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Photos following are of 1: Penderyn start of Limestone Quarries tramway trail to Hirwaun, well worth a commemorative radical ramble. 2: Hirwaun Common, easiest access for march from Hirwaun to Hirwaun Common where on 31 May 1831 the radicals raised up a Red Flag, ideal location for an annual Red Flag Raising Commemorative rally. 3: Hill above Cefn Coed, looking toward Merthyr Tudful, the workers in 1831 had seized this as a position to counter troop movement from Brecon, Swansea and Abergavenny. 4: Location of site of the Castle Hotel where on 3 June 1831 took place a massacre of 28 workers. 5: The infamous Cyfarthfa Castle, today has an 1831 Exhibition and the vast grounds are ideal for a major Insurrection 1831 International Commemoration - Socialist Festival.
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.'Treftadaeth Goch'
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Insurrection 1831 International Commemoration
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2008 & Beyond.
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"Seizing the Time - Reclaiming Our History"
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It is illuminating and perhaps instructive to note that Welsh Nationalists have in the past often condemned an English Educational System for denying the Welsh access to their history. This is not exactly true, as from 1877 the Welsh were very much in charge of their own education system but the people involved being of ''Welsh Anglo - Saxon Protestant'' mind followed the English Imperial line. This ''Welsh Establishments'' had been doing since 1536 and the Protestant Reformation, in particular note Elizabeth I and the two Eisteddfod held in Caerwys which bought off the Bards. These Bards whom were not exactly ''Peoples Remembrancers'' were however in times passed capable of moving ''Patriotic Protests'' and ''National Rebellion'', following Caerwys they were to become the pet poodles of a Protestant English Crown, as were the earliest of Welsh Historians as David Powell (see material on the ''Cambrian Nation'' at http://cofcenedl.blogspot.com/) ..
.Whilst not surprising to me it may be surprising to you, that in the Bwrdd yr Iaith Cymraeg website/calendar of Welsh Festivals (Dathlu Cymru) there is represented: Santes Dwynwyn, Dewi Sant, Rugby, Calan May, Gwyl Ifan, The Royal Welsh, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, Owain Glyndwr, Calan Gaeaf, Gwyl Beca and Llywelyn ap Gruffydd . Other than perhaps Rugby there is nothing that is specifically rooted to the Urban Industrial South/History and certainly there is no mention of Insurrection 1831 Hirwaun/Merthyr Rising and Lewis Lewis or Dic Penderyn. I high light Gwyl Beca because I find it odd that they place ''Beca'' in Tachwedd when of course ''Beca'' is more associated with 13 May 1839 in West Wales, perhaps more appropriate would have been the Newport Rising of 4 Tachwedd 1839, but no?
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This month there has been much debate amongst Socialists regards the annual Dydd Dewi Parade in Caerdydd following on one Socialists calling upon others of Left Persausion to Demonstrate against this, he perceiving it, quite rightly to be a Nationalist inclined event. However, myself sees no reason to organise a Demonstration against what is fast becoming just a Wales/Cardiff Tourism event. So hardly worth protest against, unless of course the organisers did involve the Welsh Regiments/British Army so rumoured but denied by people associated with it's organisers. Myself suggested Republicans and Socialists boycotting the parade, but if any protest is carried out be it by Socialists or Republicans that should be a protest against English Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas chief speaker at the event. I suggest Dydd Dewi Day Demonstrations against Devolution, to expose it for being a fraud perpetuated upon the People of Wales, I see that the Dydd Dewi Parade by being taken to the Assembly is somewhat more 'Bread & Circus' than a ''Showcase of Wales''. All this considered, I believe that Socialists rather than demonstrating against this annual Dydd Dewi event in Caerdydd should perhaps be more positive and practical. I believe Socialist ambition and attention needs to focus towards endeavour, enterprize and effort in a establishing and developing a major annual Socialist Festival which I propose be an annual long weekend INSURRECTION 1831 INTERNATIONAL COMMEMORATION of the Hirwaun/Merthyr Rising.
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If interested in turning this idea into a working Initiative regards above proposal contact me at gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com I doubt if a great deal could be organised this year but I do suggest that you visit Penderyn and Hirwaun over the end of May BH, it's possible to walk on the common but consult maps for proper pathways. Possibly before then, maybe over weekend of the first BH May, an informal meeting of Initiative enthusiasts could be held in Pentre Penderyn, this area is worth a Socialst Weekend break and of course there is the Lamb public House where Lewis Lewis had been imprisoned following is capture after conclusion of the 1831 Insurrection. Other than this, maybe the discussions and debates * being carried out at present and to arise in Months ahead could be organised to take place outside web forum, in Merthyr Tudful as possibly part of an annual 3 June 1831 RED COMMUNE COMMEMORATIVE CONGRESS prior to a RED PICNIC in grounds of Cyfarthfa Castle.
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G.Gruffydd.
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* St David's Day - COUNTER DEMO - Page 4 - urban75 forums - 2 visits - 26 Feb
...and also misses the range of positions within "nationalism". Do you think the St Davids Day parade is a Plaid rally? ...still waiting for some positive ...www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=239885&page=4 - 149k - Cached - Similar pages - Note thisMore results from www.urban75.net »
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