Grand Bard’s Report of visit to Kernewek Lowender 2025

I was privileged this year to be invited as Grand Bard to Kernewek Lowender, the big Cornish diaspora festival in South Australia, which happens every two years. Established in the 1970s, the festival celebrates the Cornish heritage of the area. Young and old take part in the parade, street fair, furry dancing, maypole dancing and other events, with pasties much in evidence throughout!
On a first visit the sheer volume of Cornish built heritage is stunning. The mining heritage is extensive, and the area is currently applying for World Heritage Status for its Cornish industrial heritage. The ‘Copper Coast’ as it is termed, attracted miners from Cornwall to work in the copper mines and they brought their building styles, skills and technology with them. In addition to the mine workings and engine houses, there are miners’ cottages, civic buildings and even a Redruth Gaol! I was taken on an extensive tour of Burra and Moonta by the President of the Cornish Association of South Australia, Noel Carthew, and on the Moonta mining railway by Arthur and Robyn Coates – all bards of the Gorsedh. I was also introduced to Map Den – a massive and impressive statue of a Cornish miner that dwarfs our own miner here in Redruth!
The festival included various events, notable among them Dressing the Graves, a series of visits to local graveyards, where a certain number of people are chosen and an account of their lives read out while family members place flowers and the citation on the graves. A history lesson in itself and an insight into the reality of the lives of settlers in the area.
A day seminar provided fascinating glimpses of the lives of Cornish immigrants who became successful businessmen as well as a look at a contemporary exchange project between the sardine fishermen in South Australia and Cornwall.
It was a privilege to help with the Cornish language class, which attracted some 40 people and was led by Lilian James, now in her nineties, in inimitable fashion, ably assisted by other Australian Cornish speakers. For me it was also a chance to put faces to names I have known for some time, both in the class and in the bardic ceremony, which was wonderful.
Two of our bards from here, Hilary Coleman and Neil Davey, who together make up the Dalla Duo, were also able to be at the festival having already travelled to represent Cornwall at the Glen Innes Celtic festival in New South Wales. It was fantastic to have them there. As I said at one event, it is one thing to have the Grand Bard talking at you but having Dalla there gave everyone a real taste of Cornish music and song. They performed at the fair in Moonta and the ‘Sup and Sing’ event, which included community singing along with Dalla and the Gorsedh harpist in Australia, Liesel Warner. They also contributed to the bardic ceremony, where visiting bards from Cornwall are asked to say a few words.
The festival ended on Sunday with a Blessing of the Sea, a Heritage concert in the historic Moonta Chapel and a farewell supper. For me it was then a trip back to Adelaide, which included a visit to Callington and Mylor in the Adelaide hills before returning home. A fascinating visit and my thanks go to all those who made it possible for both me and Dalla to be there. It is so good to see the links are still so strong and that Gorsedh Kernow plays no small part in keeping those links alive.
Gwythvosen Jenefer Lowe