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Born this day 1893 in Nebraska (his paternal great-grandparents were Welsh)
Harold Lloyd, film actor and producer, most famous for his silent comedies.
Early in his career, he lost most of his right hand in an accident with a bomb, but went on to perform all of his own hair-raising stunts, including the iconic hanging from the hands of a clock in "Safety Last!" He made more films than Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin put together, and was dubbed "the king of daredevil comedy."
Died this day 1176, Strongbow (Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke)
Strongbow was a Cambro-Norman lord notable for leading the Norman invasion of Ireland, later becoming Lord of Leinster and Justiciar of Ireland.
1148 His father died and he inherited the title Earl of Pembroke.
1167 Diarmait Mac Murchada was deposed as King of Leinster and in order to recover his kingdom, he travelled to Wales and solicited the help of de Clare in exchange for the hand of Aoife, Mac Murchada's eldest daughter in marriage and the succession to Leinster.
1169 Strongbow's army included Welsh archers and landed near Bannow, County Wexford on 1st May. They were massively outnumbered but were able to kill 500 of their opponents and take 70 prisoners and in quick succession took the Viking towns of Wexford, Waterford and Dublin.
1171 (May) Diarmait died and Strongbow became the new king of Leinster. Henry II of England was concerned about Strongbow's growing power in Ireland and later that year he arrived with an army and forced Strongbow to supply 100 knights for the service of the crown in return for control of his land.
1171 (26 August) Strongbow married Aoife in Waterford; one of their daughters, Isabel, went on to marry William the Marshall, who later became the Earl of Pembroke as her consort.
1176 Strongbow died, he was first interred in Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral but is now buried in Ferns Cathedral, Wexford.
Alice of Abergavenny.
Alice was the lover of a Norman Marcher Lord, who took her with him during Strongbow's invasion of Ireland in 1170 and was killed in action. In revenge, Alice took an axe and beheaded all 70 of the Irish prisoners that had been taken during the battle, throwing their bodies over a cliff.
‘The Song of Dermot and the Earl’, describes the incident.
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Today is the feast day of Saint Beuno.
Saint Beuno, c. 640 was born at Berriew in Powys, the grandson of a prince. After education in the monastery of Bangor on Dee, he became an active missionary, going as far as Somerset, but eventually founded an abbey at Clynnog Fawr on the Llyn Peninsula. He performed numerous miracles, among them restoring St.Winifred's head after she was beheaded.
Born this day 1957 in Swansea,
Geraint Wyn Davies , stage, film and television actor and a director. He moved with his family from Haverfordwest to Canada when aged seven and is best known for his portrayal of Nick Knight in the Canadian television series Forever Knight.
Born on this day 1938 in Port Talbot,
Andrew Vicari , an artist who has established a career painting portraits of the rich and famous, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where he has been the official painter to the Government and King.
The controversy surrounding the date of Easter;
Easter does not fall on a fixed date, but on the first Sunday after the full moon following the March equinox. However, the Celtic Church of the Early Middle Ages in Wales had developed its own method of the dating of Easter, and refused to conform to Archbishop Augustine's demand in 597 that the papal method be used.
Over the following century, when most of the churches in the Celtic-speaking lands came to accept the Roman Easter, Wales was the only territory still refusing to conform. Th English historian Bede claimed in his Ecclesiastical History of the English People in 731, that the Welsh "upheld their own bad customs against the true Easter of the Catholic Church."
Easter Eggs
The word Easter comes from the Saxon Ēastre and the pagan goddess Eostre, both of which connect to the growing sun and new birth. Many cultures around the world use the egg as a symbol of new life and rebirth.
Easter egg traditions;
* The oldest tradition is to offer gifts of dyed and painted chicken eggs, but the modern custom is to substitute them with chocolate eggs.
* Schoolchildren in North Wales would go from house to house, clapping their hands or wooden clappers, chanting the following words as they went: "Clap, clap, gofyn wy, i hogia' bach ar y plwy" (beg an egg on the parish, children).
* The tradition of egg- rolling, taken to America by European settlers, symbolises the rolling away of the stone from Christ's tomb.
