A newsletter from 'Kernow Matters To Us'

Kernow

16 Mys Metheven, 2021

A why agas oll wheg, 

The G7 Summit - a great show of Cornish distinctiveness

Following on from the G7 Summit, the ‘I Rake a Cornish Beach’ campaign and the ‘Yes Kernow’ Team launch campaign have proven to be huge successes and the visibility generated by each was enormous. We thank Stu for arranging the beach events over several days and all those who participated. Similarly, the ‘Yes Kernow’ at Chiverton was well attended on both Saturday and Sunday and the number of photographs, horns being sounded by passing cars, trucks, tractors, ambulances and even the police served as proof that this was a wonderful occasion. To see some of our children chatting to the police and trying on items of police kit was great and as anticipated, our sensible, well organised and cheerful protests occurred with no issues at all. It was endearing to see police officers take 'selfies' with our members and for Cornish officers from other forces to greet our flag wavers and shake hands. We even engaged with officers from the Gaelic speaking parts of Scotland who were pleased to see us and discuss similarities between Scots Gaelic and Brythonic Cornish and were shown how the drones worked. Subsequent communications from the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Police Diversity Unit described our ‘outings’ as dignified and impactive and that was exactly as intended and we know that visiting police from the City of London were taken with our Cornish songs. 

Speak Cornish Week  - 19th to 27thJune, 2021

Please find attached a PDF programme of all the many varied events scheduled for this year’s ‘Speak Cornish Week’ which has the theme of ‘Meur ras’ (Many thanks).

As well as the PDF, there is a link to the relevant website here: https://www.speakcornish.com/speak-cornish-week.html

1497 Commemorations -  Sunday 27thJune, 2021

Sunday 27thJune, 2021 commemorates the day in 1497 that two of the leaders of the Cornish Uprising of 1497 suffered terrible executions and each year we remember Thomas Flamank, the Bodmin lawyer and MP and Michael Joseph An Gof, the St Keverne blacksmith who gave their lives – along with thousands of other Cornish people – in the name of liberty.

Remembering Cornish martyr Thomas Flamank of Bodmin  - Sunday 27thJune, 2021

At 11:00 (11am) there is a singing of 'Trelawny' at the Bodmin Flamank Plaque organised by the CNP and Pirans welcomed. The plaque is on the wall below the Celtic Cross in Lower Bore Street, Bodmin and PL31 1JS is a relevant post code for Sat Navs. 'Kernow Matters' will be laying a wreath.

Followed by a pint and a pasty if you'd like 

Remembering Cornish martyr Michael Joseph An Gof of St Keverne - Sunday 27thJune, 2021

Join Karen Richards and Loveday Jenkin for a bilingual history walk around St Keverne. Meet in the square at St Keverne at 15:00 (3pm) No need to book, just turn up. TR12 6NA is a relevant post code for Sat Navs. 

At 19:00 (7pm) that evening the An Gof Commemoration will take place at St Keverne. Everyone is welcome. Meet at the statues at the top of the village on the B3293 to process down to the square for a short ceremony and speeches in Cornish and English. This will be followed by Cornish singing in the pub garden.

International Celtic Congress - Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th July,  2021

An on line event this year with the theme of 'Celebrating and promoting Celtic cultures and languages today'

All are welcomed and you do not have to be a member of the Celtic Congress to attend.

Link to programme: https://www.cyngresgeltaidd.cymru/?fbclid=IwAR3N91PTuYOShajiK8e241D9TQp8...

Link to tickets: https://www.cyngresgeltaidd.cymru/?fbclid=IwAR3N91PTuYOShajiK8e241D9TQp8...

Great input from representatives of the six Celtic Nations recognised by the International Celtic Congress - Scotland, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall & Brittany and a wonderful programme of events for £20 all in!

Cornish Manuscripts exhibition at Kresen Kernow, Redruth – 22ndJune – 25thSeptember, 2021

If you wish to view our original Cornish manuscripts in the National Library of Cornwall (Kresen Kernow) this year here is the link for booking your places:  https://kresenkernow.org/event/mes-an-kemmyn-out-of-the-ordinary/

The Cornish Miracle Plays Performances  – The Ordinalia – 4th– 18thSeptember, 2021

This September, all three plays in the historic 'Ordinalia Cycle' will be performed over two weeks in St Just in Penwith’s Plen an Gwari (Playing Place). 

Here is the link to more information about these spectacular performances:  https://www.hallforcornwall.co.uk/playhouse-tickets-shows/st-just-ordina...

Two great new books of interest

The Mouth of Truth - poems by Dr Alan M. Kent, translated by Professor Nicholas Williams

This is a compelling collection, furious and lyrical, which says much about the relationship between the writer and the Cornish nation.

Link: https://francisboutle.co.uk/products/the-mouth-of-truth/

The Word and the Shaping of Cornwall – Before the Reformation by Michelle P. Brown

 This book is about the surviving graphic evidence of how the Cornish communicated and shaped their cultural identity before the modern world

Cornwall is an ancient nation with its own identity, culture and language. This book marks the exhibition, in 2021, of several of the iconic books of Cornwall – including the Bodmin Gospels and the Ordinalia – at Kresen Kernow, the Cornish National Archives. This is the first time some of them have returned to Cornwall since the Reformation. This book celebrates and contextualises them and introduces the public to the surviving landmarks of the written (and spoken) word and related symbols and images, discussing the issues that they raise for Cornwall and its contribution to our global cultural identity.

Link: https://francisboutle.co.uk/products/the-word-and-the-shaping-of-cornwall/

Kemreugh wyth!