Happy Piran's Day! Gool Peran Lowen!

Michael Chappell has kindly sent us some photographs and a report on the St. Piran's Day celebrations that took place in Redruth, Cornwall on Saturday 2nd March 2013.

Saturday 2nd March, 2013 saw Redruth celebrate Cornwall's adopted Patron and the Patron Saint of Tinners, Piran in fine fashion.

St. Piran's Day is actually on the 5th March annually but the organising committee in Redruth, the World Capital of Cornish Tin Mining, set the celebration for the town on the preceding Saturday.

The day saw thousands take to the streets of the town waving the now familiar flag of Cornwall to commemorate the arrival of the Irish Saint in the Fifth Century bringing not only Christianity but also according to legend, discovering tin at the same time.

Piran is said to have been a man of peace and diversity, indeed, the legend says the first he baptised were animals and so it was perhaps appropriate that Redruth School created a huge lamb, the symbol of purity once stamped on tin ingots in the town and pupils paraded it through the streets.

The town's schools took part in a naming competition and the Mayor, Councillor Judy Davidson and a small team chose 'Tolgus'. And so 'Tolgus' will become a regular participant in the town’s events.

A massive procession led by 'St. Piran' and the Grand Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd, the Mayor of Redruth, the Rector of Redruth and many other Civic Dignitaries and of course, literally hundreds of representatives of other local organisations, schools and townspeople.

The Grand Bard addressed the crowds in Cornish and English calling for St. Piran's Day to be made a Public Holiday in Cornwall which was met with loud cheers. She also informed that the interest in this celebration of Cornwall’s favourite Saint was growing at an astonishing pace.

St. Piran is now celebrated widely across Cornwall in many towns and villages and also further afield in the Cornish diaspora. He is a true symbol of Celtic unity between Ireland and Cornwall.