Meeting of the Gorsedd Council the 12th July, 2009. For important
matters decided, please click here.
Grass Valley California –
Meeting of Cornish Cousins
A Group of Cornish Cousins looking at the Stamps at Empire Mine,
Grass Valley ,CA.
The largest Gathering of the Cornish west of the Continental Divide,
USA, since Bob Fitzsimmons met James Corbett, was held in
Grass Valley from the 21st to the 26th of July.
The Cornish men and
women, from all over the world, met together in this very Cornish
City for a week of visits to the mines, Virginia City, local wineries
and the graveyards full of Cornish names. There was a big choice of
interesting lectures, and, of course, singing!- Singing both formal
and informal by the Marazion Apollo Choir, the Grass Valley Choir
and Heather Dale.
The Bards, with the Grand Bard, held a short
gathering at the Memorial Park. New friendships were made. It was
an excellent week!
Gorseth Council Awards
The Council of Gorseth Kernow awards for 2009 can be seen by clicking
here.
The Welsh National Eisteddfod and Gorsedd of the Bards
A Brythonic Bardic Band at the Bala Eisteddfod Brittany: Bernard Cousquier and Hod Pasl Assis, Patagonia: Sarah Irma
da Graca, Wales: Selwyn Griffiths, Dr Robin Lewis. Cornwall: Mick Paynter and Phil
Rendle.
The delegates of Cornwall, Brittany, Scotland, Ireland, The Isle of Man and
Y Wladva (Welsh Patagonia) met together for four days as guests of the
Gorsedd of the Bards of The Island of Britain at the National Eisteddfod at
Bala in North Wales.
Mick Paynter and Phil Rendle joined the other Celts on the Eisteddfod Field
both in the Bardic Circle and in several Gorsedd Ceremonies to celebrate the
Welsh Language and in many other ways both Welsh Culture and our shared Celtic Roots.
There was John Morison of Scotland, Bernard Cousquir and Hod Pasl-Assis from
Britanny, Sean and Blathnaid O Bradaigh with Maire O' Laoire of Ireland,
Jenifer Kewley Draskau from the Isle of Mann and from Patagonia Irma da
Graca de Wiliams and Rini Griffiths Esquel.
At the Celtic Supper Mick Paynter made a short speech in Cornish to say
thank you to the Welsh Gorsedd for their kindness on behalf of all the
delegates.
The next day the Manx delegate made the main speech in fluent Welsh and in
her own native Manx Gaelic.The speech was well received by the audience who
were in the pavilion for the Crowning of the Bard. We also visted two other
ceremonies like that, the Crowning of the Poet, and the Medal for literature
in prose. As always Mererid Hopwood looked after us in her exceptionally
good way.
The Eisteddfod is absolutely certainly a brilliant Festival of the Welsh
tongue, with more than 20,000 coming daily and with not a word of English
heard it was a joy for us to go to Bala.
Kembry bys Vyken! Cymru am byth!
Skogynn Pryv
Gorsedh Kernow
The Cornish Gorsedd 1928-2009
Saturday 5th September 2009, Saltash
The gathering of the bards of Cornwall this year is to take place in Saltash.
Public attendance is free and welcomed. Details of the ceremony and
supporting events can be seen by clicking on the following link. Click here.
New Bards 2009
For a list of the new bards at the Saltash Gorsedd please click here.
Gorseth Announces Competition Results for 2009
Mawgan Porth
Results for the Adult and Childrens classes can be seen by clicking on the following link winners 2009.
World's Largest Cornish Festival
Kernewek Lowender or Cornish Festival, held in South Australia every two years is renowned as the World's largest Cornish Festival. Featuring music, dance, street parties and presentations on Cornish culture, the Festival attracts people from all over Australia and beyond. As part of the cultural program, held in the Copper Triangle of Moonta, Wallaroo and Kadina, there is a 'gathering of the Bards'.
A DVD recorded in South Australia for Ros Paterson by Lindsay Chapman and Debbie Ramsay, is now available price £5, including postage to any destination.
All profits are for Gorsedh funds. Overseas purchasers must pay in Sterling, if necessary using David Lindo's personal PayPal account. Please contact enquiries@gorsethkernow.org.uk.
