Grand Bard's Speech:
Gorsedd Proclamation 2010
Madam Mayor, honoured Guests, first of all let me say how grateful we are for your kind words to us and for your warm welcome to our bards here in St.Ives which is one of the most precious jewels of our dear land of Cornwall. And it is definitely something special for me who was born and brought up here.
St Ives, formerly Ia’s fortress, has been important from the time St.Ia came here in the 6th century and began her work against the influence of a tyrant on the other side of St.Ives bay, and certainly the town was strong in rebellion against tyranny over the centuries sometimes taking a different path than most of the people of Cornwall. In the History and Culture of this Island there are many important figures who were born and lived in this town.
But we’re not here to praise famous people but to celebrate our language and our Cornish culture which the people here, and in the neighbouring parishes, fishermen, farmers or mining people kept safely in their hearts. We should remember the foundation of the first Old Cornwall Society took place here ninety years ago. The Beginning of the Modern Cornish Revival. Of course,we acknowledge the great debt of the Gorseth to Robert Morton Nance and Henry Jenner in that work but without the strong response of the people here our movement could not have advanced.
So, Madam Mayor the Gorsedd thanks you again, and thank you also the people of St Ives.
Mick Paynter, Skogynn Pryv
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