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....
This is what the Gorsedh claim to do http://www.gors...sh/about.htm
In a practical, campaigning, and cultural level they would appear to do very little, apart from publishing, competitions and communicating with other culturally active organisations. Perhaps that may change now they have appointed their first employee?
From their point of view I guess it's a bit like asking what the Order of the British Empire actually does ...
By the way I'm not a particularly huge fan of the gorsedh.
I came across a small bard once. Had a pull string at the back - it said "Kernow Bys Vykken" in a high pitch crackly voice when you pulled the string out.
I swapped it for John Angarrack Action Man that actually moved.
OBE is a Royal disease, that spreads via the tongue - look for brown speckles as an early symptom.
The Gorseth's reputation shines by the reflected light of the actions of its members. If the bards are seen to promote Cornwall noticeably and prominently, in the name of the Gorseth, then the Gorseth will be seen to be worthwhile.
The Gorsedh promotes high level Cornish culture. language, poetry, writing, as said in their web site. Not to everybodies cup of tea but they don't interfere with anyone. Better to have the Gorsedh than not, IMO. Many of the Bards past and present have done a massive amount of work for Cornwall.
So the Gorseth itself does nothing? A person who is a language bard will do things for say Agan Tavas or Kesva an Taves, and the Gorseth takes the glory? It is still to be answered what successful and high profile campaign the Gorseth has led, rather than just followed the crowd or other Cornish organisations on.
I can't think of a successful, high-profile campaign, from a Cornish cultural stance being achieved by any organisation. I can think of smaller important ones and indeed the Gorsedh certainly played a part:
I agree about celebrating our history and culture... but I think it should be actually campaigning more than it does.
I'm not sure whether it is good publicity. From the people I speak to, they see it as more of a weird curiosity. To quote one person, they are the "wizards".
Some people can't even tell the difference between Vanessa Beeman and Ed Prynn!
Whilst I agree that on the face of it the Gorseth seems to do little as an organisation, I would rather have it than not. ON a personal level I think they are not in touch with modern life. I'm the first to hold true to traditions, but modernising and moving with the times doesn't have to jeopardise that.
Isn't it weird that the ArchDruid him/her self appeared like magic when the Gorseth came up in conversation? Do you think they have a secret police division?
I might be wrong, but to me, the Gorseth is not a campaigning organization. It is an organization that rewards those who have achieved something in respect to the art, literature, language, etc of Cornwall, by the awarding of Bardships.
To become a member, you have to have achieved something, therefore, it is something to aspire to.
The Saxons have their Lords, we have our Bards.
(Maybe not the best analogy, but you know what I mean)
Kernow Kensa!
Our day will come!
"Everyone has their own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small, no one is too old or too young to do something."
I didn't see Eggshell ask you on C24 for a link to his Cornish radio site, so assume he approached you privately.
I would consider an online Cornish radio service something beyond consideration if the Gorseth are to be seen to promote the language.
As you're suggested system of private communication was to no avail to Eggshell, perhaps you could offer an explanation to all C24 members who are now confused as to why that type of link is deemed unsuitable. SWF came to mind, but I've not come across many typos while listening to radios.
Wouldn't want people thinking there's a conspiracy going on, would we?
Answers in English language please so there's no arguing over spelling.
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