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Celtic League wants to keep fighting for Chronicles of Mann
THE Celtic League is urging the Manx Government not to give up the fight to repatriate the Chronicles of Mann.
Chief Minister Tony Brown in a statement to Tynwald this week is expected to announce that the government can do no more to bring the Chronicles home.
>> Tynwald question paper (October 21, 2008)
The league believes this attitude is 'defeatist' and cites the example of the transfer of the Icelandic manuscripts from Denmark to Iceland as an example the two governments should look to.
In a letter to the Mr Brown, the league's director of information Bernard Moffatt writes: 'It was extremely disappointing to hear the attempt by the Isle of Man government to seek the return of the Chronicles had proved fruitless.
'It was equally disappointing to hear the Isle of Man Government is to abandon efforts to recover the Chronicles.
'As has been made clear over the years the Chronicles would be of more relevance as a live exhibit in the Manx Museum rather than gathering dust in a drawer at the British Library.
'It would surely be appropriate for the Manx Government to remind the UK of the "Icelandic Manuscripts" issue as an example of how friendly governments behave towards one another.
'I do hope the Manx Government will review its somewhat defeatist stance on this issue and continue to press the United Kingdom and the British Library vigorously on this matter.'
Isle of Man Newspapers' campaign to bring the Chronicles home elicited support from around the world.
The Chronicles, described by many as the most important document in Manx history, are the oldest written record of the Island's Norse-Gaelic period from 1000AD to 1316.
They are believed to have been compiled by monks at Rushen Abbey and it is thought they fell into private hands after the abbey was dissolved in 1540 during the reign of Henry VIII.
The Chronicles were on short term loan to the Manx Museum from the British library for six months last year.
More political news at www.iomtoday.co.im/politics
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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