ER COF AM DAFYDD GLYN ROWLANDS GWLADGARWR CYMREIG.

Bu farw Dafydd Glyn Rowlands yn ysbyty Bronglais, Aberystwyth bore Sadwrn, yr 22ain o Awst. Adnabid Glyn fel un o wladgarwyr mwyaf diffuant a digyfaddawd Cymru ers degawdau ac roedd yn un o'r naw cafodd eu carcharu yn 1969 am wneud safiad mewn gwrthwynebiad i'r Arwisgo. Y pwrpas tu ôl i'r carchariadau yma, wrth gwrs, oedd i sicrhau bod trefnwyr y gwrthwynebiad dan glo ar ddydd y 'syrcas' gostus ac i ddysgu gwers i'r gwrthwynebwyr - ac i Gymru i beidio a meiddio a threfnu gwrthwynebiadau yn erbyn arwisgiadau'r dyfodol ond, ddaru'r carcharu ddim pylu dim ar barodrwydd Glyn i gario'n mlaen â'r frwydr i sicrhau Cymru rydd lle byddai pawb yn cael yr un chwarae teg, a Chymru lle na fyddai yna lê i dywysog o Sais.

Drwy gydol y saithdegau, bu Glyn yn weithgar â'r mudiad 'Cofiwn', a chwaraeodd ei ran yn gampus fel un o drefnwyr y rali enfawr a gymrodd le yng Nghilmeri yn 1982 i goffâu 700mlwyddiant marwolaeth Llywelyn y 111. Yn ogystal, bu'n weithgar iawn yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf yn cynorthwyo Llysgenhadaeth Glyndŵr i drefnu'r Ŵyl Glyndŵr pum diwrnod a gymrodd le ym Machynlleth yn 2004 i ddathlu 600mlwyddiant coroni Owain Glyndŵr a sefydlu'r Senedd yn y dref yn y flwyddyn 1404, ac wedi hynny, bu'n weithgar yn cynorthwyo Llysgenhadaeth Glyndŵr i sefydlu'r Ŵyl fel un blynyddol, a'r dyddiad, 21 o Fehefin, fel y dyddiad mwyaf pwysig i Fachynlleth a'r genedl Gymreig i nodi yng nghyswllt hanes Owain Glyndŵr.

Roedd Glyn, yn ogystal, yn perthyn i Elfyn Rowlands, Cefn Caer, ac onibai am Glyn yn ein nhywys i Gefn Caer i weld y tŷ hynafol lle, yn ôl yr haneswyr, ysgrifennwyd Llythyr Pennal, byddem ddim yn gwybod am fodolaeth y tŷ a'i hanes pwysig a diddorol a byddai'r penderfyniad i gartrefu 'Coron Glyndŵr' yno ddim wedi ei wneud!

Mae gan pawb ei stori i ddweud am Glyn a chyfraniad bychan iawn o'r stori fawr yw'r uchod. Roedd yn bersonoliaeth cynnes a charedig dros ben, yn ffraeth ac yn hynod o ddireudus. Roedd bod yn ei gwmni yn donic heb ei ail a bu i'r hiwmor ddireudus yma barhau hyd at y diwedd gyda Glyn, yn ei wendid - ac ar ei wely angau, yn codi ei fraich ac yn cau ei ddwrn mewn saliwt mewn ymateb i saliwt hen ffrind a chydwladgarwr agos. Ia, yn wladgarwr ddigyfaddawd hyd at yr anadl olaf. Bydd colled enfawr ar ei ôl.

Manylion llawn angladd Glyn i ddilyn yn y post nesaf.

Sadly, Dafydd Glyn Rowlands passed away at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth on Saturday the 22nd of August. Glyn was well known as one of the most genuine and uncompromising of Welsh patriots. During the 1960, he had been an active member of the 'Patriotic Front and had been one of the nine patriots that had been imprisoned and put on trial in 1969 for wearing uniforms and for daring to challenge the English State by organising the Anti Ivestiture campaign. The real reason for the detaining of these patriots and for the 'show trial' was to keep the leaders of the Anti Investiture campaign under lock and key whilst the expensive 'circus' took place and to teach future 'opposers' and Wales a lesson not to dare to oppose future investitures but, the imprisonment did not weaken Glyn's resolve to carry on with the struggle for a free Wales where there would be no role for English princes.

Throughout the 1970's, Glyn was active in the 'Cofiwn' movement and played a key role in the organizing of the major event that took place in Cilmeri and at Llanelwedd in 1982 to commemmorate the 700th anniversary of Llywelyn 111. Also, despite his ill health in later life, he played an active role in recent years, in assisting Llysgenhadaeth Glyndŵr to organise the five day festival held at Machynlleth in 2004 to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the crowning of Owain Glyndŵr and the establishment of his parliament in the town in 1404. Following on that, he has been prominent in assisting the Llysgenhadaeth to establish the festival as an annual event and the date of June 21 as the important historical date for Machynlleth and the Welsh Nation to observe in regards to Owain Glyndŵr's legacy.

Glyn was also related to Elfyn Rowlands of Cefn Caer, Pennal and had Glyn not taken us on a visit to this medieval hall house, where, according to historians, the famous Pennal letter was penned, we would not have known about the house or its interesting and important history, and the decision to home the 'Glyndwr Crown' at the house would not have been made.

Everyone has a tale to tell in regards to Glyn and the above is but a small contribution to the much larger story to be told. Glyn was an extremely warm and kind person. He was very quick on the wit and being in his company was a real tonic to the soul. Even during his last hours, Glyn managed to respond to a close compatriot's clenched fist freedom salute by lifting his own frail arm in a clenched fist salute. Yes, literally, a patriot to his dying breath and he will be greatly missed.

Glyn's funeral arrangements will follow in the next post.