St Keverne residents are busy working with bards of Gorsedh Kernow putting the finishing touches to this year’s Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture, being held in St Keverne on the beautiful Lizard Peninsula and starting on Wednesday 31st August.
Bards in procession through The Square, St Keverne
Following on from last year’s success the Festival will include a one day Conference on the Friday, which will continue building on support for and understanding of Cornwall’s national minority status by focussing on the thorny issue of proposed changes by HM Government to parliamentary boundaries, potentially creating a highly controversial “Devonwall” constituency.
“We are delighted with the level of interest shown in our Conference,” said Deputy Grand Bard Elizabeth Carne, Melennek, Chair for the afternoon and the summary session which will focus on Gorsedh Kernow’s submission to the Boundary Commission.
Among many other events in this year’s Festival, the busy Esedhvos programme also includes a book fair and book launch with a series of short talks from winners of this year’s Holyer an Gof publishers Awards; a Cornish play followed by the much loved Troyl dance; a gala concert on the Saturday evening in St Keverne Parish Hall with local performers and entertainers including the An Gof Players and St Keverne Silver Band, and a church service in the Cornish language. Many events are free of charge and all are welcome to attend.
Lady of Cornwall Bethany Lyne of St Keverne
The centrepiece of the Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture will be the 2pm Bardic ceremony in St Keverne Playing Field on Saturday 3rd September where 19 new bards will be initiated. Entry is free and there will be plenty of space for the public to come and watch. Stalls with Cornish themed goods will be open on the field from late morning and refreshments will be available all day.
On the Thursday, Gorsedh Kernow will launch several new books including “Cornish Bards of Australia and New Zealand”, the collected biographies of 87 living and deceased bards. The eighth in the series, this new book will document the substantial and significant contribution made by these loyal overseas bards to Cornish heritage and culture.
The local Parish Church will also be playing its part by hosting a brand new event on the Thursday evening when winners of the Gorsedh Kernow Awards will receive their prizes from the Grand Bard. Displays and presentations of winners’ work will be on show in the church and later in the week bards with their families and friends will be welcomed, along with locals and visitors to the annual Sunday afternoon service in Cornish.
Acknowledging the enormous amount of local help received, Grand Bard Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, praised the efforts of all the volunteers on the Local Organising Committee.
Bardh Meur Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn
“We are so pleased that they came forward to help us,” said Mr Davey, “everyone is so busy these days but members of the local committee understand Cornwall’s unique and distinctive culture and the importance of keeping it going.”
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Further notes for Editors and Esedhvos programme “at a glance”
Gorsedh Kernow exists to maintain the national Celtic Spirit of Cornwall and to give expression to such spirit, to encourage the study of Cornish history and literature, the Cornish language, to foster Cornish art, music, dance and sport and to link with other Celtic countries.
For full information about the Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture please visit the website www.esedhvos.org.uk or follow the link on the Gorsedh Kernow website www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk or contact Pat Parkins, Much Chereor, Esedhvos Events Manager, email esedhvos@gorsedhkernow.org.uk or tel 07762 169 733
For more general information about Gorsedh Kernow please contact Delia Brotherton, Myrghwyn Melynor, Communications Officer, Gorsedh Kernow,
email communications@gorsedhkernow.org.uk
“At a Glance” – Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture, St Keverne
Wednesday 31st August – Sunday 4th September 2016
Wednesday 31st August
Grand Bard’s Chair
The Grand Bard’s chair will be on display in St Keverne Parish Church, The Square, St Keverne, TR12 6NE until Friday 2nd September. Free entry, but donations to the church welcome. There will also be a display of entries for the new Gorsedh Kernow Awards.
Thursday 1st September
11am – 3pm Book launch & Cornish Book Fair @ St Keverne Parish Hall, Well Lane, St Keverne TR12 6LZ. Plus a series of short talks through the day. Free entry. Accessible for people with disabilities. Full programme on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1265072203517238/
or website https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/esedhvos.html
Gorsedh Kernow Awards
6pm Displays and video presentations @ St Keverne Parish Church, The Square, St Keverne, TR12 6NE.
7.30pm Presentation of Awards by Grand Bard Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, with performances and readings from winning entries.
A list of winners announced so far can be found on the Gorsedh Kernow website https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/wp/?p=413
Friday 2nd September
10am – 4.30pm Conference “Border At Risk” @ St Keverne Parish Hall, Well Lane, St Keverne TR12 6LZ.
The Boundary Commission is currently reviewing Cornwall’s thousand year old border. This conference will explore the issues and make the case for keeping our border intact.
Speakers include Tom Fidler, Dr John Kirkhope, Mark Owen – National Trails Officer South West Coastpath, Ian Saltern – Community Development Consultant and Dr Garry Tregidga – Institute of Cornish Studies.
Tickets £5 to include pasty lunch. All welcome.
Pre-booking is advised on 01326 280 864. Free parking at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room, TR12 6NG. Full access to St Keverne Parish Hall for people with disabilities.
Full Conference programme on Gorsedh Kernow Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/1011528622275644/?notif_t=plan_user_associated¬if_id=1471854823752437
or website https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/esedhvos.html
7pm An Kerdh /The Walk – A Community Play @ St Keverne Parish Hall with the Mullion Cornish Language Group. A lighthearted play, written by Ellen Moule, about Mary Kelynack’s walk to London for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Free.
Cornish dancing
8pm Cornish Troyl/Ceilidh with Penzance Guizers @ St Keverne Parish Hall. Free. Parking at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room, TR12 6NG.
Saturday 3rd September
Gorsedh Kernow Bardic Ceremony including installation of new bards. All welcome to attend, bring the family. Free entry.
11am Cornish stalls open @ St Keverne Playing Field, School Hill, St Keverne TR12 6NQ.
1.30pm Grand Procession of Bards from St Keverne Primary School, School Hill, St Keverne.
2pm Gorsedh Kernow Bardic Ceremony will take place @ St Keverne Playing Field, School Hill, St Keverne TR12 6NQ. Free entry. All welcome.
7pm Gala Concert @ St Keverne Parish Hall, Well Lane, St Keverne TR12 6LZ.
Tickets £5 on the door only. Parking at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room. Full access for people with disabilities. With Maen Voes Choir, The An Gof Players, The An Gof Band and St Keverne Silver Band.
8.30pm Cornish singalong @ The White Hart Hotel, The Square, St Keverne. Led by Matthi Clarke. All welcome whether singers or not. Free. Full access for people with disabilities. Parking in The Square or at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room.
Sunday 4th September
10.00am – 11.00am “Boden Vean prehistoric site and fogou” talk by James Gossip, Project Officer, Cornwall Council Archaeology Unit, @ Porthallow Village Hall, Porthallow, TR12 6PN followed by refreshments. Free. Full access for people with disabilities. Parking on beach car park by hall.
11am – 1pm “Myttin Lowender” Cornish language taster session @ Porthallow Village Hall. Free. All welcome. Full access for people with disabilities. Parking on beach car park by hall.
3pm Evening Prayer in Cornish @ St Keverne Parish Church. Free with retiring collection for the church. All welcome. Entrance to St Keverne Parish Church is via the south door. Disabled access is via a path beside the Band Room which takes you into the churchyard and thence to the church.
Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture is supported by St Keverne Parish Council, St Keverne Primary School, St Keverne Local History Society, St Keverne Parish Church, Robinson Reed Layton, Chough’s Brewery, Cornish Sea Salt Company and The White Hart.
(Please note some details of the Esedhvos programme may be subject to last minute change. Please visit the Events page/Esedhvos on our website for the latest information)