In Desperate Need Of a New Printer for my Tylwyth Teg Illustrations.
By Kimberly Wlassak, 2013-04-20
On 19th April 2002, Glyndwr's Way National Trail Path opened,
Named in honour of the Welsh nobleman who in 1401 led a revolt against English domination. The trail extends for 135 miles through Powys between Knighton and Welshpool.
Using these upland tracks, Glyndwr was able to travel elusively, enabling him to fight a guerrilla campaign against the English.
The trail passes a number of battle sites, including the Battle of Hyddgen which was a turning point in Glyndwr’s rebellion. The church at Pilleth is near the site of the battle of Bryn Glas, which took place in 1402. During this battle, Edmund Mortimer, was captured but later married Glyndwr’s daughter. The mid-point of the trail is the town of Machynlleth, where Glyndwr held Wales’ first Parliament in 1404 and was for a period the capital of Wales.
The trail ends in Welshpool, where Glyndwr’s Way links with Offa’s Dyke.
The Royal Welch Fusiliers fought at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on 19th April 1775
The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the outbreak of conflict between Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America.
The British aim was to destroy military supplies at Concord, but as they passed through Lexington, the first shot was fired, the "shot heard around the world." 500 American militiamen fought and defeated three British companies, forcing the British to retreat with their mission unaccomplished.
Born this day 1900 in Weybridge, Surrey (of Welsh descent),
Richard Hughes OBE, writer of plays, short stories, novels and poems. He wrote the world's first radio play, Danger', commissioned by the BBC and broadcast on January 15, 1924. Of his four novels, the most well known is A High Wind in Jamaica, written while he lived at Castle House, Laugharne. It was here also that his friend Dylan Thomas wrote his book " Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog" and it was Hughes who influenced Thomas to make a permanent home in Laugharne.
Born this day 1820 in Plas-y-Felin, Neath,
Anna Letitia Waring, who was a poet and hymn-writer. Originally a Quaker, she converted to Anglicanism 1842 and learned Hebrew in order to study the Old Testament in the original. In 1850, she published 'Hymns and Meditations'.
At Easter 1230, William de Braose, during a visit to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great), was found in the bedchamber of Llywelyn's wife Joan. In fury, Llywelyn had de Braose hanged and placed Joan under house arrest.
William de Braose was despised by the Welsh, who called him Gwilym Ddu, 'Black William'. He inherited several lordships from his father in 1227, including Abergavenny and Builth. He was captured near Montgomery in 1228 and ransomed for the sum of £2,000, but afterwards made an alliance with Llywelyn.
The affair and the execution jeopardised Llywelyn's good relations with the royal government and ended his negotiations with the de Braose family regarding marriage for his son Dafydd. These tensions precipitated the outbreak of war in Wales in 1231.
'God Ted - I've just read Flirting at the Funeral, and it's brilliant. It has words and everything!'
In April 1093 , Rhys ap Tewdwr, the last king of Deheubarth was at the Battle of Brecon.
Rhys was the great-great-grandson of Hywel Dda and grandfather of Rhys ap Gruffydd (The Lord Rhys).
1078 - Rhys took possession of Deheubarth after his second cousin, Rhys ab Owain was beheaded after the battle of Gwdig.
1081 - Caradog ap Gruffydd of Gwent invaded Deheubarth, but was killed in the battle of Mynydd Carn. On William the Conqueror’s pilgrimage to St David’s shrine in the same year, he publicly recognised Rhys's position as ruler of Deheubarth in exchange for Rhys's homage. The two maintained good relations until William's death in 1087.
1088 - Cadwgan ap Bleddyn of Powys attacked Deheubarth but was defeated in battle.
1091 Rhys successfully put down a challenge from a force from Dyfed to the throne of Deheubarth, in a battle at St. Dogmaels.
1093 - Rhys was slain by the Normans at the Battle of Brycheiniog (Brecon), which led to the Norman conquest of Brycheiniog, Deheubarth and much of south Wales.