Grand Bard to open inaugural
Keskan Kerensa
Tan ha Dowr displaying Cornish Dances
A Charity Concert to be held in St Columb Major on the afternoon of Sunday 2nd August will be opened
by the Grand Bard, Vanessa Beeman. The afternoon of Cornish cultural entertainment will raise money for Cornwall Hospice Care and the
Precious Lives Appeal. Gorsedd Administrator, Colin Roberts, is co-ordinating the event at the request of the St Columb Major Carnival
Committee.
Bell Man
Gorsedd Administrator, Colin Roberts, was appointed last year as the next
Town Crier/Sergeant of St Columb. A native of the Town, Colin returned to live there last year after a 30 year absence, including 23 years in
Australia. The role of Town Bell Man has a long and diverse background, probably starting as watchman of the town gate and caller of the hour during the
night. Colin can provide some fascinating details, click on admin@gorsethkernow.org.uk
Gorsedd Council
The new Gorsedd council 2009 - 2012 was announced at the Gorsedd AGM.
Click here.
The biennial Kernewek Lowender took place in May. One of the
founders Ros Paterson, our bard Roslyn an Dyghow, reported it was a
big success. It was attended by tens of thousands of people. For further information please see www.kernewek.org
Front Row: L.-R. Ralph Thomas W.A., Paul Thomas S.A., Lilian James S.A., Rosanne Hawke S.A., Terry Johnston S.A., Gwen Phillips Vic., Tom and Libby Luke Vic., Beth Vane S.A., Bill Phillips Vic. & Ros Paterson S.A.
Middle Row: Joy Dunkerley NSW, Philip Payton Cornwall, Steven Amos Vic., Noel Carthew S.A., Leanne Lloyd Vic. Kay Gill S.A. Susan Pellowe U.S.A. June Parrott Vic. Betty Johns Vic. Joy Menhennett Vic. Diana Hancock S.A.
Back Row: David Gill S.A., Jim Harbison S.A., Roger Thomas NSW, Richard Hancock S.A.
Gorsedd Proclamation - Saltash
Saturday the 18th of April saw the Gorsedd Proclamation held at Saltash, on the banks of the River Tamar.
It was a fine morning, with a good crowd of Bards from all over Cornwall, gathered in the town for the Ceremony. The Guildhall was the place chosen for robing, and by nine o’clock, a good number had already arrived.
Formed in order outside the Guildhall door, and at a quarter past ten, the procession started its way along Fore Street, following the piper to Victoria Gardens, where a circle was formed against the Men Omborth at the higher end of the gardens.
The Town Mayor welcomed the Gorseth saying how delighted he was to receive the Gorseth at Saltash, and especially that the Gorsedd will be there for the Open Ceremony in September.
The Grand Bard replied and thanked the Mayor for his speech.
This was followed as usual by the Call for Peace, the Ceremony of the Lady of the Flowers, the Proclamation itself of the Open Gorseth and the anthem ‘Bro Goth Agan Tasow’.
The ceremony finished once again with the Call for Peace, and the procession re-formed and returned along Fore Street to the Guildhall, where tea, coffee and biscuits were waiting.
Gorseth Council
Left to right: Keith Shaw, Keith Truscott, Barbara Shaw, Marion Combe, Maureen Pierce, Mo Fuller, Vanessa Moyle, Mike Millard, (Wella Brown), Jory Ansell, Alastair Quinnell, Bert Biscoe, Mick Paynter, Pat Miller, David Lindo, (Brian Coombes), Polin Preece, Vanessa Beeman (chair), Colin Roberts, (Ted Chapman).
Gorseth Council meets five times a year to discuss the business of keeping Gorseth Kernow running, and
its interaction with other cultural groups.
St Piran's Day: The Procession through Truro
In recent years there has been a greater awareness of Cornish identity; part of this is recognition of patron saints – there are three for Cornwall – the Archangel Michael and two from the age of Saints. One is Petroc whose cult was based on the Padstow – Bodmin area, and is specially associated with Wales.
The other is Piran (Perran) who is the saint of the Cornish flag and patron of tinners. According to legend he came from Ireland on a millstone - possibly alluding to a portable stone altar that he used.
