MANNIN/ISLE OF MAN: TYNWALD FLY-PAST - MILITARY TRIVIA ENVIRONMENTALLY NEGATIVE

With just days to the annual Tynwald ceremony the practice adopted in recent years of allowing a military fly-past by Hawk trainers has been criticised by the Manx branch of the Celtic League.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the branch on Saturday evening(29/06/08) and it was agreed to call on the Isle of Man government to end the practice of allowing the Military fly-past at the annual Tynwald ceremony at St. Johns on 5th July.

It was pointed out that such fly-pasts form no part of the ancient tradition of the Tynwald ceremony. In addition, in this day and age when the pressures are on all organisers of events to reduce their carbon footprint, such military trivia is environmentally negative.

It is not clear how the practice was adopted but it apparently started some years ago when there was a creeping militarisation of the ceremony now, thankfully, mostly discontinued.

Tynwald day is the MANX National day and is essentially a community day for all the Island's residents.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

29/06/08