Gunwalloe - Church Cove
View across Church Cove in Gunwalloe at the base of the Lizard Peninsula.
The church is St Winwalloe with it's distinctively seperate bell tower and surrounding Tamarisk hedge....
newlyn house
Wonderfully painted frontage....
rogers tower
A folly built 18th C, for Mr Rogers, a local landowner....
It really is little wonder that we are in the state we're in.
Instead of putting all our energy, as individuals, into creating change for Cornwall, we appear to be afflicted with a national disease that requires us to knock anything and everything that doesn't quite meet with our own individual belief about how things should be done.
The Gorsedh sets Cornwall apart. You may not like the way it sets Cornwall apart, but if you think it helps Cornwall to have it spoken about on a public forum in terms of dressing gowns and tea-towels, and how tourists snigger at its ceremonies, then you not only need your head examined, but you've seriously lost the plot.
If you don't like the way the Gorsedh does things then write to it suggesting changes. If they don't happen, and they probably won't, then just ignore the Gorsedh and go off and do your own thing for Cornwall. As some of you no doubt do already when your not taking pot-shots at Cornish institutions that don't meet with your very exacting standards.
But don't just put all your energy into discussing what other people (many of whom are busting a gut for Cornwall) are doing badly in your opinion.
Suggestion are all well and good, as long as they're sensible and constructive... And generally they're only acted upon in organisations (like the Gorseth)if its internally suggested... I am outside the Gorseth,
I'm not a poet, or artist, I live outside Cornwall, have little free time and have only managed the 1st Exam in Cornish Language after several years hard work... I can't see them welcoming me in open arms can you?
The whole idea of this thread (As I see it) is to raise General Cornish peoples concerns about the Gorseth, perhaps a member who reads this will mention it to the executives? maybe it'll wither and die... But its worth a go.
I for one think we should have the Gorseth, I wouldn't want it to go at all! But the comments you're getting on here are heartfelt concerns about our leading Cultural organisation. Who wants it to get left behind in the 19th Century? Things change or they get forgotten...
I agree with Nosdan, that we do need the Gorseth, and it is an institution that should be upheld. What the question was: is there anyway it can be improved to make it more relevant to people today?
Troll ridden agreed Mike . Rat pit is a little over the top I think.
I think what is generally being said here is this :
The Cornish are pushing hard now for recgnition . You could be a great help in supporting this instead of being seen as an established organisation, who do nothing other than satisfy the ego's of the cream tea Cornish.
However in fairness to the Gorseth, a letter expressing these feelings should be sent through the correct channels and take it from there.
Good thread Egloshal.
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Where there's a Negative - there's always a Positive. You just have to find it.
I think it needs to be said that the Gorsedh is in serious danger of becoming a laughing stock, and for too long those outside who are concerned have been too polite to mention it. Quite frankly their antics mostly make me cringe these days. If they go on as they have, mentally stuck in the 1930's, then they are quite likely to become an embarasment to Cornish Identity, an obsticle not a catalyst.
There is so much that they could be the focus of, but it would need a serious rethink of their aims, organisation, style and attitude to the wider Cornish public. They have chosen to appear conspicuously in public as part of their ethos. They cannot therefore expect to be above comment and criticism.
Most of the criticism here seems well meant. They put on a show, they deserve to hear how it was received by the public. If their attitude is "stuff the public" then they should do their thing in private.
Tourists ask their BnB owners who the geezers in the robes are and the Bnb owner hasn't a clue. Could be Cornish Klu Klux Klan for all they know, or animal rights campaigners, or extras in a soap powder advert.
Hardly portrays a widespread cultural unity and knowledge of heritage if the people who live here don't know what the "Klan" are about.
Their PR needs some attention.
How about becoming a pressure group of Bards? Stand outside some SW quango boss's house in the middle of the night with black candles, you'd have them shaking like a shitting whippet. Stop the Cornish land grab, leave you balaclavas and pull on a B-Robe and take to the streets at night. Cause damage in a Bard suit, let them explain it court.
Sorry, Archdruid and pietercharles. Yes, this can be a rat pit, but I think this thread has actually turned out some of the better debate on C24. No institution can be immune from criticism today - not the Papacy, Monarchy or Church and certainly not the Cornish Gorsedd, which is definately looking tired and in need of renewal.
While it does run a cultural honours system (somewhat arbitrarily), the development of the language is carried out by other organisations (CLB, AT etc), the Celtic Congress facilitates inter-Celtic cultural liason, and orthography problems are being sorted by the Cornwall Language Partnership.
So, tell me, what IS the Gorsedd for other than for making a spectacle of itself and people feel better about themselves?
You must go around with your eyes and ears shut, "Archdruid". Although not an official title, the bards in question proclaim themselves as "language bards". No one else does that. I never called myself an "archaeology bard". The late David Penhaligon never referred to himself as a "politics bard". Ben Luxon doesn't call himself a "music/opera bard". E.V. Thompson hasn't been heard to call himself a "literature bard". So why this self-proclaimed title: "language bard"?
Those who call themselves "language bards" do so themselves, as though intending to set themselves apart from the rest. I'm sure that many do not have that intention but I'm equally sure that there are those who do. It's no invention or perception of mine. It's a very real and very divisive pretention. You know it, and I know it.
My a gar an delow-ma a-ugh! (but I can't get it to come out right )
AFAIK they're not allowed to wear their gear outside of official ceremonies. Persumably so as not to frighten the horses, kiddies, and 'persons of a nervous disposition'. Someone should get a fashion writer to review the get-up of all the different bardic orders (there are quite a few, it's not just the Cornish language that goes in for schisms).
Btw. another thing I've never dared to asked, why no Cornish druids? The Bretons have 'em, Welsh have 'em, and perish the thought there are even English druids, (I met one once by chance in Plymouth). Perhaps there's some secret senior lodge of grand-archdruids who we offended and ever since the Curse of the Crooked Awen has hung over our fair land ... (piw a vynn gorfenna an hwedhel-ma?)
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