Due to witnessing the short fallings of, both, the 'Civic Trust' and 'Cadw' in regards to the promotion of our history and heritage as a means towards the recreation of a 'true' Welsh National identity, Embassy Glyndŵr has come to the point where we now feel compelled to 'actively' advance three crucially important days in our history as well as a Welsh National Heritage Week.
28 May: A 'National Day' to celebrate and commemorate Owain Glyndŵr's Birthday in 1354.
In regards to the above, Embassy Glyndŵr is now in the process of setting up an 'All Wales Commission' to advance exiting Initiatives associated with the holding of a major 'Wales National Commemoration' in 2014 to celebrate the 660th anniversary of the birth of Owain Glyndŵr in 1354. There will be an opportunity for everyone in Wales to participate and in due course, a bilingual web site will be established as a launch for the '660 National Commemoration' but, in the meantime, just keep your eyes on this blog for further news.
21 June 'Dydd y Senedd' National Day: An appropriate National Day to celebrate and commemorate the event of the establishing of Senedd Cenedl Glyndŵr in Machynlleth by Prince Owain Glyndŵr in 1404. This day is also known and recognized as 'Dydd Coroni Glyndŵr', the name which the annual national chief Owain Glyndŵr Festival 'Gŵyl Dathlu Coroni Owain IV' is associated with. This 'Gŵyl' is held on and around midsummer - 'Troad y Rhod' and will, hopefully, over the next couple of years, develop into a long weekend festival.
16 Medi: Dydd Glyndŵr - National Heroes Day! The day to celebrate and commemorate the date when Owain Glyndŵr was chosen by other Welsh leaders at Llys Glyndyfrdwy in Corwen to lead a grossly oppressed Welsh nation in a War for political and economic Independence - which we are still striving for today, though, by more peaceful means of course.
16 Medi - Dydd Glyndŵr has, to some degree, become established as an 'unofficial' National Day now with events being organized in many parts of Wales to celebrate and commemorate the date but, recognition did not come about without the continuous dedication and hard work of a few patriots.
A brief background: 16 Medi - Dydd Glyndŵr had, initially been promoted in the 1960's by nationalist leaders such as Dr Gwynfor Evans, patriotic bard Harri Webb and then radical nationalists such as Gethin ap Iestyn and Toni Lewis of the Patriotic Front - who took the remembrance of 16 Medi closer to the people with the organizing of commemorative rallies to mark and draw public attention to this all important day in our history. However, it was with the establishment of 'Cofiwn', the Cymric Consciousness Campaigning Movement initially established in 1972 by Gethin Gruffydd, Toni Lewis and Eurig ap Gwilym that the 16 Medi - Dydd Glyndŵr really began to become a much broader celebrated event. This was in the days when 'Cofiwn' would organize an annual programme of well attended events which would take place at Corwen, Glyndyfrdwy and Caerdrewyn. This was in the days when Plaid Cymru leaders such as 'Gwynfor' (as we respectfully knew him) was proud to take part and when Dafydd Elis Tomos would 'ask' if he could be a speaker! How times have changed - for the worse for the cause of Independence!
Anyway, Embassy Glyndŵr over the last 11yrs has worked extremely hard to continue on with the pioneering work carried out by patriots in the 60's and by 'Cofiwn' in the 70's to advance 16 Medi - Dydd Glyndŵr our 'National Heroes Day' as an all important historical day to celebrate and commemorate nationally throughout Wales. This was achieved by having 1000's of Dydd Glyndŵr cloth and enameled ribbons and 1000's of 'baneri Glyndŵr' produced to publicize the making of this day as a truly national celebration. Part of this campaign has been (and still continues) to seek recognition of the day by National Institutions such as the Welsh Assembly, the National Eisteddfod and County as well as Local Authorities.
This campaign is successful but, sad to say, Corwen, despite having the all important history associated with ' 16 Medi -Dydd Glyndŵr' - and despite having a good size, well placed, brand new Glyndŵr statue now, as of yet, does not take the lead (as it should) by the holding of a 'major' and 'National' Dydd Glyndŵr Festival - as Machynlleth is now endeavoring to do annually on the nearest weekend to 21 June with 'Dydd y Senedd'
Ironically, The Sleeping Giant Foundation have organized a splendid 'Dydd Glyndŵr' weekend at Abercraf for six years, this year will be their 7th. Please visit their website at http://www.sgfnet.co.uk/ for details and to view galleries of the events of previous years.
