Interview with Rhys Williams of the Dunoon Hotel , Llandudno, North Wales:- http://americymru.net/profiles/blogs/the-dunoon-hotel-llandudno-celticos-americymru-trail-tour#.URv2NpGVv3A

Still two days to get your nominations in for the Celticos/AmeriCymru Trail Tour. Nominate Now!!!!!!!

Susan Sarandon after all she is a distant relative of owain Glyndwr.

GOOD NEWS!! The deadline for nominations has been extended until Feb 21st! Major new announcements about the tour coming soon

NEW!!! FORT BELAN SLIDESHOW

The AmeriCymru Trail Tour includes a visit to the beautiful and historic Fort Belan.

From the Wikipedia :- "The fort was built in 1775 for a reported cost of 30,000 (3,029,290 as of 2013),by Thomas Wynn, then MP for Caernarfonshire and later to become Lord Newborough. He was worried about the vulnerability of Britains coastline to attack, particularly because of the on-going American War of Independence. Fort Belan was the only purpose built fort of the American Revolution on the eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean. It guards a narrow passage of 35 m (115 ft) width."

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Find more photos like this on Americymru

Nope....Richard is nominating this guy:- Madoc

Do you mean Madog? as in Madog H Ap Madog?

Wales and the JFK connection!!!!

You may need to refresh the page to load the audio embed.

Today we are very pleased and proud to present an interview with Gareth Roberts of Celticos Tours. Dont forget all you need to do to win a free place for two on the AmeriCymru Trail Tour is nominate your favorite Welsh American in this discussion thread. Please check below to see which names have already been claimed. We will proceed to a vote on Feb 1st and whoever's nominee wins the popular vote wins the prize. It's that simple

Here is a link to the competition announcement:- Competition: Unique Tour of North Wales - Win a Place For Two on th... So far the following figures have been nominated:-

• Bob Hope
• Ray Milland
• Chief Justice John Marshall
• US Amb. Joseph E Davies
• Frank Lloyd Wright
• Thomas Jefferson
• Anthony Hopkins
• Prince Madoc ap Owain Gwynedd
• Richard Burton
• Bette Davis
• Rev. Robert David Thomas
• Catherine Zeta Jones

ACT NOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PLACE FOR TWO ON THE AMERICYMRU TRAIL TOUR. NOMINATE IN COMMENTS BELOW. POB LWC

A message from member Richard Williams Ellis:-

"I nominate Prince Madoc ap Owain Gwynedd who reached America sailing from North Wales in 1170. Richard Hakluyt, the most respected authority on the early European Voyagers, Columbus, Cabot, Drake and others, writes, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 , that the first Discoverer of the North American Continent of them all was Madoc, the son of a Welsh Prince . Sir Walter Raleigh, Founder of the Colony on Roanoke Island, went so far as to urge the Queen ( prior to the Spanish Armada ) to assert her claims to the New Territories on the grounds that Prince Madoc had discovered them long before Columbus. This view was shared by the learned Welshman John Dee, consultant to the Queen on Navigation. Madoc's descendants in America would have been found among the Mandans ( the Welsh Indians ) with whom his party met up with following their arrival in the Gulf of Mexico. There is a commemorative plaque at Mobile, Alabama, recently reinstated, commemorating their landing, and another at Rhos-on-Sea from whence they had set sail.

Richard Williams-Ellis"

Diolch Richard ....Madoc is yours

Indeed he was....diolch for posting....Freddie Welsh is up for grabs

Ceri, I've already nominated one person but another great Welsh-American wasFreddie Welsh(Frederick Hall Thomas) lightweight boxing champion.

The Facebook embed on this page doesnt work terrifically well but here are the latest nominations from FB:-

Jeanne Jindra "I would have to add Bob Evans of the Bob Evans restaurant chain. He did so much for the local Welsh community and his restaurant success has provided many jobs throughout the country."

Paul Griffiths II " I Would Like To Nominate Richard Burton For His Wonderful Acting Ability. "

I will add an updated full list of nominees later today

A few years ago my son also set up a business, Cambrian-Atlantic, specialising in tours of North Wales for American visitors, and featuring unusual places of interest off the usual tourist trail (although places like Caernarfon were also included). Superb accommodation and travel arrangements were provided.

I drew the attention of Americymru members to the company's website and leaflets were sent to several Welsh-American societies, but there was no response at all over three years. As it cost so much in fees to North Wales Tourism and for the upkeep of the website, but with no income at all, the idea has sadly been shelved for the time being.

May I suggest 'IORTHRYN GWYNEDD' (bardic name of the REV. ROBERT DAVID THOMAS 1817-88) as the Welsh American of distinction?

Tom Cruise is your nominee! Booked

YES MY SECOND CHOICE WOULD BE

TOM CRUISE

as his Great Grandfather was from Flint in North WALES

Already gone....do you have a second choice?

Bore Da my fellow AMERICYMRU,the answer to your question has to be

ANTHONY HOPKINS

Whom ever wins the prize please Email me and i will arrange for you to listen

to the best COR CYMRU basted in GOGLETH CYMRU

Thank You Kindly!

