Speech for St. Piran’s Day 2021 from Elizabeth Carne, Melennek, Grand Bard

Watch the Grand Bard’s speech here

 St. Piran’s Day 2021 is different to what we usually expect. Along with you, I am really missing the traditional parades, and the walk to the oratory where we all come together to celebrate Perantide. This year, instead, we have this wonderful virtual festival online. It gives us all, whether in Cornwall or across the diaspora, the chance to enjoy all the celebrations, from our own homes. It is hard not being able to gather together, feeling proud at the sea of black and white and gold, with flags and tartan all around us. This year we have had to adapt, but you can’t keep good Cornish people down.

In these difficult days, we want to show our love of Cornwall in as many ways as we can. Cornish people have found new ways of working, whether it is Cornish lessons or Yeth an Werin on Zoom, or choirs producing recordings; from dialect readings on Social media, to talks and seminars online.  We all need to support them in their efforts. Just recently, there was a fantastic Wassail online, in which many took part, filming themselves singing the song or making a noise, to wake the apple trees. It is wonderful that Truro and Newquay have moved celebrations online, coordinating lots of contributions to make a great virtual festival of music, Cornish Language, dialect and poetry and even contributions from the diaspora.

 I hope you have all displayed a St Piran’s flag in your window or garden today to show your love for Cornwall, and celebrate our Celtic nation, our heritage, culture and language, which all play a part in shaping  our future.  Why not leave it there for all to see? I know there will be black and white flags, in all corners of the diaspora as well, today.

With more and more people being vaccinated each day, let us hope that soon we shall be able to meet again, and join together as we always have. In the meantime Let us each celebrate this St Piran’s Day in a new and exciting way, connecting with others, all over the Cornish world, as we enjoy the online festival.

Gool Peran Lowen!