Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg

"Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society) is a pressure group campaigning for the future of the Welsh language. Established in 1962, we believe in non-violent direct action, and in the course of our campaigns over a thousand people have appeared before the courts for their part in these campaigns, many serving prison sentences. These campaigns have resulted in many gains for the language, including two Welsh language acts, bilingual road signs, and the establishing of S4C, the Welsh language television channel. "


http://cymdeithas.org/2004/05/31/what_is_cymdeithas_yr_iaith.html

The Taff Trail

"The Taff Trail is a multi-purpose route between the Cardiff waterfront at Cardiff Bay in the South and the Market Town of Brecon in the North. 55 miles (88km) in length, it passes close to Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil and through a wide variety of urban and suburban landscapes of those towns and the open moorland of the Brecon Beacons. There are also many "green fingers" where the Taff Trail itself appears to bring the countryside into the town. The area is also rich in industrial archeology."

http://www.tafftrail.org.uk/trail.html

The Mabinogion Dances - Moving Being

"The Mabinogi are four books of ancient welsh celtic fable and tradition. This vid shows dance and magic."

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zCK8cwRIl6k

See also


http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/companies/company_details.asp?ID=65


http://www.dirtylinen.com/feature/33williamson.html

Learn Welsh / Test Your Level

"Packed with a range of courses suitable for all levels, Learn Welsh is your gateway to learning the lingo."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learnwelsh/

"Simply answer the following question(s) and we'll help you gauge your level and find a suitable course."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/learnwelsh/level_test/

Dydd Llewelyn yr Ail - 11th December

Dydd Llewelyn yr Ail - 11th December

Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf (c. 1223 – December 11, 1282)—meaning Llywelyn, Our Last Leader—was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England. He is sometimes called Llywelyn III of Gwynedd or Llywelyn II of Wales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llywelyn_the_Last

Welsh Place Name Search

"You don't have to be a language expert to work out what some of the place names in Wales may mean. This new search tool aims to help uncover the meaning behind them.

It includes hundreds of Welsh, English, Norse and French word elements which make up the names of our cities, towns, villages and even houses, farms, streets and buildings. "

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/whatsinaname/sites/placenametool/index.shtml

e.g. Maindy


http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/whatsinaname/sites/placenametool/?q=maindy&search.x=0&search.y=0

Bwlet

"BWLET.net is the first comprehensive listing of Welsh-English literary translation from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to the present day. In constructing a definitive online bibliography (to be supplemented by a printed text version) of translations of works of Welsh literature from the earliest period to the present, the objective was for the first time to map – not only for the international scholarly community but also for Anglophone reading culture worldwide – a very substantial body of material offering insight into a literature that is recognized as ancient and rich but is still largely unexplored."

http://www.bwlet.net/aboutbwlet.htm

Fflur and Brigyn on Wedi 7, S4C

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=573774&searchid=34d5380d-4079-4b37-9a5f-7cc844586c9d

Magazine firm's £600k web boost

"Welsh language publishers Golwg have secured £600,000 from the assembly government which had been earmarked for developing the Welsh language press."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/7425783.stm

Yma O Hyd (Still Here)

"Dwyt ti'm yn cofio Macsen,
Does neb yn ei nabod o;
Mae mil a chwe chant o flynyddoedd
Yn amser rhy hir i'r co';
Pan aeth Magnus Maximus o Gymru
Yn y flwyddyn tri-chant-wyth-tri,
A'n gadael yn genedl gyfan
A heddiw: wele ni!"

http://users.pandora.be/davidneale/varia/yma1.html

Lleuwen Steffan - Fel Storm

"Mae’r gantores jazz, Lleuwen Steffan, yn hanu o Ddyffryn Ogwen ac yn gyn-aelod o'r band ‘Acoustique'. Mae ei llais melfedaidd yn adnabyddus ar draws Gymru, yn ogystal a thu hwnt i'r ffin.

Ymysg eu dylanwadau mae Billie Holiday, James Taylor, T H Parry Williams a swn yr adar a’r nant a’r gwynt.

Yn 2005, rhyddhaodd Lleuwen CD o fersiynau cyfoes o emynau poblogaidd o gyfnod y Diwygiad – ‘Duw a Wyr.’

Bellach, mae Lleuwen yn byw ym Mhenmon, Ynys Môn, a dyna oedd enw ei halbym ddiweddaraf a ryddhawyd yn 2007.