Edward Jones, born in Llandderfel, near Bala, ( March 1752 – 18 April 1824 ) was a harpist, who was also a bard, composer and collector of music. He was known by the bardic name of "Bardd y Brenin", which he adopted in 1820, when his patron, King George IV, was crowned.
He first came to London in 1775, and was patronised by prominent Welshmen and became harp tutor to several wealthy families. In around 1790, he was made Harp-Master to the Prince of Wales and moved into St James's Palace in 1805.
Born this day 1896 in Llanddowror , Carmarthenshire,
James Ira Thomas "Taffy" Jones , who was the highest scoring Welsh air ace of The First World War
During the War, he scored 37 victories and survived 28 flying accidents. In one incident he attacked an enemy bomber with just a flare pistol. At the end of the war, he volunteered to fight against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War and also went on to serve during The Second World War.
On this day 2008, four dead badgers were found in a field near Crymych.
It opened a debate as to whether local farmers had taken the proposed cull of badgers announced by the Welsh Assembly Government, into their own hands; it appeared that the animals had been poisoned or gassed. The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 makes it an offence to kill or injure a badger unless a licence is obtained from a statutory authority.
Born this day 1920 in Ton Pentre,
Roy Paul , a former Wales soccer international who played as half-back for Swansea Town and then Manchester City, where he spent seven years as captain, leading the club to FA Cup finals in 1955 and 1956, He is considered to be one of Wales' toughest and best ever players.
Good Friday is observed by Christians to commemorate the crucifixion of Christ and his death at Calvary.
Gwener Y Groglith is Welsh for Good Friday and has several traditions associated with it. One from Tenby involved suspending all traffic and movement in the town while people walked barefoot to church in order not to disturb the earth, Jesus' burial place. There was also a tradition called "making Christ's bed" which involved children making woven figures from reeds and leaving them in quiet places to rest in peace.
The Brecon Beacons National Park was established on this day in 1957.
The National Park encompasses 519 square miles and covers four main regions, The Black Mountain, Fforest Fawr, The Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains. Its highest peak is Pen y Fan, at 2907 feet.
* The western half was awarded European and Global status in 2005 as Fforest Fawr Geopark.
* A cycling route from Brecon to Cardiff, the Taff Trail, passes through the Beacons.
* A 100-mile walking path, called the Beacons Way, runs from the foot of Ysgyred Fawr east of Abergavenny to the village of Bethlehem in Carmarthenshire.
* Some of the remote uplands of the Park are used by the SAS and SBS for military training, including an exercise called the Fan dance.
* The area was inhabited during the Neolithic period and the succeeding Bronze Age, evident in the numerous burial cairns in the west of the National Park.
* Over twenty hillforts were established in the area during the Iron Age, the largest being the forts on top of Y Garn Goch near Bethlehem - Y Gaer Fawr and Y Gaer Fach, which are thought to have been trading and political centres.
* The Normans erected many castles throughout the park, such as Carreg Cennen Castle and Brecon Castle.
* The area was important during the Industrial Revolution, as raw materials including limestone, silica sand and ironstone were quarried and transported to the industrial Valleys of South Wales.
Born this day 1943 in Barmouth,
Tommy Nutter , who was the tailor famous for reinventing the Savile Row suit in the 1960s. His clients included Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger and Elton John. Nutter himself was most proud of the fact that, for the cover of The Beatles album Abbey Road, he dressed three out of the four. He described his suits as a "cross between the big-shouldered Miami Vice look and the authentic Savile Row."
Born this day 1621 in Llansantffraed nr Abergavenny,
Twin brothers; Thomas Vaughan, philosopher, and Henry Vaughan, physician, author and metaphysical poet.
Both brothers attended Jesus College, Oxford, after which Thomas became rector of the parish of Llansantffraed, being evicted from the parish in 1650 because of his Royalist sympathies. He went on to use his chemical skills in the preparation of medicines in the manner recommended by Renaissance physician, Paracelsus and established a reputation with his magico-mystical book Anthroposophia Theomagica.
