Mair Williams's blog

On this day 27th July, 1593,  Welsh Roman Catholic priest William Davies was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey (Welsh: Castell Biwmares, Ynys Môn). He was born in Croes yn Eirias, Denbighshire, (Welsh: Sir Ddinbych) and although his date of birth is not known for certain one source gives it as 1555. After being ordained as a priest in April 1585, he worked as a missionary in Wales.

Wales (Welsh: Cymru) has long been the poorest country that makes up the so called United Kingdom (UK). There are an increasing number of people in Wales who point to the country being part of the UK as a major block on Welsh economic development. One of the key arguments for Welsh independence is that Wales has remained a relatively poor country in what is a wealthy part of the world.  It is clear that beyond the UK, countries of comparable size to Wales and smaller are flourishing. 

In 1965 a memorial chapel was built as a memorial to the drowned Welsh speaking village of Capel Celyn. Capel is Welsh for chapel, while celyn is Welsh for holly. The memorial chapel is now about to have conservation work undertaken. Capel Celyn was located to the north west of Bala in Gwynedd, in the Afon Tryweryn valley in the north of Wales.

Mount Everest is Earth's highest mountain above sea level and the current official elevation is 29,029 ft (8,848 m). It is named Everest after a Welsh man George Everest, who was born in Crickhowell (Welsh: Crug Hywel) on 4th July 1790. There is an item about this on the History of Wales Facebook page marking the anniversary of his birth. The article is printed below. The name of the mountain in Nepali is Sagarmatha सगरमाथा; inTibetan it is Chomolungma ཇོ་མོ་གླང་མ and this Tibetan name translates as "Holy Mother".

Born on this day 1790 in Crickhowell,

This news item (below) was published on the The History of Wales Facebook page. It records the infamous Blue Books' report. A disgraceful and direct attack on the Welsh language and culture. It spurred on the movement for Welsh self-government. A movement that is as relevant now as it ever was with ever increasing calls and growing support for an independent Wales:

"The Treachery of the Blue Books.

On this day 1847, the infamous 'Blue Books' a report on the state of education in Wales were presented to the Government.

Saint David (Welsh: Dewi Sant c. 500 – c. 589) is the patron saint of Wales. Celebrations have recently taken place on March 1st, St David's Day, recognised as a National Day throughout Wales. The date is tradionally seen as that on which Saint David died in 589.  He was a Welsh bishop of Mynyw, now St Davids (Welsh: Tyddewi) during the 6th century. He is traditionally believed to be the son of Saint Non and the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, King of Ceredigion. 

St David is the Patron Saint of Wales and March 1st is St David's Day. The first of March is recognised as a National Day throughout Wales. It is also a day of celebration for Welsh communities throughout the world and the Welsh flag with Y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon) is proudly raised. The flag of Saint David (Baner Dewi Sant) normally a yellow cross on a black field, also plays a central role in the celebrations. The date is tradionally seen as the date that Saint David died in 589.

Today 7 February 2020 is Dydd Miwsig Cymru - Welsh Language Music Day. This annual event is a celebration of all forms of Welsh Language music. All types of musical genre are included from indie, rock, punk, funk, folk, electronica, hip hop or anything else. There is a growing popularity in music being made in the Welsh language. Welsh language music is also being hailed as a great resource for learners of the language, by using song lyrics to add to their vocabulary.

The Welsh Government sponsored orgnisation Natural Resources Wales (Welsh: Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru) has revealed that it has received another application from  EDF Energy to dump up to 780,000 tonnes of potentially contaminated sediment off Cardiff Bay.  EDF Energy wants to deposit sediment dredged as part of building work for the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.

The Second Severn Crossing (Welsh: Ail Groesfan Hafren) is a road  bridge over the River Severn (Welsh: Afon Hafren)  which rises between England and Wales. The bridge marks the lower limit of the River Severn and the start of the Severn Estuary. It flows into the Bristol Channel and then into the Celtic Sea and the wider Atlantic Ocean. The name Severn is thought to derive from a Celtic original name (Welsh: Hafren; Old Welsh: Habren). Habren was a Celtic Princess and the name was later Latinized into the name Sabrina.