Mair Williams's blog

Yesterday in Ireland, as reported in the Irish Times, Labour Deputy Prime Minister Joan Burton was trapped in a car for two hours after being surrounded by demonstrators protesting against water charges. She had to be rescued by Garda Síochána officers (Police) and the Public Order Unit when her vehicle was trapped within a large angry crowd in the Jobstown area of west Dublin.

An informal vote on independence for Catalonia has shown more than 80% in favour. Despite attempts at bullying by Spain more than 2 million turned out to vote on 9th November. Now the pressure is on Spain to respond to the democratic will of the Catalan people and for a formal independence vote to go ahead. The Spanish government had used the puppet Spanish Constitutional Court to ban Catalan people from exercising their democratic right in a formal vote. But this is now being thrown in the face of the Spanish government by a Catalan people who want their freedom.

The campaign to change the Welsh Government Planning Law is growing in momentum. Campaigning group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg have been spearheading the opposition to the governments proposed planning laws. The proposed laws has been heavily criticised for ignoring the Welsh language and centralising planning powers in Cardiff. 

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has published its own alternative plans and is calling for a Bill which: 

Cadw is a word in Welsh that can be translated into English as 'to keep' or 'to protect'. Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service. It works to conserve Wales's heritage and helps sustain the distinctive character of Wales. They have just celebrated their 30th anniversary. Buildings of special architectural or historic interest are protected by a process known as listing and monuments of national importance through scheduling.

This is a date to keep in your diary Saturday, May 2 2015. This will be when the South Coast Celtic Fest 2015 will be taking place at the Hales Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay.

Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins made a highly successful visit to Wales last week. He met with political leaders at the National Assembly for Wales and supported stronger cultural and economic ties between the two Celtic nations. As reported in the newspaper The Irish Post the Irish President stated:

Rhiannon Davies Jones, novelist was born in  Llanbedr, Merioneth on 3 November 1921 and died in Ynys Mon on 22 October 2014.

A vote on independence for Catalonia on November 9 will be a step towards separation from Spain. The Spanish government is doing everything in its power to prevent the people of Catalonia from engaging in a democratic vote to determine their own future. Barcelona wanted to hold a referendum on independence, in the same way that Scotland did. At every turn Madrid, using the power of the Constitutional Court has bullied and threatened the Catalans not to hold any kind of democratic vote or consultation.

October 27th was the 100th anniversary of Dylan Thomas's birth. Throughout the year there has been a recognition and celebration of his work. Last night saw the conclusion of 36-hour live performance of the Swansea poet's work at Swansea Grand Theatre . Opening at 11am on Sunday, October 26 and coming to an end at 11pm on Monday, October 27 100 years to the day on which Dylan Thomas was born.

Plaid Cymru/The Party of Wales is gathering for its autumn conference in Llangollen. Welcoming the delegates to the two-day conference Plaid Cymru AM (elected member to the National Assembly of Wales/Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru) for North Wales Llyr Gruffydd said:

"I am very pleased to welcome Plaid Cymru members, new and old, to Llangollen for this important conference.