Cornish Minority – An EU report
Now Euro mandarins tell the English to stop oppressing CORNISH minorities and help revive their little-used language
Council of Europe raises concerns over the future of Cornish minority culture
Report hit out at Government for cutting funds to promote Cornish language
It also raised concerns over the ‘Disneyfication’ of landmark Tintagel Castle
European chiefs have hit out at the UK over its treatment of the ‘Cornish minority’ and accused the Government of neglecting the county.
A report by the Council of Europe – responsible for protecting human rights and promoting culture across the continent – said the body was concerned at the decision to ‘cut all funding’ for the Cornish language in 2016.
The 50-page document also raised concerns about a lack of funding for Cornish cultural events and a lack of general direction in how to promote Cornish history.
The report said: ‘The Committee strongly regrets a decision which is considered to have a major impact on the continued revitalisation of the language and the educational activities carried out so far with public funding.’
It added: ‘The Advisory Committee also understands from its interlocutors that the way Cornish culture is currently approached by the English Heritage Trust fails to appreciate its distinctiveness and shifts between “culture in Cornwall” and “Cornish culture”.
‘Several small museums deal with Cornish history and culture, but they are scattered and there is no overall agreement yet with the English Heritage Trust on how to portray Cornish culture and heritage, though consultations are ongoing.
‘Similarly, it is felt that Cornish history is distorted, and worries are high that the UNESCO Cornish Mining World Heritage Site could lose its status owing to new building at the site.’
The Cornish were officially recognised as a minority in 2014 and its is believed only 500 people are able to speak the language fluently.
The report identified St Piran’s Day, the national day of Cornwall, as important to the promotion of Cornish culture but added a drop in funding of 50 per cent was worrying.
It also noted the controversy over the ‘Disneyfication’ of Tintagel Castle, a 13th Century fort that is said to have been the place where King Arthur was conceived.
The council committee recommended UK authorities ‘reconsider’ the decision to cut funding for the Cornish language and called on them to ‘engage in dialogue with the Cornish minority’ to protect its culture going forward.
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