On St Piran’s Day (5th March) it is the custom for a procession to take place through Truro led by the Grand Bard and Mayor, with banners of Cornish societies and dancers from local schools. Earlier in the day there is a similar procession in Bodmin and in the evening in Launceston.
St Piran’s Day: The Celebrations at Perranzabuloe
Each of our three patrons had special place of pilgrimage in Cornwall. Piran was honoured above all at Perranzabuloe. Here is the site of the earliest remaining church structure (the “Oratory”), which it is hoped to re-excavate soon and the site of the Parish Church (moved in 1804 to a new site because of the continued advance of sand). The relics were lost at the Reformation, but the old parish church has been excavated recently.
On the Sunday after St Piran’s Day a great procession is held over the dunes to the old parish church, passing the Oratory; later, on the beach at Perranporth, there is a re-enactment of the coming of Piran on a millstone. On the previous Sunday there is Evensong in Cornish at Peranarworthal (between Truro and Falmouth). With dinners and other events in Cornwall and beyond, the affection of Cornish people for Perran is demonstrated.
Delynyans Kernow
An exhibition of Cornish Art, “A Cornish Perspective” was held in London from the 4th to the 13th of February. It was opened by the Grand Bard on the evening of Tuesday the 3rd and was attended by many important people: Members of some European Embassies, Members of Parliament and others.
After much hard work by Robert Jones (Den Awenek) and his wife, Susie, paintings by Anthony Frost, Louise McClary, Andrew Lanyon, Francis Hewlitt, Mary Martin, Margo Maekelburghe, Ashley Hold, Clive Carter and Robert Jones (among them four bards) were carried from Cornwall and hung in Jean Monnet House, the Centre for the European Commission in the United Kingdom.
The event was facilitated by John Fleet, Secretary of Ceres, and was supported by Gorseth Kernow.
Bewnans Kernow
For developments in Cornish Culture please click here.
Concern for Australian Friends
Gorseth Kernow express deepest sympathy to the people of Australia
- particularly those with kith and kin in Cornwall, many of whom reside
in the areas most affected by the horrific devastation in Victoria, South
Australia and New South Wales, where many Cornish families settled
on the Gold Fields and the Copper Coast.
The Gorsedd has sent several messages including one for the Book of Condolence
Language Update
Three reports from Jori Ansell / Caradok presented to the Council of
Gorseth Kernow can be read in full by clicking here.
Greetings from Gaelic Board to Cornish Conference
Words of encouragement from Prof Ken MacKinnon, Gaelic Board
member and principal researcher and author of GOSW's Cornish Language Report
in 2000, recorded at Cornish Language Conference, Lostwithiel 31st Jan 2009. Click here.
GK08
A DVD of the afternoon Gorseth ceremony at Looe is now available.
It is in PAL (European) format and runs for 1 hour 35 minutes. It is a compilation from 4 mDV cameras.
The price is a flat rate £5 including whatever the postage may be.
Overseas purchasers must pay in Sterling, if necessary using David Lindo's personal PayPal account.
Carer Lowarthow, Mentenor a'n Ertach; Trevesiges, Gwaryer an Sarf;
Caradok, Bryallen, Gwas Costtentyn; Cum Morek; Vyajor gans Geryow, Kernow.
The Gorseth council meets regularly throughout the year.
At their February meeting a report was received from the Admissions
committee on the proposals for new Bards. Processing will continue
and the names will be announced in August.
Amongst other items received were reports from the Treasurer,
competitions, Archives and publications, the Cornish language and the
website.
Please support Gorsedd funds by purchasing a special mug as a memento of the recent Gorsedd Day in Looe.
It is an attractive, limited edition, commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Gorseth Kernow, with a picture of Looe, the Town Crest and, of course, the
Awen.
Cost - only £3.50. Cheques payable to Gorseth Kernow should be sent to:
The Secretary, Gorseth Kernow,
Mrs. Barbara Shaw, Clitters House, Clitters,
Callington, Kernow/Cornwall, PL17 8HP.
N.B. Distribution points have been set up throughout Cornwall via the Gorsedd network, to avoid the cost of postage.