Henry began to practise medicine and write poetry, taking his inspiration from the mountainous environment of the Brecon Beacons, using the pseudonym "Silurist," in homage to the native Celtic Tribe. His work influenced later poets such as Wordsworth, Tennyson and Siegfried Sassoon.
Born on this day 1903 in Llanberis,
Thomas Rowland Hughes (often referred to as T. Rowland Hughes ), who was a Welsh-language novelist, dramatist and poet.
He was the son of a quarryman and is renowned for his novels about characters living and working in the slate quarries of North Wales, 'William Jones' being his most famous novel.
Hughes won the Chair at the National Eisteddfod twice; in 1937 for his ode 'Y Ffin' ('The Boundary'), and again in 1940 for 'Pererinion' ('Pilgrims').
Born on this day 1809 in Carmarthen
Thomas Brigstocke - Noted portrait painter.
Brigstocke spent eight years in Italy, where he is said to have taught Welsh to the well-known linguist Cardinal Mezzofanti who spoke forty languages fluently. He also visited Egypt in the 1840s, where he painted portraits of the Ottoman commander and founder of modern Egypt, Muhammad Ali Pasha. On his return to Britain, he exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1842 and 1865.
NEXT WEEK! Welsh Music Foundation, Cerdd Cymru : Music Wales & Arts Council of Wales @ Focus Wales
By Ceri Shaw, 2013-04-16
NEXT WEEK! Welsh Music Foundation, Cerdd Cymru : Music Wales & Arts Council of Wales @ Focus Wales
Welsh Music Foundation @ Focus Wales
Meet Welsh Music Foundation (co-hosted by Focus Wales )
VENUE: Catrin Finch Centre
DATE: Friday 26th April
TIME: 6 7pm
FREE
As the music industry development agency for Wales, core funded by Welsh Government as part of the Strategy for the Creative Industries, Welsh Music Foundation (WMF) works across all types of music activity, from venues and festivals to studios and rehearsal rooms, labels and publishers to management and media composers.
Were here to help all sizes of music business big and small. You might be just starting out and need some guidance; you might be doing your first deal; you might be employing your first member of staff, or you might even be turning over your first million pounds. Over 12 years weve seen start-ups turn into international success and helped thousands of one-person and micro-businesses find their way to earning a sustainable living working in music. You might be an artist, a promoter, a manager, a venue, a sound engineer, a designer, a developer, a record label, a publisher or anyone who works with music.
We're hosting a free event with Focus Wales where well introduce our team and talk a little about what we do, and then youre invited to meet us and meet each other, answer your questions and listen to your ideas of the things youd like to see which may help the music industry in Wales, as we close the conference element of the festival.
Bring along any questions the Focus Wales panel sessions may bring up, find out more on what we do and network with like-minded people. There's even a free drink in it.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Please register to attend at the following link: http://meetwmf.eventbrite.co.uk/
Cerdd Cymru : Music Wales @ Focus Wales
Thursday 25th April & Friday 26th April
Cardiff is delighted to have been selected as host city for WOMEX , the leading international world music expo, in 2013. Over five days, some 2500 delegates from 1250 music related companies, from across 100 countries and over 300 national and international journalists will come together at The Motorpoint Arena to do business, explore diverse music cultures, listen to 40 speakers in 20 conference sessions and music showcases by day. By night, the focus turns to Wales Millennium Centre in the Bay and doors are opened to public, music specialists and world music fans alike, who together will enjoy over 60 showcases of the best world music on the planet across 6 stages and DJ nights in Cardiff Bay.
Cerdd Cymru: Music Wales , and its partner organisations responsible for securing and delivering WOMEX 13, Cardiff, are already working with the musicians, music managers and associated businesses across Wales to develop the sector and drive activities that will form a lasting legacy for the industry and economy of Wales. We'll have a stand at Focus Wales to provide musicians, music enterprises, music organisations and local businesses with opportunities to find out more about WOMEX 2013, how to get involved and discuss ongoing activities and development opportunities that have been catalysed by this amazing opportunity to put Wales's music industry in the international spotlight.
