In
this section of the site, you will find various sources
of information relating to the history of Wales, its
culture and the Welsh
language, and also some information relating to where
you can find sources to help you learn the language.
Contents
Select one of the following topics for further information:
»» The Welsh Language
»» Education
»» Background
»» The Media
»» Culture
»» Selective Biography
»» Welsh Books and Records
»» Learning Welsh
The
Welsh Language
The
Welsh Language is spoken by 87.88% of the people of
Penygroes (2001 census) but in some of the surrounding
villages it has fallen rapidly owing to an influx of
monoglot English speakers from England, e.g. to 67.48%
in Clynnog.
A
Celtic language, it is closely related to Cornish and
Breton, and a distant relation of Irish, Scottish Gaelic
and Manx.
Welsh
is one of Europe’s oldest living languages.
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Education
Children
are taught through the medium of Welsh at nursery and
primary schools.
English
is introduced to them at an early age. The National
Curriculum for Wales included the provision that all
pupils would study Welsh from the age of 5 to 16.
There
is a secondary school in Penygroes – Ysgol
Dyffryn Nantlle – where some subjects are taught
through the medium of Welsh.
Some
subjects are taught through the medium of Welsh at
University level but there is great concern that these
courses are being limited.
In
1984 the Gwynedd County Council introduced a pilot
scheme whereby non-Welsh speaking children moving into
the catchment area of secondary schools followed a
Welsh language course at Caernarfon. Within 39 days
they could converse well enough to settle down in their
local primary school. This scheme is now in operation
in Llangybi and Penrhyndeudraeth because of the mass
immigration into the area.
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Background
The
1870 Education Act made primary education compulsory
for the first time and completely ignored the existence
of Welsh. This had disastrous consequences – e.g.
in 1850 the majority of the inhabitants of Wales spoke
Welsh but by 1901 this number fell to 49.9% and to
19% in 1981.
The
increasing availability of television in the 1950’s
accelerated this decline even further as English became
a prominent feature in most homes. The few Welsh programmes
were transmitted mainly late at night.
The
1967 Welsh Language Act gave the language equal validity
with English in Wales – as regards legal matters,
but did not give it official status
From
the late 1980s onwards, there appeared to be a growing
cross-party consensus on the language, and in 1993,
the 1967 Welsh Language Act was augmented by further
legislation which put Welsh and English on an equal
basis in public life in Wales. But equal status is
being sought and the glaring need is the fact that
students seeking Further Education courses through
the medium of Welsh are finding more and more obstacles
in their way.
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The
Media
Welsh
language radio programmes are now broadcast daily from
5 a.m. until midnight.
The
fourth channel for Wales (S4C) introduced in November
1982, provides 3 hours viewing through the medium of
Welsh every evening.
The
S4C digital programmes operate all day but the non-subscription
'Freeview' service is not yet available in the greater
part of Arfon, Llŷn, Eifionydd and Meirionnydd.
Two
weekly papers are published: 'Y Cymro' and 'Golwg'
(for the whole of Wales); as well as various denominational
papers such as 'Y Goleuad'. A shortened version of
'Yr Herald Cymraeg' has also been incorporated into
the Daily Post on Wednesdays.
A
Welsh language daily newspaper is expected before the
end of 2005: 'Y Byd' (www.ybyd.com  ).
A
summary of the daily news in Welsh - 'Cymru'r Byd'
- is available on the following website: www.bbc.co.uk/cymru .
Dyffryn
Nantlle has a monthly local community paper - 'Lleu'
- which is compiled by volunteers.
Children’s
comics are published.
Several
Welsh magazines are printed on a monthly/quarterly
basis.
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Culture
Poetry
Welsh
poetry as it is known to us today dates from not long
after the Romans left Britain.
From
then on a complex system of poetry, in which alliteration
featured prominently, was developed. It is unlike anything
else in Europe. This art required a long period of
apprenticeship and was the preserve and secret of the
professional bard.
