Coffad Glyndwr: Regional Monthly Commemoration Calender.

‘Coffad Glyndŵr’

Below are important Dates of significance in the Last Great War of Welsh Independence, we have placed such in a monthly order, not strictly chronological but so as to make it clear as to usefulness regards the organisation of regional commemorative importance. You will note that those historical events marked out in purple signify that over these past years, since the year 2000, communities have organised 600th anniversary commemorations.

12th January 1406: Ratification of the Franco – Welsh Treaty at Aberystwyth Castle.

28th February 1405: Signing of the Tri – Partite Indenture at Aberdaron. We assisted the church with an exhibition and the local school was visited by Glyndwr puppet show.

11th March 1405: Battle of Grosmont in Gwent, an English Victory.

8th April 1421: Maredudd Ab Owain in Eryri accepts Pardon and surrenders.

10th May 1404: The Dogellau Conference of Prince Owain’s Chief Advisors. A very successful event in which we aided and assisted.

28 May 1345: Owain Glyndwr's Birthday. Annual all Cymru Celebrations.

21 Mehefin 1404 Machynlleth (Dydd y Senedd 1404 - 2004. Great weekend of activities in 2004 but sadly turned out to be a “one off" 600th Anniversary Commemoration’’)

NB: Patriots note, that we shall be making a renewed effort to get an annual commemoration in Machynlleth re- launched this year. Keep eye on future postings.

22nd June 1402: A great Welsh Victory at the Battle of Bryn Glas, Pilleth. COFIWN held an event there in 1971 (long before anyone else thought of it) and raised up a wooden memorial plaque. Photos of this early COFIWN commemoration are now in the Ty Cenedl Collection at the National Library of Wales, and film footage of the event will be on the COFIWN DVD to be released possibly by this year's Eisteddfod but certainly by Llywelyn Day this year.

6th July 1403: The English Royal Castle of Caerfyrddin surrenders to Prince Owain. Photo below is of the Mayor of Caerfyrddin Peter Huws Griffiths, re-enacting the handing over of the keys of the castle to Prince Owain Glyndwr following on a very succesful Ystrad Tywi field trip from Llanymddyfri, continuing on to Castell Llansteffan in 2003.

20th August 1404: Battle of Craig y Dorth in Gwent, a Welsh Victory. (see our contribution to "I'r Gad" Welsh Battlefield Campaign).

16th September 1400: Owain declared ‘Tywysog Cymru’ at Llys Glyndyfrdwy, Sadly only marked by an annual declaration by Embassy Glyndwr at Llys Glyndyfrwdy,

But, as from this year, we are trying to promote an “autonomous action” at Caerdrewyn to commemorate the gathering, on 18 Medi 1400, of Glyndwr's first small army - which is to grow in time to become a National Army of Liberation.

The gathering at Caerdrewyn of the men of the 'Gwlad Glyndwr' led to the subsequent raid on Ruthun and other English Castle Towns of the North East.

However with a new Glyndwr statue being placed in Corwen this year the Council and community of Corwen will hopefully get to it, and do us all proud by the organising of a major annual commemoration.

This date/event we regard of national significance as a national commemoration but as a growing number of communities are now organising 16 Medi 1400 'Dydd Glyndwr' events, then we suggest that perhaps patriots, at least for once in their lives, attend the Corwen Commemoration this year and visit Corwen, Llys Glyndyfrdwy, Pen y Pigyn and Caerdrewyn .

This national event is anyway held on the Saturday following 16 Medi, and thus, attendence of such need not clash with your local 'Dydd Glyndwr' celebrations (see below re local activites).

However, we do hope patriots will continue to give much priority promotion to local 'Dydd Glyndwr' events actually being held on 16 Medi. Such need not be festivals only, as you, in time, will have your own regional monthly commemoration programme of Hanes Glyndwr events such as Local Library Exhibitions, School activities, Dinners and Dances, Cultural Evenings, and so on.

See opposite photos of the Tafarn Owain Glyndwr at Gwern y Mynydd, the location of Flintshires's main 'Dydd Glyndwr' commemoration.

In Gwent, excellent 'Dydd Glyndwr Celebrations are held at the Bell Inn, Caerleon.

9th October 1401: Execution of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan at Llanymddyfri. This is marked has done but, in fact, we refer to the fact that the memorial has been unveiled (not on the anniversary date but in the Summer) floral tributes to be placed however on this correct date as given here.

