Conference tallis::celt

    To be convinced, listen to any record by the group Miladoio (Spelling?)
    

    Hola,
    
    Yo conoco muy bien Galicia et un bibido que se llama "Caemado"
    I have spent many good occasions when I lived in Madrid with
    people from Galicia and we had this famous drink called "Caemado",
    made from home distilled and set alight and it is handed to you
    in a cup while it is still burning. I passed a house in a little
    village in the province of Segovia some time ago and I swore I heard
    some Irish music so I stopped but then realised that it was music
    from Galicia. I have never been to Galicia but I have heard it is
    very much like Ireland in many ways. I have heard that the people
    are very friendly. I live close to Geneva and there are many people
    who work in Geneva from Galicia. Gallegos like the Irish have emigrated
    to many countries around the world. I have met many also in London
    where they have their clubs etc.
    
    Hasta Luego
    
    Rene

    You're right, Maurice. The spelling is "Milladoiro". Besides, every
    year in summer  international Celtic music concerts are held, together
    with cultural acts and so on ...
    Bye.

    Thanks Juanjo for your explanation.
    
    Where (geographically) in Spain is Galizia located.  Is it just
    an area or a province?
    
    Thanks,
    George

    Hello, Ren�.
    
    I see that you know "Caemado" very well, though its right spelling
    is "QUEIMADA", which is a Galizian word meaning "burnt". Have you
    ever drunk a type of white wine called "Ribeiro", usually drunk
    with typical seafood in Galizia. That's fantastic.
    
    I can also see that you know that "Gallegos" are spread all over
    the world due to emigration. Indeed, they have formed lots and lots
    of clubs in those places where they join together to remember their
    Galicia. Like the Irish, they feel a bit homesick in all the places.
    
    Well, if you are or anybody is interested in any aspects of Galicia
    or Spain, please let me know, and there will be an answer.
    
    Bye to you all.
    JUANJO AREVALILLO (MADRID-SPAIN)

    Hello, George.
    
    Galizia -or GALICIA, as we say here in Spain- is located in the
    very North-West corner of Spain, just above Portugal. In Spain
    the political map is divided into "Autonomias o Comunidades Autonomas"
    (Autonomous Communities), not exactly as a Federal organization
    though very similar. Among these communities, each with its own
    government, we have the "Comunidad Autonoma de Galicia", which is
    formed by four marvellous provinces called LA CORUNA, LUGO, ORENSE
    and PONTEVEDRA. So, not only does Galicia form a cultural but a
    political entity with very clearly different roots from other Spanish
    "Autonomias" such as Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia or others.
    
    If you look at a map of Spain, you will see, at the zone of Galicia,
    a cape which is one of the most Western part of Europe. When the
    Roman Empire spread along Europe, they thought that this cape was
    the end of the land, and that beyond the coast, the earth ended
    and there was nothing at all. This cape was baptized by the Romans
    as FINISTERRE, which in Latin means "Finis terrae = the end ot the
    Earth". This name has been preserved and today it is known as the
    Cape of Finisterre. 
    
    There are a lot of interesting aspects about Galicia or Spain; if
    interested, let me know and I'll tell you.
    
    Bye, George.
    
    JUANJO AREVALILLO
    Local Enginnering and Translation Group
    MADRID (SPAIN)
    

    The cape Finisterre of Galicia shouldn't be confused with the cape
    of the same name at the extremity of Britanny, which was similarly
    named by the Romans for the same reason.
    I'm sorry, I just realised that I never properly answered to George's
    question about Galicians in note number 1. The Galicians are descended
    from the Celts which invaded Spain after coming from Bavaria and
    Bohemia to Gallia (France). They spread all over Spain, but they weren't
    very numerous in the South and East, where they got mixed with the
    Iberians, giving the Celtiberians that took part in the Punic wars
    between Rome and Carthage. In the North, the population became nearly
    all Celts. Unfortunately they lost their Celtic language and took
    a Latin one, but the Celtic influence is still very strong in the
    Northwest (Galicia). I'm afraid I don't know much about the present
    Galician culture, except for its music, but there seem to be some
    experts around.
    			Denis.