Mae’n rhaid bod cerddoriaeth yng ngwaed Lleuwen, gan ei bod hi'n ferch i Steve Eaves – canwr, cyfansoddwr a bardd."



http://www.bandit247.com/perl/bandit247.pl?rm=av;a=77;vt=226

Photographic survey of Capel Celyn (Tryweryn), 1957 -65

"At the end of 1955 it was announced that Liverpool Corporation was intending to build a new reservoir in the Tryweryn valley, in order to meet the city's growing need for water. The plan was to erect a dam on the river Tryweryn, thus drowning the village of Capel Celyn, north of Bala."

http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item10/13160

Ar Y Teledu

"Well, I have to say that this is only the second time I’ve watched Noson Chis a Meinir on S4C and I am absolutely impressed to bits. If you like Welsh language music or just plain good rock and roll, this is a terrific show to tune in on Saturday night.



I’ve enjoyed Dylan & Meinir on Radio Cymru for years now and, of course, Meinir is a wonderful singer and performer in her own right. But this new show really offers a wonderful opportunity to showcase Welsh talent. So I would encourage you all to tune in, whether you speak Welsh or not. The programme is presented through the medium of Welsh, but music crosses all language barriers and I guarantee you’ll hear some terrific sounds. Understanding the words is not a requirements to enjoy the songs coming out of Wales and the wonderful talent of the Welsh musicians."



http://www.forumwales.com/fwblog/2008/03/22/ar-y-teledu/

Traditional Songs from Wales

http://www.ukmagic.co.uk/songs_wales.htm

Mae gen i ebol melyn

"Mae gen i ebol melyn
Yn codi'n bedair oed
A phedair pedol arian
O dan ei bedwar troed. "

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brynmeillion/2371314775/

Meinir Gwilym - Fi Fi Fi - NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips

"Welsh singer-songwriter Meinir Gwilym performing 'Fi, Fi, Fi' from her album 'Sgandal Fain'. Endorsed by Yamaha, Anglesey-born Meinir is an amazing talent and one of the best selling Welsh language artists ever. Check her out, she really is special. Visit www.myspace.com/meinirgwilym"

http://www.nme.com/video/id/-CsDuUh_iVE/search/anglesey

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

" Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed."

http://www.madog.org/dysgwyr/caneuon/can05.html



"The tune Glan Rhondda (Banks of the Rhondda) was composed by James James (Iago Ap Ieuan, 1833-1902), a harpist who often played in the inns of Pontypridd, one day in January 1856 as he walking along the river bank in his hometown.

On returning home he sang it to his father, Evan James (Ieuan Ap Iago, 1809-1878), asking him to write some words for it. By the following day Evan had completed three verses."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/anthem/pages/background.shtml



""Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (pronounced [heːn ˈwlaːd vəˈn̥adaɨ], usually translated as "Land of My Fathers", but literally old country of my fathers) is, by tradition, the National anthem of Wales. The words were written by Evan James and the tune composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856. The earliest written copy survives and is part of the collections of the National Library of Wales."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hen_Wlad_Fy_Nhadau

Owain Glyndwr in Welsh History

"His grave is beside no church, neither under the shadow of any ancient yew. It is in a spot safer and more sacred still. Rain does not fall on it, hail nor sleet chill no sere sod above it. It is forever green with the green of eternal spring. Sunny the light on it; close and warm and dear it lies, sheltered from all storms, from all cold or grey oblivion. Time shall not touch it; decay shall not dishonour it; for that grave is in the heart of every true Cymro. There, for ever, from generation unto generation, grey Owen's heart lies dreaming on, dreaming on, safe for ever and for ever."

http://www.owain-glyndwr-soc.org.uk/history.htm

Gwales - Welsh Books Council

" The Welsh Books Council is a national body, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, which provides a focus for the publishing industry in Wales. It provides a number of specialist services (in the fields of editing, design, marketing and distribution) with a view to improving standards of book production and publication in both Welsh and English."

http://www.gwales.com/

http://www.wbc.org.uk/

Ninnau & Y Drych - North American Welsh Newspaper

"NINNAU & Y Drych is the North American Welsh Newspaper ®. It is the result of the merger in November 2003 of NINNAU, then the North American Welsh Newspaper, and Y Drych, the oldest Welsh newspaper in the Americas. Now united as one newspaper, NINNAU & Y Drych provides complete coverage of the North American Welsh community."

http://www.ninnau.com/