Keepers of An Ancient Celtic Tradition - The Gorsedh Kernow Names 23 New Bards

The Gorsedh Kernow, an organisation with ancient roots and which is a driving force in the protection and promotion of Celtic culture in Cornwall, have announced that 23 individuals will be initiated as Cornish Bards.  The Western Morning News under the headline “Cornish Gorsedh Names 23 New Bards” quotes Cornwall’s Grand Bard, Maureen Fuller: “We are especially proud this year because the Government has recognised the Cornish as a distinct group under the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. This recognition will give Cornish people the respect they deserve and the confidence to stand tall and be themselves, taking their place in the multi-cultural society that is Britain today”.

The Gorsedh Kernow describes its mission as follows: “To maintain the National Celtic spirit of Cornwall…to promote the study and use of the Cornish language, to maintain and nurture links with other Celtic cultures and to provide a forum and encouragement to all who work to further these aims.”

From the Gorsedh Kernow’s website we have the following brief history of the organisation, the full text can be found on the Gorsedh’s web site linked below:  In ancient Celtic times, Bards - story-tellers, poets and singers had great importance as keepers of the heritage. They had places of high honour at important assemblies regularly held at venerated sites throughout Britain, one of which was the stone circle at Boscawen-un, in the parish of St Buryan on the high moors of West Cornwall. This tradition, following that of Wales, was revived in Cornwall in 1928 at a Gorsedd, or meeting of Bards, at Boscawen-un, when Cornwall's first Grand Bard, Henry Jenner and 12 Bards were initiated by the Archdruid of Wales, Jenner taking the Bardic name Gwas Myghal, Servant of Michael. (The Welsh title ‘Archdruid’ also has no connection with Druidism and is merely a title for the Senior Bard).

http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/welcome.htm

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Cornish-Gorsedh-names-23-new-bards/s...