The Gorsedh Kernow Bardic ceremony was held at Torpoint’s Thanckes Park on Saturday, celebrating the Celtic spirit of Cornwall 

“We stand here today looking out over this mighty river, the Tamar, the territorial boundary between Cornwall and England. This historic boundary was first recorded in 936AD when King Hywel of Cornwall and King Athelstan of Wessex agreed the high water mark on the Devon side of the Tamar to be the border between Cornwall and England in perpetuity,” proclaimed the Grand Bard of Cornwall, Maureen Fuller. Adding: “And to the Cornish it marks the great divide between the two nations.”

Thanking the mayor, Cllr Mike Pearn MBE and councillors of Torpoint Town Council for their warm welcome Mrs Fuller stood alongside delegates from the Welsh and Breton Gorseddau and reminded the gathered crowds of the sacrifice made by Cornishmen and women who fought on foreign fields so that we might live in peace.

“We remember all Cornishmen who fought, whatever their rank, and the families they left behind,” said Mrs Fuller, “and we recognise and salute them all for their bravery and sacrifice.”

“In Cornwall we have continued to fight for recognition of our nation,” said Mrs Fuller, “and we need our difference and distinctiveness to be recognised by all, which is why we are delighted that, just 12 days after we came to Torpoint for our Proclamation ceremony, Danny Alexander MP announced that the Government would include the Cornish as a group protected by the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.”

“To be officially recognised as Cornish has its merits of course, although this is something the Cornish have known all their lives,” said Maureen Fuller, “and no record exists of any formal annexation of Cornwall to England, so it is time for things to change.”

"The Convention will put the Cornish on an equal footing with other minority groups in the British Isles and will encourage public bodies to ensure they are treating Cornish people fairly and proportionately.

“We saw the Cornish flag flying on the Queen’s barge Gloriana so we need to see it flying with all the national flags every time they are flown in the vbritish Isles, and I would like to see lots more Cornish flags flying in Kernow, demonstrating our nationality and distinctiveness.”

“The convention, by recognising our identity, will give us confidence to promote and develop Cornish culture and showcase it to others.”

Highlighting the lack of knowledge about Cornwall’s past among today’s children, the Grand Bard looked forward to a brighter and better informed future for young people.

“We will press for the inclusion of Cornish history in the national curriculum so that all children in the British Isles are taught the history of all the constituent nations. Education will foster tolerance towards all the minorities living in this British multi-cultural society and encourage them to live togther in harmony.”

The Gorsedh Kernow Bardic ceremony was the focal point for an eventful Esedhvos Festival which had been organised over many months by Cornish bards working closely with members of the Torpoint local organising committee, headed up by Mayor Cllr Mike Pearn.

Local photographic exhibitions sat alongside winning entries from the 2014 Gorsedh competitions, including many from local schools which were highly commended by the panel of experienced judges.

“The work submitted from all the competitors, but especially from the children, was outstanding,” said the Mayor, “and we were delighted to have them on display throughout the Esedhvos week.”

Further highlights included the launch of “Bards of the Tamar Valley,” the fifth in a series of highly collectable publications about bards of the area, along with another new book “Placenames of the Tamar Valley” by local bard Dr Ken George, explaining over 250 names gathered from a detailed Ordinance Survey map of the area.

A one day Conference, open to all, was held on Friday, September 5 with the ambitious theme of “Brand Kernow” and a range of speakers from Tom Fidler of the Association of Celtic Students, to Anna Pascoe, from Cornish Orchards to well known comedian Kernow King, who was invited to speak to delegates about his experiences of using social media.

The final day of the Esedhvos Festival concluded with the Festival Evensong service in Cornish, attended by the Bishop of Truro Tim Thornton and with a sermon delivered by the Rev Steve Wild.