Kernewek at the Eisteddfod 2011 Grand Bard's speech

Good morning Wales. In the first place I should say how happy I am to be here in Wales again for the Eisteddfod. As Grand Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd l am particularly happy because the Gorsedd of Bards here in Wales have played a very important role in the resurrection of our language and culture and in supporting the wish of our people to develop and enhance our special identity.

The language is now recognised under the European Charter, we have a small language office in Truro. The work done in that office is hugely effective and we hope to be able to develop further the work done in Schools.

When they are worn out English signs are being replaced by bilingual signs, this is without cost and the language is daily more visible. Cornwall Council is very supportive of Cornish Culture, who knows one day perhaps we will be able to hold a Festival like this brilliant party, the Eisteddfod. There is talk now in that Council of getting a National library for Cornwall. This is an exciting idea and more so because it is being promoted officially. We hope eventually that those classics of our literature held elsewhere will be repatriated to Cornwall. At least two works of our traditional literature have been discovered in private collections in Wales and l would like to take advantage of this opportunity to ask Wales, as a dear sister to see if more pieces cannot be found, we are sure they exist. So you Welsh scholars please take some time to uncover our traditional literature. Perhaps a year for Cornish?

Eisteddfod 2011
Bardh Meur with Breton Delegates, Youenn Amice and Youenn Ar Barz


However that is not why I am here today. We say that we Celts may be six nations, but we are only one soul. So, l am proud to speak today on behalf of your fellow Celts the people of Scotland, Brittany, Ireland, Cornwall, the Isle of Mann and of course the Welsh of Y Wladfa, Patagonia. For us it is a joy to hear Welsh spoken everywhere in this great festival of language, and to see with what enthusiasm the people respond to the Eisteddfod. We know the Eisteddfod contributes greatly to the health of the language, to the health of the nation and it is also clear that it has a great share in maintaining individual health. The Eisteddfod has both developed Welsh traditional culture and developed the International Culture in a such a way that it has become Welsh.

Eisteddfod 2011
Eisteddfod 2011


None of our nations is without problems but it is evident that Wales has reversed the decline in it’s language and culture and that is a cause of optimism for the rest of us. Thank you Wales for your example, for your friendship and for the great fun which the Eisteddfod is. Keltia forever, Wales Forever.

Mick Paynter