    As Denis have stated very well, the Celts encountered the Iberians
    in Spain and war appeared between both peoples. The result of this
    rudimentary war was the mixture of cultures into a unique one, and
    this was the origin of the Celtiberians, though the Iberian component
    war far determinant in the posterior Spanish culture. Even now in
    Spanish we use the adjective "Celtibero" o "Celtiberico (Celtiberian)
    when we want to refer to some aspects of Spanish culture or population
    pointing out an ancient, nationalistic idea.
    The Iberians even settled at the South of the British Isles but
    due to their reduced number, their adventure ended in an assimilation
    into more powerful tribes or races there.
    As a matter of fact, Denis's note is very clear and precise about the
    Celts in Spain. Only to add that they retired to the North-West and
    suffered the influence from the Lusitanians, the ancestors of the
    Portuguese, though the Galizian Celts assimilated to the Spaniards.
    
    JUANJO 

    I wonder if anyone of you out there could tell me if there is a
    sociological link between Celt culture and the current depressed
    economies that can be stated in those geographical areas where Celts
    were supposed to settle.
    I am only asking for a historically-based reason for a fact that
    strikes me: Ireland, Galizia and the like are presently poor countries.
    
    Any clues?

    Scotland ain't doing too well at the moment, however Isle of Man
    is certainly not "poor".
    
    Drew
    

    Maybe is not "certainly poor" just because, at last, the language
    died recently...and with it...the last remain of any Celt culture
    on the Isle...

    Call me nit-picking, but....
    
    I believe that the most westerly point in Europe is in Ireland,
    specifically the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry.
    
    Perhaps someone else can supply the name of the Point/Head,
    as it escapes me at the moment.
    
    
    Mike McCrohan
    

    Re .12: It meant CONTINENTAL Europe. Remember that the Romans did
    not occupied Ireland and only part of Britain.
    			Denis.

    I thought that Carraigaholt in County Clare was the nearest point
    in Ireland to America. 
    
    Carraig = Rock and I don't know what the rest stands for. Maybe
    somebody from Clare or Kerry can verify for us the most westerly
    point in Europe.
    
    Rene

    Re .14: from the (not very accurate -very small scall-) map in my
    diary book, the Dingle peninsula goes much farther West than Co
    Clare. Anyway the farthest point is not even on the peninsula, it's
    Skellig Michael, off the point of the peninsula. A very nice spot,
    and definitely worth the trip, although you can land on it only about
    15 days a year, when the sea is completely flat.
    			Denis.

    I have now had the opportunity to refer to a map....
    
    The most westerly point IS on the Dingle peninsula, close to Dunquin,
    and is identified on my (RAC) map with an arrow pointing to "Most
    Westerly Car Park in Europe". Does Slea Head fit the bill? 
                                             
    If you wish to include the islands, the Blaskets are further west
    than the Skelligs.
    
    With respect to Clare, The name mentioned is not familiar to me.
    However, Loop head is farthest West...
    
    
    
    Mike McCrohan
    

    Re .16: Are you sure? I would have sworn that the Skelligs were
    farther West than the Blaskets.... Oh well, I'll have to look again
    at my maps. It's about time I go back to Ireland (hopefully next
    August) to refresh my memories.
    			Denis.

    I think Mike wins the doorprize.
    
    Garraun Point (right near Dunquin) on the Dingle peninsula is the
    furthest point west on "continental" Ireland.  If you include the
    Blaskets then it is Tearaght Island (looks like just a lighthouse
    there).  Dingle is one of the most beautiful places in Ireland.
    
    Most northernly is Malin Head in Donegal (home of the Doherty clan).
    Including islands then it is Inishtrahull island.
    
    Most easternly point appears to be (correct me if I'm wrong) a little
    town just north of Portavogie in Co. Down.
    
    Most southernly is Brow Head (near Mizan Head) in Co, Cork.
    Including islands then you'd have Clear Island.

    Leaprechauns don't need maps.
    
    Garraun Point on the Dingle penninsula close to the Great Blasket
    island is the most westerly point on mainland Ireland.
    Charlie Haughey's island of Innishvickillaun is even near to Boston.
    
    Snake was never there.