A
poetry competition held at Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen)
c. 1450 is believed to be the first know Eisteddfod
and lasted several weeks.
Literary
societies were formed towards the end of the eighteenth
century to protect Welsh poetry. They resulted in the
competitive eisteddfod which popularised poetry to
such an extent that ordinary working people mastered
the art.
The
religious revival of the eighteenth century saw the
start of a prolific stream of hymns and moral poetry
and in due course, on weekdays, chapels became cultural
centres.This resulted eventually in ordinary working
class people becoming eloquent speakers in chapel and
their command of the Welsh biblical language was astonishing.
Chapel Societies still flourish in the area although
the Chapels are closing. The Chapel Society at Brynrhos,
Y Groeslon, had as many as 103 members in 2003/4 because
lecturing is considered to be an art form in the same
way as a good sermon. The first stage of Canolfan Hanes
Uwchgwyrfai (the Uwchgwyrfai History Centre), Clynnog
Fawr, was celebrated by having a lecture by an eminent
preacher - Y Parchedig Emlyn Richards - on 12 May,
2004. He has his followers and as a result the Chapel
was full.
Literature
The
earliest form of Welsh prose – The Mabinogi – dates
from the twelfth century and has been hailed as one
of the finest gems of medieval European literature.
The fourth branch of the Mabinogi is located in Dyffryn
Nantlle. (see under Nantlle, Clynnog, etc.).
The
Bible was translated into Welsh by Bishop William Morgan
and published in 1588 by royal command of Elizabeth
I. It contributed a great deal to keeping the language
alive. A revised version was published in 1988 and
in 2004.
Modern
Welsh literature flourishes with some novels available
in translation. Why not enquire at the Penygroes
Library or Welsh Bookshops in Caernarfon, Pwllheli
and Porthmadog?
Music
Concurrent
with the poetic tradition was a highly skilled musical
tradition – especially singing a tune in counterpart
to harp accompaniment. The last century saw the development
of choral singing based on the chapels. Both arts still
flourish.
There
is at present a vibrant Welsh language recording industry
in all types of Welsh music. Visit the following website
for further details: www.sain.wales.com .
Eisteddfodau
The
competitive eisteddfod in the course of time came to
be a musical affair but retaining the literary competitions,
and by today it is much more varied and includes choirs,
instrumental music, dancing, folk singing, opera as
well as poetry and prose.
In
this area all eisteddfodau take place during the winter
months. In the summer season such activity is confined
to the three national events – the Urdd (The
Welsh League of Youth) Eisteddfod during Whitsun week;
the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen during the
first week in July; and the National Eisteddfod during
the first week in August.
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Selective
Biography
• Evans,
Gwynfor, Land of my Fathers, John Penri, 1979, pp 450.
• Fishlock,
Trevor, Talking of Wales, Granada, pp 191.
• Morgan,
Prys & D Thomas, The Shaping of a Nation, David & Charles,
Newton Abbot, 1984 pp 272.
• Morris,
Jan, The Matter of Wales, Oxford University Press,
1984, pp 430.
• Williams,
Professor Gwyn Alf, When was Wales? Black Raven, pp
336.
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Welsh
Books and Records
English
books on Wales and some Welsh language books are available
at most newsagents, and the following specialise in
Welsh language books and records and cassettes:
• Na-Nog,
Y Maes, Caernarfon (www.na-nog.com )
• Twll
yn y Wal, Stryd y Farchnad, Caernarfon
• Llên
Llŷn, Y Maes, Pwllheli
• Siop
Eifionydd, Porthmadog
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Learning
Welsh
Courses
for Welsh learners are available at:
»» Canolfan
Iaith Nant Gwrtheyrn, Llithfaen, Pwllheli, Gwynedd
»» The
BBC Wales Website
Courses
for beginners (and follow-up courses) are available
from September until December and from January until
April
/ May at various centres throughout the area.
For
further details contact: The Library at Penygroes
on 01286 882688.
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