Please stop by our stand at FOCUS Wales Conference at the Catrin Finch Centre Bar/Reception, Glyndwr University, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 2AW
Arts Council of Wales Funding Surgeries
Friday 26th April
Do you have a music or arts project that needs supporting? Information Officers Lowri and Catrin will be at the Cerdd Cymru : Music Wales stand on Friday to discuss funding opportunities from Arts Council of Wales . To book a 30 minute funding surgery slot please email information@artscouncilofwales.org.uk with some information on the project youd like funding for.
Please note there are a limited amount of slots available and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Unsure if youre project is suitable for funding? Take a look at the guidelines:
Arts Grants for Individuals: http://www.artscouncilofwales.org/3310.file.dld
Arts Grants for Organisations: http://www.artscouncilofwales.org/3306.file.dld
WYTHNOS NESAF! Sefydliad Cerddoriaeth Gymreig, Cerdd Cymru : Music Wales & Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru @ Focus Wales
Sefydliad Cerddoriaeth Gymreig @ Focus Wales
Cyfarfod Sefydliad Cerddoriaeth Gymreig (a gynhelir ar y cyd Focus Wales )
LLEOLIAD: Canolfan Catrin Finch
DYDDIAD: Nos Wener 26 Ebrill
AMSER: 6 7pm
AM DDIM
Asiantaeth datblygur diwydiant cerddoriaeth yng Nghymru yw Sefydliad Cerddoriaeth Gymreig (SCG), ac maen derbyn cyllid craidd gan Lywodraeth Cymru fel rhan or Strategaeth ar gyfer y Diwydiannau Creadigol. Maer SCG yn gweithio phob math o weithgareddau cerddorol, o ganolfannau a gwyliau cerddorol i stiwdios ac ystafelloedd ymarfer, labelau a chyhoeddwyr i reolwyr a chyfansoddwyr y cyfryngau.
Rydym ni yma i helpu busnesau cerddoriaeth bach a mawr. Efallai eich bod newydd gychwyn ac angen rhywfaint o arweiniad; efallai eich bod yn arwyddo eich cytundeb cyntaf; yn cyflogi eich aelod cyntaf o staff, neu efallai eich bod hyd yn oed yn ennill eich miliwn cyntaf. Dros gyfnod o 12 mlynedd rydym wedi gweld cwmnau syn cychwyn yn datblygun llwyddiannau rhyngwladol ac rydym wedi helpu miloedd o gwmnau un person a microfusnesau i ganfod sut i fynd ati i ennill bywoliaeth gynaladwy ym maes cerddoriaeth. Gallech fod yn artist, hyrwyddwr, rheolwr, yn ganolfan, peiriannydd sain, dylunydd, datblygwr, label recordio, cyhoeddwr neu unrhyw un syn gweithio ym myd cerddoriaeth.
Rydym yn cynnal digwyddiad rhad ac am ddim gyda Focus Wales lle byddwn yn cyflwyno ein tm ac yn trafod ychydig ar yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud, ac yn eich gwahodd i gwrdd ni ac i gyfarfod eich gilydd a rhoi eich cwestiynau ach syniadau ynghylch y pethau yr hoffech eu gweld yn helpur diwydiant cerddoriaeth yng Nghymru, wrth inni ddod ag elfen gynadleddar yl i ben.
Cofiwch ddod ag unrhyw gwestiynau y gallair sesiynau panel Focus Wales eu cynhyrchu, ddarganfyddwch mwy am yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud a rhwydweithiwch gyda phobl debyg i chi. Cewch hyd yn oed ddiod am ddim yn y fargen.
Edrychwn ymlaen at eich gweld.
