RALI CILMERI AND BALCHDER CYMRU - THE RED SHIRT YEARS: Return of the Radicals? Republicans? Revisionists? Retros?
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Following on the successful years of Rali Cilmeri under Cofiwn stewardship up to 1984, I cannot remember much about the Rali Cilmeri years from then to 1989 and if it were not for the rather bad experience of viewing film footage of Rali Cilmeri under the stewardship of Y Cyfamodwyr between the years 1989 - 1996 all produced on video by Mr Roberto Hinton of Ystrad Tawe and soon resident of Patagonia where I hope after viewing his less than reverential filming of Rali Cilmeri during these years, he will stay in permanant exile. Sadly, I have had to destroy the copy of this ''Video Vomit" that came into my possession only in year 2006, hopefully all other copies will be destroyed as it makes a mockery of Rali Cilmeri and could never be archived for posterity. However, as insurance I made sure before I destroyed my copy that a number of absolutely trust worthy Adfywiadwyr have seen ''Video Vomit'', so if push comes to shove I will be backed up in what I am saying here, and believe me I could have said a lot more?
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I only bring this matter up now because, if you are to understand and appreciate course of events that led to Balchder Cymru aka Mudiad Rhyddhad Cymru assuming stewardship of an alternative Radical Nationalist Rali Cilmeri in 2000, you will need to know some Hanes Rali Cilmeri 1989 - 1996 - 2000. Rali Cilmeri during the Cyfamodwyr Years was to witness this annual event decay and demise terribly, the worse year being the year before Cayo died in 1995, whilst 1996 was a sad year without Cayo many Patriots returned to this annual event in respectful memory of Cayo. The last scenes of ''Video Vomit'' actually end on an high note with Dennis Coslett, Henry Jones Davies and the "extras" giving out some wonderful ''Patriotic Theatrics", not lease excellent speeches even if the ''patriotic theatrics'' were somewhat OTT?
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Following on the death of Dennis Coslett former FWA Commandant, it seems the heart went out of the Radical Nationalists, and as the ''Good Ole Boys'' (God help you should see the clowns on aforementioned video) were not capable of organising very much other than ap Sion's ''Athenian Democracy'' (just turn up, stroll up, mouth off, burn Union Jack then back to Tafarn Llywelyn for the piss up). It came to pass that Dr John 'Rocks' Davies assumed stewardship and got down to organising a well organised and better attended Rali Cilmeri which although not attending, I nevertheless supported. Anything was better than the fiasco of the 'Cyfamodwyr Years' but it seems that by year 2000 there were some ''New Boys On The Block'' led by Adam Phillips of Balchder Cymru (the Red Shirts), Paul Edwards of the Red Dragon Movement and Dennis Morris of Cymru 1400 all soon to unite as MUDIAD RHYDDHAD CYMRU.
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This organisation had decided that the Rali Cilmeri event was too tame, too moderate and they sought to return to the ''Wild West'' days of Cayo and Coslett and some Retro Republican Radical Nationalist posing and parading. However, the fact is that far from returning to ap Sion's ''Athenian Democracy'', the ''New Boys On The Block'' actually did organise a very good and more colourful event, so no criticism there. But within a year or two MUDIAD RHYDDHAD CYMRU as an idea was shelved and the RED DRAGONS disappeared and Adam led, his now 'White Shirts' into an association with Dr John 'Books' Davies of the Abaty Cwm Hir Trust to jointly organise Rali Cilmeri.
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Since when Balchder Cymru has continued to call itself Republican News - Think Tank but possibly in reality acts more as the ''Cheer leaders'' for the Tartan Cambria Band . Shame about the Taffy Tartan and the White Shirts, myself for one fleeting moment could have gone for the 'Garibaldi' Red Shirts, reminding me of my young and foolish romantic nationalist days, dreaming up a Red Shirted Patriotic Front Militia, an idea that never got off the ground because I was too busy carrying out an anti - Investiture Campaign. Whatever, Adam did it and for a brief moment I may have been sold on the idea of Red Shirts, could now but it would have to be left radical Red Shirts and more Mazzini than Garibaldi. As for later history of Rali Cilmeri just check out this and my other blogs, meanwhile note that there are now a number of annual Cofia 1282 events in December, at Cilmeri, Aberedw, Abaty Cwm Hir and in Caernarfon and at Llys Rhosyr. Check out web for further Information in due course. PS: Can we have the Red Shirts back please, what am I saying, we will all get arrested??????????????
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Re ''Video Vomit'' most nationalists attending Rali Cilmeri during Y Cyfamodwyr years were well behaved, respectful and spoke very well at the cenotaph. However, what has made me want to vomit is the awful arrogant and disrespectful commentary of ''Castrol'', the clowning around by a number of ''Good Ole Boys'' and certain long scenes in Tafarn Llywelyn which as far as I am concerned were no more than arrogant, if not deliberate BLACK PROPAGANDA that goes out of the way to tarnish a well loved patriot. As I have said all patriots who spoke at the cenotaph as Glyn Owain, Dave Burns, Cith ap Henry, Gareth Westacott and Nic Hodges et al (inc Cayo & Coslett ) spoke very well often enough. It is their contributions that strongly argues in favour of Cilmeri being our annual speakers corner and not just a commemorative platform. Unfortunatly, I cannot let off Cayo and Coslett completly, as their ''Medal Madness'' made no great contribution at all when medals were awarded for nothing in particular, let alone to ''Assholes''. One Patriot deserves to be mentioned above all else for holding it all together, that is Niel ap Siencyn to whom all Cilmeriaid Gwir should be grateful.
