Saturday 11:00 Music, song, drama and dance displays at St German's Cathedral, Corrin Hall & Grounds, Peel14:00 Workshops and masterclasses at the Atholl Room, Centenary Centre, Peel17:00 Live music from local and visiting artists at Peel Sailing Club19:30 Calum Stewart Trio Concert with Sophie Stephenson and Smooinaght Mie at the Centenary Centre, Peel21:00 Festival Friends Late night session at the Whitehouse Pub, Peel Sunday 13:00 Survivors' sessions and gigs to finish the week at the Black Dog Oven, Peel Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia-NZ trade set to soar
AUCKLAND: Trade between Malaysia and New Zealand is expected to increase by 50% in the next five years, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister said forging closer bilateral and trade ties with New Zealand was more crucial now in light of the changing global landscape. 'Our shared target to increase Malaysia-New Zealand trade by 50% by 2030 is not only achievable but necessary in a world where regional resilience matters more than ever,' he said during the Asean-New Zealand Business Council Engagement session held here yesterday. He said trade agreements such as the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA) and Asean, Australia, New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) serve as a catalyst for boosting bilateral trade. In 2024, he said the trade volume reached RM10.72bil (US$2.34bil), making Malaysia New Zealand's second-largest trading partner within Asean. 'These numbers aren't just statistics; they reflect confidence, connectivity and commitment between our economies,' added Ahmad Zahid, who is in New Zealand for a five-day working visit. He said the MNZFTA also enabled 99.8% of New Zealand's exports to enter Malaysia duty-free, with the AANZFTA also increasing exports to Asean by nearly 60% since 2010. 'The AANZFTA is working well and should continue to be strengthened. Malaysia has also doubled its usage of AANZFTA benefits, from RM5.8bil in 2016 to RM12.9bil in 2023,' he added. With the recent upgrade to AANZFTA and the momentum created through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Ahmad Zahid said that both nations were better positioned to build a fair, modern and sustainable trade architecture. AANZFTA, a trade agreement between Asean member states, Australia and New Zealand, came into force in 2010 and is a key pillar in both nations' ties with South-East Asia. The upgrade of AANZFTA came into force on April 21 this year to further reduce export barriers while boosting trade in the region. Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia was looking at three key areas – sustainability, digital transformation and food security – to deepen trade collaboration between the two countries. 'New Zealand, with 87% of its electricity sourced from renewables, is a leader in green transition. This aligns closely with Malaysia's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. 'There is vast space for cooperation in clean energy, carbon markets and low-carbon technology,' he added. On Malaysia's part, Ahmad Zahid said the MyDigital agenda complements New Zealand's strengths in ICT (information, communication and technology), offering opportunities for joint ventures in AI, smart cities, cybersecurity and digital trade governance. 'The agri-food sector also offers enormous potential. As Asean's middle class grows and consumption patterns shift, New Zealand's reputation for quality, traceability and innovation fits well with Malaysia's strengths in halal certification and regional logistics.' Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said it was crucial that the bilateral economic partnership continues to be grounded in human connection. 'Thousands of Malaysian students have studied in New Zealand and tourism between our nations continues to thrive. 'These exchanges are not just heartwarming, they are the glue that holds economic ties together, builds trust and creates long-term understanding,' he added. On economic growth between New Zealand and Asean, Ahmad Zahid said it must be inclusive of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) so that the latter was not left behind. To achieve this, he said it must entail improving access to trade finance, digital tools, and capacity building between Asean member states and New Zealand.
The National
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Edinburgh to host first ever tartan parade with live music planned
More than 1600 people are expected to descend on the capital to join in on the inaugural celebration on Saturday. TV star Gail Porter, president of New York Tartan Week, Kyle Dawson and the wife of Bay City Roller Alan Longmuir, Eileen Longmuir, will be among the participants. Inspired by the world-famous New York Tartan Week, the Edinburgh event, will be followed by a ceilidh and a gala concert at the Usher Hall featuring the internationally loved Red Hot Chilli Pipers and top Scottish folk band Rura. READ MORE: Scottish distilleries eye zero tariffs on whisky after US-UK trade agreement Edinburgh-born Porter, who will host the Usher Hall event, said she was thrilled to be joining the parade in her own tartan. She said: 'I'll be wearing the Fair Trade tartan with knee-high Doc Marten boots. Tartan was not really a family thing for me – but I was such a fan of Vivienne Westwood – she made it look so rock and roll.' (Image: Supplied) Porter (above), a TV star and activist who now lives in London, said she relishes every visit back home, adding she will be heading north to start filming on a travel show. She said: 'I was always so proud of being Scottish and I'm always glad to come back. 'This month I have two trips planned - I'll be going up to the Cairngorms to make a travel programme with Robson Greene.' The Edinburgh Tartan Day Parade will begin at 1pm at the City Chambers in the High Street, and will head down Cockburn Street, across Waverley Bridge and through East Princes Street Gardens before ending at the Mound Precinct alongside the National Galleries of Scotland. Organisers of the parade have invited Dawson to be the Grand Marshal of the event. He said: 'I'm very excited to be coming and it was such an honour to be named Grand Marshal. READ MORE: Scottish Parliament bans trans women from female toilets 'New York Tartan Week is such a special event – I have had Scottish visitors come up to me in New York and say: 'I have never felt more Scottish than I do today.'' Pipe bands and traditional dance troupes from across the country will take part in the parade, alongside participants from Australia, America, France and Sweden. 'Vikings' from Shetland and traditional Chinese dragon dancers will also be taking part – as well as more than 100 Bay City Roller fans from around the world. Eileen (below) will be wearing a purple and pink tartan created in her late husband's memory, Alan Longmuir Proud Son of Edinburgh, at the parade. (Image: Supplied) She said: 'It's always fantastic to be in Edinburgh, it was where Alan was brought up. He was born in Caledonian Road and he used to play on the banks of the Castle.' Edinburgh Tartan Parade founder Tania Pramschufer said: 'We want everyone to come together in the name of tartan and to have a wonderful time. It's not just about identity, it is about community. 'We want everyone to feel part of something really Scottish and to enjoy walking through the beautiful streets of Edinburgh on the glorious route which takes us from the Old Town to the New Town.' Cllr Lezley Marion Cameron, Depute Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, said: "Edinburgh is proud to host the first Tartan Parade Scotland, aligning with our city's 900th anniversary. 'This event not only celebrates our history but also our commitment to cultural diversity and community engagement.' Click here for more information on how to get tickets for the Usher Hall celebration.