Another excellent choice....Bette Davies is your nominee. Pob lwc

Yes, Betty Davis. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor , Davis spent the early months of 1942 selling war bonds . After Jack Warner criticized her tendency to cajole crowds into buying, she reminded him that her audiences responded most strongly to her " bitch " performances. She sold two million dollars worth of bonds in two days, as well as a picture of herself in Jezebel for $250,000. She also performed for black regiments as the only white member of an acting troupe formed by Hattie McDaniel , which included Lena Horne and Ethel Waters . [ ( Info source: Wikipedia)

Hi Caroline....another great choice BUT unfortunately she was nominated about half an hour ago via Facebook ( see page 3 of this thread ) ....do you have a second choice?

I nominate CATHERINE ZETA JONES . . . in part for the fact that she has been teaching her children WELSH. . .. and in part because she just made a large donation to help purchase the

historic WELSH site: Garth Celyn.

Hi Patricia....agreed he is a superb choice but unfortunately someone has already nominated him.....do you have a second choice?

I would like to nominate Thomas Jefferson as my favorite Cymry-American. He was instrumental to the American Revolution in breaking off from the control of the English King. A wonderful example to us all that anything can be accomplished with firm resolve.

Agreed she is a fabulous choice and I would kill to look like her, but the US Ambassador Joe Davies also spoke Welsh and because of it "wind talking critical informationfrom Russia to his cousin in Wales"and then his cousin relaying it to Churchill and FDR he aided in our victory against the Axis powers and also recognized the very realdanger ofRussia posed to us. He made substantial donations to worthwhile projects in Wales as Anthony Hopkins also hasin his generouspurchase of Mt Snowden.

Nomination from David Llewelyn Williams via FB comments. Diolch David :- "I would like to nominate Catherine Zeta Jones. In addition to her obvious abilities and profile in films she also is a substantial contributor to Welsh causes - most recently to a hospital in South Wales and to the Garth Celyn Trust in North Wales. She also speaks Welsh which puts her at the top of the list in my opinion."

Today we are very pleased and proud to present an interview with Alwyn Griffiths CEO of Celticos Tours. Dont forget all you need to do to win a free place for two on the AmeriCymru Trail Tour is nominate your favorite Welsh American in this discussion thread. Please check below to see which names have already been claimed. We will proceed to a vote on Feb 1st and whoever's nominee wins the popular vote wins the prize. It's that simple

Here is a link to the competition announcement:- Competition: Unique Tour of North Wales - Win a Place For Two on th... So far the following figures have been nominated:-

• Bob Hope
• Ray Milland
• Chief Justice John Marshall
• US Amb. Joseph E Davies
• Frank Lloyd Wright
• Thomas Jefferson
• Anthony Hopkins

ACT NOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PLACE FOR TWO ON THE AMERICYMRU TRAIL TOUR. NOMINATE IN COMMENTS BELOW. POB LWC

As my favourite Welsh American I nominate film actor and director Ray Milland. To most people he is perceived as American but he was born Alfred Reginald Jones 3rd January 1907 in Neath South Wales and later acquired American nationality. His best film for me was 'The man with X-ray eyes' and of course 'Dial M for murder'.

I think the tour is a wonderful idea. North Wales has so many secrets to discover. Good luck to Alwyn and his Celticos website.

Just sent you an email - too long for this post.Diolch and Nadolig Llawen to you and your family as well. Also Iechyd da(I wrote a guide to and a history of toasts and toastingincluding over 1,300 toasts in 171 categories so have a look at my website and go down to about the author.

www.toasts.org

Hi Jennifer

There is no rush. alwyn@celticos.com

Diolch and Nadolig Llawen

Hi Alwyn, give me your email and I'll be happy to though it's a bit hectic at the moment!

Best j

Hi Jennifer

I am very interested in this story and would like to know more. Please get in touch with me.

Diolch a Nadolig Llawen

Alwyn

Nope...you're fine The competition is open to anyone who has an interest in American Welsh history in the North Wales area.

Technically, I should be eliminated from the contest because my family's roots are in South Wales not North Wales.

Diolch Pamela...Bob Hope is our sixth nomination

Thanks Ceri,JED really was something; a completely selfmade man,wrote a book at FDR's behest called Mission to Moscow. He (in Russia)and his cousin (in Wales)continued to relay vital info to Churchill & USas the diplomatic pouch only went 1x a week and some of the info had to be sent within minutes or hours and the emb. was always bugged despite daily scanning as most of the help were Russian spies. He was decorated for it later by King George and honored in the US. I adored him, he sounded just like Richard Burton, told wonderful stories and recited poetry by the hour. He had a huge 'eisteddfod' at his estate, 'Tregaron' in DC every spring with thousands of daffodilsin bloom. He never forgot his Welchness (nor have I - I have an incurable case of hiraeth) and visited often!

I think my favorite American of Welsh descent is Bob Hope. He brought enjoyment to so many people. His mother was Welsh.

5 nominations in the first 24 hours...will be accepting another 15-25. Get in early to be assured of a place

Diolch Alwyn....will be working on it over the next two months Sending logo today

Ah yes the war of 1812. Just searched Google for war of 1812 dumbest

One is reminded of the immortal 1960's sitcom F Troop

Also, I posted earlier about Fort Belan and those nasty American ships stalking the waters off Wales during the Revolutionary War but I think it may have just posted the information on my Facebook page.