I gofrestru defnyddiwch y ddolen ganlynol os gwelwch yn dda: http://meetwmf.eventbrite.co.uk/
Cerdd Cymru : Music Wales @ Focus Wales
Dydd Iau 25 Ebrill a Dydd Gwener 26 Ebrill
Mae dinas Caerdydd yn falch tu hwnt o fod wedi cael ei dewis i groesawu WOMEX 2013, yr arddangosfa gerddoriaeth fyd flaenllaw. Dros gyfnod o bum niwrnod, bydd oddeutu 2500 o gynrychiolwyr o 1250 cwmni syn gysylltiedig cherddoriaeth, o 100 o wledydd a mwy na 300 o newyddiadurwyr cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol yn ymgynnull yn Arena Motorpoint i drafod busnes, archwilio amrywiol ddiwylliannau cerddorol, gwrando ar 40 o siaradwyr mewn 20 o sesiynau cynadledda a sesiynau arddangos cerddoriaeth yn ystod y dydd. Gydar nos, bydd y sylw yn troi at Ganolfan Mileniwm Cymru yn y Bae a bydd y drysau yn agored ir cyhoedd, arbenigwyr cerddoriaeth a chefnogwyr cerddoriaeth fyd, a bydd pawb, gydai gilydd yn mwynhau dros 60 sesiwn arddangos or gerddoriaeth fyd orau ar y blaned - a hynny ar 6 llwyfan ac yn ystod nosweithiau DJ ym Mae Caerdydd.
Mae Cerdd Cymru: Music Wales , ai sefydliadau partner a fun gyfrifol am lwyddiant y cais i gynnal WOMEX 13, Caerdydd, eisoes yn gweithio gydar cerddorion, y rheolwyr cerddoriaeth a busnesau cysylltiedig ym mhob rhan o Gymru i ddatblygur sector a hyrwyddo gweithgareddau a fydd yn ffurfio etifeddiaeth barhaol ar gyfer diwydiant ac economi Cymru. Bydd gennym stondin yn Focus Wales i gerddorion, mentrau cerddoriaeth, sefydliadau cerddoriaeth a busnesau lleol ddarganfod mwy am WOMEX 2013, sut i gymryd rhan, gweithgareddau cyfredol a chyfleoedd datblygu a ddaw yn sgil y cyfle rhyfeddol hwn i roi sylw rhyngwladol i ddiwydiant cerddoriaeth Cymru.
Galwch draw in stondin yng Nghynhadledd FOCUS Wales ym Mar/Ystafell dderbyn Canolfan Catrin Finch, Prifysgol Glyndr, Ffordd yr Wyddgrug, Wrecsam, LL11 2AW.
Gweithdai Ariannu Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru
Dydd Gwener 26 Ebrill
Oes arnoch angen cymorth ar brosiect celf neu gerddorol? Bydd ein Swyddogion Gwybodaeth Lowri a Catrin ar stondin Cerdd Cymru ddydd Gwener i drafod cyfleon cyllido gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru . I logi slot 30 munud ebostiwch information@artscouncilofwales.org.uk gyda cefndir bras y prosiect y dymunwch gymorth ar ei gyfer.
Nodwch fod llefydd cyfyngedig ar gyfer y slotiau ar cyntaf ir felin fydd hi. Ddim yn siwr os fyddai eich prosiect yn gymwys am gymorth? Cymrwch gipolwg ar ein canllawiau.
Today is the feast day of Saint Padarn
Saint Padarn Born c.490, was a native of Brittany who settled in Wales as a monk. He founded a monastery at Llanbadarn Fawr near Aberystwyth, becoming its first bishop, serving for twenty-one years as a man of prayer and self-denial. He is said to have made a pilgrimage to Rome and also to Jerusalem with St David and St Teilo.
Born this day 1943 in Norwich (her grandmother was Welsh and she was brought up in Llansamlet),
Ruth Madoc, actress and singer, born Ruth Llewellyn. She is best known for her roles as Gladys Pugh in the television comedy Hi de Hi, and as Dafydd Thomas's mother in the series Little Britain. Her first husband was the actor, Phillip Madoc.
Born this day 1815 in Duffryn, Aberdare,
Henry Austin Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare, who as Liberal Home Secretary 1868–1873 was responsible for the Licensing Act 1872, which made magistrates the licensing authority, introduced harsh penalties for rowdiness in public-houses and curtailed the number of hours for the sale of drink. In 1888 he established the Official Table of Drops, specifying how far a person should be dropped when hanged for a capital offence, to ensure an instant and painless death.