.
.
I only bring this matter up now because, if you are to understand and appreciate course of events that led to Balchder Cymru aka Mudiad Rhyddhad Cymru assuming stewardship of an alternative Radical Nationalist Rali Cilmeri in 2000, you will need to know some Hanes Rali Cilmeri 1989 - 1996 - 2000. Rali Cilmeri during the Cyfamodwyr Years was to witness this annual event decay and demise terribly, the worse year being the year before Cayo died in 1995, whilst 1996 was a sad year without Cayo many Patriots returned to this annual event in respectful memory of Cayo. The last scenes of ''Video Vomit'' actually end on an high note with Dennis Coslett, Henry Jones Davies and the "extras" giving out some wonderful ''Patriotic Theatrics", not lease excellent speeches even if the ''patriotic theatrics'' were somewhat OTT?
.
Following on the death of Dennis Coslett former FWA Commandant, it seems the heart went out of the Radical Nationalists, and as the ''Good Ole Boys'' (God help you should see the clowns on aforementioned video) were not capable of organising very much other than ap Sion's ''Athenian Democracy'' (just turn up, stroll up, mouth off, burn Union Jack then back to Tafarn Llywelyn for the piss up). It came to pass that Dr John 'Rocks' Davies assumed stewardship and got down to organising a well organised and better attended Rali Cilmeri which although not attending, I nevertheless supported. Anything was better than the fiasco of the 'Cyfamodwyr Years' but it seems that by year 2000 there were some ''New Boys On The Block'' led by Adam Phillips of Balchder Cymru (the Red Shirts), Paul Edwards of the Red Dragon Movement and Dennis Morris of Cymru 1400 all soon to unite as MUDIAD RHYDDHAD CYMRU.
.
This organisation had decided that the Rali Cilmeri event was too tame, too moderate and they sought to return to the ''Wild West'' days of Cayo and Coslett and some Retro Republican Radical Nationalist posing and parading. However, the fact is that far from returning to ap Sion's ''Athenian Democracy'', the ''New Boys On The Block'' actually did organise a very good and more colourful event, so no criticism there. But within a year or two MUDIAD RHYDDHAD CYMRU as an idea was shelved and the RED DRAGONS disappeared and Adam led, his now 'White Shirts' into an association with Dr John 'Books' Davies of the Abaty Cwm Hir Trust to jointly organise Rali Cilmeri.
.
Since when Balchder Cymru has continued to call itself Republican News - Think Tank but possibly in reality acts more as the ''Cheer leaders'' for the Tartan Cambria Band . Shame about the Taffy Tartan and the White Shirts, myself for one fleeting moment could have gone for the 'Garibaldi' Red Shirts, reminding me of my young and foolish romantic nationalist days, dreaming up a Red Shirted Patriotic Front Militia, an idea that never got off the ground because I was too busy carrying out an anti - Investiture Campaign. Whatever, Adam did it and for a brief moment I may have been sold on the idea of Red Shirts, could now but it would have to be left radical Red Shirts and more Mazzini than Garibaldi. As for later history of Rali Cilmeri just check out this and my other blogs, meanwhile note that there are now a number of annual Cofia 1282 events in December, at Cilmeri, Aberedw, Abaty Cwm Hir and in Caernarfon and at Llys Rhosyr. Check out web for further Information in due course. PS: Can we have the Red Shirts back please, what am I saying, we will all get arrested??????????????
.
Re ''Video Vomit'' most nationalists attending Rali Cilmeri during Y Cyfamodwyr years were well behaved, respectful and spoke very well at the cenotaph. However, what has made me want to vomit is the awful arrogant and disrespectful commentary of ''Castrol'', the clowning around by a number of ''Good Ole Boys'' and certain long scenes in Tafarn Llywelyn which as far as I am concerned were no more than arrogant, if not deliberate BLACK PROPAGANDA that goes out of the way to tarnish a well loved patriot. As I have said all patriots who spoke at the cenotaph as Glyn Owain, Dave Burns, Cith ap Henry, Gareth Westacott and Nic Hodges et al (inc Cayo & Coslett ) spoke very well often enough. It is their contributions that strongly argues in favour of Cilmeri being our annual speakers corner and not just a commemorative platform. Unfortunatly, I cannot let off Cayo and Coslett completly, as their ''Medal Madness'' made no great contribution at all when medals were awarded for nothing in particular, let alone to ''Assholes''. One Patriot deserves to be mentioned above all else for holding it all together, that is Niel ap Siencyn to whom all Cilmeriaid Gwir should be grateful.
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posted by Gethin 'Iestyn' Gruffydd | 9:22 PM
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