Hanes 1282: An appeal to the South.

Antur Ysbryd Cofiwn gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com

Hanes 1282 and an appeal to the South. Much of this posting dated 29 - 11 - 2006, is about an appeal for Sotherners to attend the Cilmeri/Aberedw Commemorations but I then focus on an appeal for Southerners to focus much more on their own medieval history. I shall follow this up with a posting with information on Llywelyn Bren ''Last Welsh Rebel'' prior to Owain Glyndwr in the not too distant future.

Given the fact that Llywelyn ap Gruffydd was a prince of Aberffraw and of Gwynedd, it is some what ironic that it was ‘’Hwntws’’ who for most part founded Rali Cilmeri, sustained it and even now show most concern it continues . Although I recognise contribution of Adam Phillips of Balchder Cymru and his followers from Flintshire and of course there are a good number from ‘Gogledd Cymru’ in particular Cris Schoen who with Antur Llys Rhosyr are doing great work to initiate 1282 Commemoration. Over the years 1000's from all over the land have attended the annual Rali Cilmeri but my initial observation despite being a generalisation holds a certain truth. Hopefully this will be greatly reversed over coming years as I feel it very important that Pobl Gwynedd come to fore in Cilmeri commemoration organisation, for this reason I helped initiate a new feature for the annual Cilmeri Day of Commemorations where by an 'Osgordd Llywelyn - Gwynedd at 11:30 am would rise up at Rhosferig 'Baner Llywelyn/Gwynedd' of 'Byddin Gwynedd' and then at 12:noon at the Cilmeri Cenotaph open a Day of Commemorations at Cilmeri. followed over the weekend with events at Parc ar Irfon, Aberedw and Abaty Cwm Hir.

Myself rising up the flag at Rhosferig last year 2005, hopefully this year many more patriots will gather at Rhosferig to carry out this symbolic gesture in memory of 'Byddin Llywelyn' making camp there on 10 Rhagfyr 1282. Access to Rhosferig is via Eglwys Llanganten, suggest all assemble there for short walk to Rhosferig. Not advisable at this time of year but you can walk to Parc ar Irfon from Rhosferig, preferably in the summer when the pathways are not streams as I found out last year and spent a splashing time running through mud with Baner Llywelyn prior to tribute to Toni at the Cilmeri cenotaph. However, wonderful if you like the buzz of splashing through mud? Actually I found it quite exhilerating!

Appeal to the South: There is need to sort out the annual Cilmeri Commemoration and the South must play part in this important work, It would be appreciate it if the South could make a special effort regards the annual CILMERI COMMEMORATION. There are yes! more people from the South who attend this event than there are from Gwynedd but that’s not the point. My concern is attracting more and more people to Cilmeri/Aberedw over the coming years in build up to the 2007 - 725th Anniversary and then seeing more and more definite “Cilmeri Contingents” representing the ancient 'Kingdom of Glywysing'. In particular ‘Y Blaenau Morgannwg’ especially from SENGHENEDYD which had long traditional associations with Gwynedd. Indeed one of the Lords of Senghenenydd was fighting alongside Llywelyn III in the war of 1282. Thus “Pobl Senghenedd” (Gwladgarwyr) should make an attempt at an “High Profile” presence at Cilmeri (or Aberedw?) with their flag (coat of arms) to fore and in laying of wreath and placing of crosses plus have some one make a verbal tribute from the cenotaph it self.

This is preparing way for a bus full of people from Senghenedd attending the 2007 commemoration but I am not just talking about Senghenedd, other areas of ‘Y Blaenau Morgannwg’ should be similarly concerned and involved with their own contingents. Not least ‘Y Rhondda’ and Glyn Nedd areas whose native lords were loyal to the “Cymric Cause”, this is also important to counter arguments of “Certain Southern Labour Red Necks” who deny any Cymric Unity or even a Welsh History prior to the 19th century and birth of “British Labour Party. Now I know all to well a lot of “people have taken fright” about attending Cilmeri Commemoration, perhaps more so after certain fools caused fiasco with their “stupid statements” to the press in 2004 * About “Extremists Taking Over Cilmeri” . So please make a bit of an effort to attend and spread this message throughout ‘Y Blaenau Morgannwg’ and encourage others to attend, this can only encourage the rest of Cymru to follow your example, not least pobl Gwynedd? ( * Since note comments made by ‘’Stifyn’’ in a Welsh Republican Forum)

Picture shows one of the last flags made by Toni Lewis a Gold Celtic Cross on a royal Purple background colour, symbolic of a proposed campaign for return of Y Croes Naid and other stolen national treasures. Hopefully this year we shall see this flag raised up at Rhosferig, Parc ar Irfon and at Cilmeri Cenotaph also at Aberedw and Abaty Cwm Hir.

NB: Of course if Cilmeri 2007 is not organised properly, up front and ‘’Inclusive’’ plus well in advance to ensure that it is held as good as the Cofiwn commemoration in 1982, then? Yes! An alternative Cilmeri Commemoration may be held, possibly on ‘Rememberance Sunday’ at Cilmeri instead in association with the Abaty Cwm Hir commemoration whilst on the Saturday commemorative events may be held at Aberedw and conclude in Builth Wells at the Caerberis Hotel or in the Wye Side Arts Centre, we shall see but largely it’s up to others not I. This time around I am taking a back seat and only contributing a film showing on Hanes Rali Cilmeri, hopefully?

Further: Facing up to ''home truths'', as much as we have had to suffer an ''ANGLO - CENTRIC HISTORY'' at same time ''Hwntws'' have had to put up with a ''GWYNEDD - CENTRIC HISTORY''. By this I mean we are led into an history that tells of the Princes of Gwynedd and Deheubarth leading continuing struggle against the Anglo - Normans, the telling of this history leads us to believe that us ''Southerners rolled over and surrendered'' but such is far from the truth. Our Southern Ancestors of the middle ages as their Silurian Ancestors in time of the Romans continued Resistance against Invasion and Occupation, Conquest and Colonisation. Whilst we are all to aware of the Princes of Gwynedd and their struggle for Independance we seem to ignore the continuing struggle in the South led by such as the Sons of Iestyn ap Gwrgant to the ''Last Welsh Rebel'' and Rebellion prior to Owain Glyndwr (1334/35 aside for a moment but see my article: The St Valentines Day Massacre 1345) led by the noble Llywelyn Bren for which there is no memorial and no commemoration other than what I have pioneered in recent years. (see photgraph in this posting below). Thus to conclude this appeal to Southerners to attend the Cilmeri or Aberedw commemorations, may I appeal that Southerners read up on their own Southern History of struggle against the Anglo - Normans. Hopefully in time you will be motivated to organise commemorations for your Southern Princes and also set up memorials in their honour, with please such in memory of Llywelyn Bren being a great priority. I will be puting up another posting on this subject soon but if your interested in taking above further fast then do get in touch asap.

Pic: G.ap Gruffydd (c). OK! Hwntws, you know where Cilmeri is but what is the above the remains of? Where is it? and why is it important to your history? and will you ever bother visiting this important site of our Southern history? Further information soon.

A Southerner,

Gethin.