The Rhydspence Inn, a 14th-century drovers inn situated on the Wales- England border, demonstrates an interesting anomaly of the licensing laws. It is said that the border runs through the pub and that when Wales was a dry country on a Sunday people used to stand at the English end of the bar for a drink.
Born this day 1954 in Pentre, Rhondda,
Alan Curtis, a former Wales soccer international, who is best remembered as a regular member of the Swansea City side that gained promotion to the First Division in 1980-81 and finished in 6th position the following season. He is now a first team coach at Swansea City as well as being a part of the Wales Under 21 coaching team.
Born on this day 1878 in Beulah, near Newcastle Emlyn, Cardiganshire,
Owen Thomas Jones, the geologist who dedicated his working life to the study of Welsh geology and published a paper identifying the Welsh source of the bluestones of Stonehenge as the Preseli Mountains.
Born on this day 1881 at Pendinas, Tregarth near Bangor.
Sir Ifor Williams, the academic who specialised in the study of Old Welsh, particularly early Welsh poetry.
Williams had an avid interest in Welsh place-names, publishing Enwau Lleoedd ("Place Names") in 1945, a text which is still very much in use today .
His main field of interest was Old Welsh and the earliest Welsh Poetry. He published Canu Llywarch Hen in 1935, then in 1938, possibly his most significant work, Canu Aneurin, which has provided the foundation for all subsequent work on this poetry. Canu Taliesin in 1960 examined the work of the other 6th-century poet Taliesin.
Old Welsh refers to the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century. An earlier period, when Welsh became distinct from Common Brythonic in the 6th century is referred to as "Primitive" or "Archaic Welsh".
Many poems and some prose have been preserved from this period, for example, the text of y Gododdin, a poem describing events in the kingdom of Gododdin (the area known as Yr Hen Ogledd -modern south-east Scotland and north-east England). The oldest surviving text entirely in Old Welsh is probably that on a gravestone now in Tywyn church in Gwynedd, thought to date from the 7th century.
On 16th April 2006 , the first Welsh International Harp Festival opened at Caernarfon, featuring a wide range of music played on different types of harp, including Triple harps, Celtic harps, African Kora and Ku-cheng from China.
The harp originated in Mesopotamia, and the instrument has been adopted by cultures throughout the world in a variety of forms, but in Wales there are more harps per head of population than anywhere; it is considered to be our national instrument.
Born on this day 1922 in Neath,
Rees Stephens, a Welsh international number 8 who played club rugby for Tonmawr RFC and Neath . He was capped on 32 occasions for Wales and played for the British Lions on the 1950 tour of Australia and New Zealand.
NEW FEATURES ON THE WELSH AMERICAN BOOKSTORE
- Now fully searchable! You can search for any item in the store from any and every page on the site.
- Now fully browseable! The dropdown list on the top navbar ( under Welsh American Bookstore ) gives access to every category page on the site. We will be expanding the category and book listings on a regular basis.
- Suggestions! If you would like to see something included in our listings please use the 'Suggest Book' button on the category pages ( for an example see this page :- Welsh American Bookstore Drama . We are always open to suggestions particularly from authors and will add any relevant titles as soon as we can.
- Reviews! Read a book by a Welsh or Welsh American author recently? Want to sing its praises? Feel free to use our review feature. You will find the 'Add Review' button at the bottom of every book listing page ( for an example see this page:- Under Milk Wood
- News! Reviews! Interviews! Guest Articles and more. If you have a title you want to promote on the store send us a press release for the news section or send us a review copy. Better still we are always happy to feature interviews and guest articles by contributing authors. Email americymru@gmail.com or use the contact form on the site for more details.
- Music! The bookstore will also offer music listings and we will be looking for suggestions to vastly increase our range of products in the coming months. We are also interested in promoting Welsh musicians and performers by means of interviews, reviews etc on the store.
- More stuff! We will be looking at introducing more product lines ( gifts etc ) and dedicated online stores for niche marketers in the coming months. Please check our news page for regular announcements.