There is some good news. The Welsh Assembly Government's in house heritage body 'Cadw' has been authorised to dispense a great deal of money to assist 'some' Glyndŵr projects as part of a European funded Heritage Tourism Initiative. So, hopefully, this money will assist important 'hub' areas such as Corwen. Note though, how I stressed that this money will only help 'some' Glyndŵr projects and I will be returning to this issue (with vengeance) in my next posting on this new ‘Galwad Glyndŵr’ blog. It will suffice for me to say here that Cadw has commissioned an 'Interpretation plan' for their ' Owain Glyndŵr Initiative' . I have read this 72 page 'Interpretation plan' and, as a result, will be issuing a full critique as to the rights and wrongs that we have see within it soon but, in the meantime, I feel there is a need to draw immediate attention to a 'big wrong' as it will require some immediate action from you all! so take special note of the next posting on this new blog.In the meantime – and In connection with the above, there is no mention (anywhere!) in the Cadw - Glyndŵr Interpretation plan of the 'National Days', being promoted by us and other Pobl Cenedl Glyndŵr, as being days 'worthy' of major commemorations and celebrations! Therefore, I am thus calling on all 'Pobl Glyndŵr' and all other patriots to make every effort, this year and every other year from now on, to fly Baner Glyndŵr far and wide throughout Cymru and the world. The Eisteddfod is only two weeks away, make your voice heard through symbolic protest.
Also, of course, Dydd Glyndŵr - Medi 16 is close so, again, voice your protest by flying 'baner Glyndŵr wherever possible. Let's drive the message home to the WAG and Cadw. Also, Dydd Glyndŵr this year falls on a thursday, so schools throughout Cymru, let's hold as many associated celebrative events and activities as is physically and mentally possible and, all schools with flagpoles, don't forget to hoist your Baner Glyndŵr onto it for Dydd Glyndŵr.Cenedl Glyndŵr - National Heritage Week:In response to the Civic Trust's ignorance and disregard for our 'National Heroes Day' in September.
Click into links below for background info on Civic Trust, European Heritage Days.
Embassy Glyndŵr is now calling for the week following the 21st June to be made a 'Cenedl Glyndŵr - National Heritage Week' by Pobl Glyndŵr. This will be the week when we call upon 'Cymunedau Glyndŵr' throughout Wales to organize events to celebrate a 1000 years of our national history - from the age of the great leaders and founders of Wales, such as Cunedda Wledig' and his sons and daughters, to the age of our Owain iv, Owain Glyndŵr. The objective being so that our people, and visitors to Wales during mid-summer, can become better informed and acquainted in regards to our national history via the work and events organized on a local level by communities.
Is it not an interesting example of perversity that, over this Dydd Glyndŵr celebrative period, the Civic Trust organizes their E.U. Heritage Open Days Initiative - that does not only clash but also, of course, diverts and distracts attention from Dydd Glyndŵr - be it by just 'ignorance', 'tunnel vision' or, could it be a deliberate act? You decide, view the following blogs to read more:
www.heritagedays.net/
www.heritageweek.ie/
To further inform 'Pobl Glyndŵr and other Welsh Patriots in general, go on to look into links provided as to how 'really' patriotically mature, free and Independent Nation States officially mark, commemorate and celebrate their most historic national days as in Flanders.
Day of the Flemish Community - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Heroes' Day - WikipediaWapedia - Wiki: Heroes Day.
Please note, that further development of this initiative and information in regards to possible events and activities organized on a community level will be posted on this blog as we get the information. In the meantime, view the Civic Trust's Heritage Open Days on their website.
It's also worthwhile to view other websites that promote Heritage Open Days - such as those at Ireland and Scotland, which are far broader in approach and content than that organized by the Civic Trust in Wales. Note, in particular, how Ireland is promoted independently of England.
This year, Northern Ireland is coming on line as a Civic Trust promoted area so, it will be very interesting to see as to 'which' and 'what' heritage and to 'how' such is promoted in this part of Ireland - where people owe a dual allegiance - as do many in Wales! Thus, until such time as Cymru is free and Independent, as Ireland is and as the newly created Nation States of the Baltic countries, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are, then we suggest 'Cenedl Glyndŵr', as far as is possible, is worthy of your patriotic allegiance and needs your united stand and cooperation in insisting on this 'Cenedl Glyndŵr - National Heritage Week'. Such could be the first real positive stone laid towards preparing the psyche of our nation for an Independent Wales.
Also note: I have almost completed a report on the workings of the ‘Civic Trust’ in association with the ;Heritage Environment Group’ and others over the last five years. The conclusion of this work became the basis of 'The New Strategy for Wales' as presented by the Minister of Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, to the Coalition Government of the Welsh Assembly Government. My research report on this will be published in due course in my blog ‘Welsh Heritage Watch’....and remember...more on Cadw's Owain Glyndŵr Interpretation plan in the next post but only a little more - as the full critique will take until mid Sept to complete and will be released in time for GLYNDŴR DAY - SEPT 16!