NB: See our postings regards our attempts to make the above 6th July 1403 'Haf Glyndwr', the major Western 'Ystrad Tywi' Glyndwr annual Regional 'Gwyl Glyndwr'. Photo below shows raising up of 'Baneri Glyndwr' at Castell Dryslwyn.

2nd November 1400: Prince Owain raises the Golden Dragon Banner at Caernarfon.

25th December 1407: Prince Owain and family spend Christmas at Harlech Castle. No one, as of yet, has organised an Xmas Commemoration Celebration at Harlech, but, what a wonderful opportunity for local Pobl Glyndwr to organise a 'Teyrnas Glyndwr' style traditional Welsh medieval event. I shall be giving this some research and planning attention, those with an interest in helping to organise and/or participate in developing this as an annual 'Hanes Glyndwr' event please contact me asap. Be you local or nationally based, Just get in touch by phone if you wish: 01792 533508.

Other events we know have been organised at:

* Ruthun held a marvellous event in September of 1400 whilst Corwen did not (Yes that’s true, but neither would Machynlleth have done in 2004 unless Embassy Glyndwr intervened) but thankfully, the annual Railway festival held a Glyndwr theme Exhibition loaned to them by CADW.


* Glyndwr festivals in Machynlleth had been first organised by the Patriotic Front but with advent of COFIWN, Caerdrewyn/Corwen became the centre for annual successful September Commemorations. Embassy Glyndwr continues to promote same to this day, as still the local council nor the local community bother to organise an annual commemoration, though, they did organise a successfull one in 2004 but, to date, have not continued with the good work.


* A successful 'Gwyl Henri Dwn' (Arwr Glyndwr) in Cydweli, Castle occupied in 'Baner Glyndwr' protest.



* Aberaeron’s annual festival had a Glyndwr theme in 2005

*An annual Commemorative Gwyl Glyndwr has been held at Coity since 2000 commemorating and re-enacting the long siege by the Cymry of this Castle 1403 – 1405.

* An annual Gwyl Glyndwr event has been held at Abercraf since 2004 Comemorating local Welsh Support for Owain Glyndwr.

* Annual event has been held at Hope, since 2003 To commemorate the Cymry burning the town in August of 1403.

* In 2005, There was a significant commemoration in Bryn Buga to commemorate the ‘Battle of Usk' in 1405.


* A significant commemoration was held with a walk atop Woodbury Hill in 2005.

Hopefully, over the coming years we hope local patriots will work with us in building up major ''regional'' Glyndwr festivals in the following communities in particular. At Aberystwyth on May Day Bank Holiday Weekend, and at Harlech over the August Bank Holiday Weekend. If interested in helping us in such worthy developments of Coffad Glyndwr and the advance of 'Achos Glyndwr' then, contact us at Embassy Glyndwr. However, as such takes time, it may be the case that such commemorations will not be up and running until 2008 - 9, thus we suggest that pobl Glyndwr all over the land organise outings for visits to Castyll Abersytwyth and Harlech for their own raising up of 'Baneri Glyndwr' over the Bank Holiday weekends suggested above. All such actions help to raise up the tempo.

...Maybe, with a contemporary and a greater significant patriotic purpose, and with those in mind who support the present political pro - Independence struggle, we say the time for talk is over, now is the time for action. Indeed what better place to begin with a 'Statement of Intent' than at Castell Aberystwyth on May Day 2007, 600 years after the English began their siege of the Castle there during the period when it was held by Rhys Ddu ap Gruffydd, Arwr Glyndwr Ceredigion (later to be executed in London, see future posting). Then, why not fully launch an active campaign - a struggle for Welsh Independance, in Harlech, over the August Bank Holiday - 600 years after the English lay siege to that Castle? Thus, may we turn the history of patriotic retreat into a future of patriotic revival.

We can suggest such but cannot organise such and have forwarded our suggestions to the only existing ''body'' that now advances the continued struggle for Independance: http://independent-wales.blogspot.com

If you agree with our proposals, why not contact them, saying so? In the meantime we shall get on with the promotion of 'Citadel Glyndwr' festivals in and around Cestyll Aberystwyth and Harlech, keeping you informed of any developments in future postings.

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Other Future Postings will focus on:

* Our continuing Gwaith Glyndwr such as Stalls, Exhibitions and Field Trips.

and

* Our Achievements From 'Baneri Glyndwr' to 'Coron Glyndwr'

also

* A full explanation of our 'Achos Glyndwr' Towards 'Cenedl Glyndwr'.

Plus much more - including a posting on:

* Products Glyndwr/Siop Glyndwr.

Sian.

Juratus Oweyn






















































‘Juratus Oweyn’.
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