Diolch Harold....an excellent choice......you now have a horse in the race. We will probably go to about 20-30 nominations SO nominate early folks

Hmmm... Expats don't count?

Chief Justice John Marshall

I will not argue the merit of Marbury v. Madison but it was a turning point in the country's history.

Gwych....excellent nomination. Please tell us more about this fascinating character.

Incidentally for anyone who is confused by the Facebook Comment Box on this page I should point out that it sometimes fails to load when you click on this discussion from another page on AC. It always loads however, if you click on one of the links to this page on FB.

Is correct Gwych! I will be adding other trivia q's to this forum as the weeks go by AND I will be awarding PRS points to whoever gets the right answer SO I will apply the new rule retrospectively and award you 100 PRS points Dont know what the PRS is? Look here:- http://americymru.net/leaderboards

Basically its an opportunity to win prizes once a year simply by participating on the site. Enjoy

Ft Belan

My grandfather, USAmb. Joseph E Davies, in WWII called a cousin in Wales from Russiato get critical info to Churchill -the Welsh windtalker!

lol....I dont think either of us are strictly eligible but diolch anyway

My favorite Welsh Americans are Ceri Shaw and Swansea Jack. Granted they're not historic but iconic.

Hi / Syd mae all

I am leaving the competition in the capable hands of Ceri. We at Celticos have enough to do in finalising the itinerary for the tour as we are constantly finding new interesting connections between this specific area of North Wales and America.

Mae croeso cynnes yn disgwyl chi

A warm welcome awaits you

Alwyn, Celticos

I'd just like to go to Anglesey, period. All or any bit of it would be fantastic to me!

Gwych...you've got Anthony

Another sound choice. Who will be next?

Thomas Jefferson

Cymraes o ogledd Cymru ydw I. Rwyf yn byw yn Sir Fon ers fy ngeni.Heb weld fy ngwlad i gyd chwaith, trieni ynte,!. Wedi treilio llawer i,r de, i Treorchy ,Cwm Rhondda. Aeth fy nhaid a nain i lawr o,r Gogledd i.r De rhwng 1909 -1914. er mwyn cael gwaith yn y pylla glo. Newyddion da, ydi fy mod wedi dod ar draws 3ydd cyfneither yn Florida wrth wneud y Goeden Teuluodd. Mae gen i lawer o deulu yn America , ac yn falch iawn o hynny.Elinor.

Good choice

Frank Lloyd Wright.

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Are you an American or Canadian of Welsh descent from the North Wales area? Ever wanted to visit sites of specific American Welsh interest in Snowdonia and Ynys Mon/Anglesey? If so, read on.

This tour which is being organised by Celticos and jointly promoted by Celticos and AmeriCymru has been designed with an American Welsh audience in mind.

From the founding fathers to the present day, Wales has played a significant yet understated role in the history and development of the USA. Likewise America on Wales. From the Declaration of Independence (see Fort Belan ) to the descendants of Americas most historically significant Presidents, North West Wales influence on American history is huge.

Come and discover the dramatic coast of Aberffraw in Anglesey, where it is believed in 1170 that Prince Madog ab Owain Gwynedd set sail westward to escape a power struggle at home to land in Alabama and settle with The Mandan Indians (who when discovered centuries later could supposedly count to 10 in Welsh and lived in welsh-type long houses).

In Snowdonia we visit the birthplace of Thomas Jeffersons forefathers, learn of direct links to the assassination of JFK and visit where 16 of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence hailed from. We even have tales of men who left rural Snowdonia to fight in the American Civil War

This is a tour that will astound you. Here are six highlights from this exciting two day itinerary:-

• Where Madoc sailed from to discover America.
• Llanberis where there is a stone for President Jefferson
• Homes of other prominent Americans
• More recent events such as the GI camps in the area and the American sea planes which came across to the Menai Straits.
• Fort Belan's interesting story.

The folks at Celticos are making two FREE places available to the winner of our competition. All you need do to secure your place in the competition is nominate your favourite Welsh American or American of Welsh descent. This could be a historical figure, a popular entertainer or an iconic figure of any kind. We will then take a vote on the site and if your nominee wins YOU are the winner of this fabulous prize ( cash value $240 ).

You can claim your prize any time after tours start ( Easter 2013 ) and prizes are transferable SO if you cant get over to Wales for a while you can gift them to family or friends. We are accepting nominations between now and February 21st. Voting will run throughout the last week of February and the winner will be announced on March 1st. Post your nominations below.

Keep checking back for a series of features on all of the fascinating sites you will visit on this tour. We will be adding one a week between now and St David's Day ( March 1st )

N.B. Entries from our members in Wales and the UK generally are welcome. Be sure to enter early and pick a likely winner. Pob Lwc

Bonus quiz question: What is the name of the fort pictured on the left and what is its significance in Welsh and Welsh American history?

Tip: Search the Celticos website for the answer and post below. No prizes for this I'm afraid.

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