GORSEDH KERNOW – The Celtic spirit of Cornwall
Press release for immediate use issued Thursday 2nd April 2015 by
Delia Brotherton, Gorsedh Kernow Communications Officer.
St Austell Proclaims the Cornish Gorsedh
Gorsedh Kernow Proclamation procession
Gorsedh Kernow is a non political organisation and 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.
The tradition of preserving a history and culture of a Celtic people stretches back to the story tellers – Bards of ancient Celtic countries, and these traditions are marked each year by a unique open air Cornish Bardic ceremony in the autumn. This year the ceremony takes place in St Austell and a taste of what is to come can be seen at the Gorsedh Kernow Proclamation ceremony in the town’s Cemetery Park on Saturday 11th April at 11am.
“The Proclamation heralds the coming of the Gorsedh later in the year,” said Grand Bard of Cornwall, Maureen Fuller, Steren Mor, “and will begin at 10.30am with a procession of about 50 Bards in their distinctive blue robes, together with St Austell’s Mayor and local girl Natasha Swift, who was chosen to be this year’s Lady of the Flowers.”
After the procession through the town to the newly restored open space Cemetery Park, a brief ceremony will be conducted in Cornish and English which includes an invitation by the Mayor to the Grand Bard to hold the Bardic ceremony in the town in September.
“We are very proud to be hosting the Gorsedh of the Bards of Cornwall,” said Cllr Derek Collins, Mayor of St Austell and leader of the local organising committee, “and this Proclamation will give locals and visitors to our town an exciting preview of September’s main event. Everyone is welcome to view the ceremony and there is no charge.”
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