CELTIC REALMS: Introduction.

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Back in the 60's when I first became a Welsh Patriot and involved in the National Struggle in Wales, I became a member of the Celtic League and Celtic Youth Congress. In those days both organisations were not only very active in Wales but both were radically active, not least the Celtic League. It was the Celtic League that motivated many of us to go to Ireland in 1966 to commemorate the 1916 Irish Rebellion, and in Dublin organised meetings and accomodation. It was however via the Celtic Youth Congress that we met with young nationalist from all the Nations of the Celtic Realms, these early Celtic links led me in time to visit at least three of our Celtic Nations; Ireland, Brittany and Mannin. Cornwall I had already visited as a child with a family holiday in Perranporth, I have never been to Scotland but my father was based there for much of WW II, as a RAF mechanic, though I must make the journey myself one day. Unfortunatly the CYC demised and the Celtic League, seems to have disappeared off my personal rader screen for some reason, maybe because one does not often here or read of it's existance in the Welsh Media or otherwise. Perhaps other than their annual conferences, I would suggest they organise at least one event particular to each of the Celtic Countries in those countries. If I remember correctly the Celtic League once used to have a stand at the National Eisteddfod, be great if that could be restored? For the most part over the last 40 years I have perceived the Celtic League and any contemporary ''Celtism'' as more cultural than political, over the last 40 years the CL has given much priority to matter of Celtic languages matters. Equally however, over the last forty years we have seen the advance of Celtic music and dance in Cymru, with also the annual Lorient event in Brittany becoming the greatest of Celtic Folk Festivals. There has been a smaller but potentially good Celtic Festival launched in Porthcawl in recent years, if there's one thing the contemporary Celts are not short of it's Celtic Folk Festivals. There has also been a Celtic Film Festival for a good number of years, also in recent times we have seen inter-Celtic sporting events, as Rugby's Celtic Cup and now the home Celtic Nations are considering a football Celtic League . So things Celtic are more and more being presented to the general public in a number of ways, but not matters of shared Celtic Political interest has had started to be advanced a few years ago. Do you remember the Breton inspired and motivated concept of a common shared socio-economic interest of the Celtic Nations of the Western Atlantic Seaboard, known as the 'CELTIC BOW' or 'CELTIC ARC' but it seems almost as soon as suggested the concept seemed to disappear. I think it is time we revived an interest in such and along with it the greater advance of greater Celtic Political Associations, Alliances and eventually possibly very real moves towards a PAN CELTIC UNION - CONFEDERATION of CELTIA - CELTICA, why not! I find it preferrable in a Welsh Context to more promote a 'Celtic Confederation' than a 'British Confederation' as was promoted by president of Plaid Cymru Gwynfor Evans. Anyway something for you to think about whilst I think more as to what I shall use this blog for, and in which direction to take it, perhaps you have some ideas and if so do let me know ok! gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com

Suitably I have began work on this blog in time to launch at the Celtic New Year of Samhain 1 - 2 Tachwedd (2007), although I will not be able to advance it much further in more postings until 2008, in run up to Imbolc 1 - 2 Chwefror (2008). There are four Celtic Festivals, two I have named and the other two are; Beltain 1 - 2 Mai and Lughnasadha 1 - 2 Awst. For further information on these Celtic Festvals and the Celtic Year in General re important dates in Celtic History, there are a number of Websites very informative but why not start off at CELTIC INFO at http://www.celtic.info.com/

Fourth coming Celtic Festival is Imbolc 1 - 2 Chwefror associated with the Celtic Goddess Brigad. The flower associated with this day is the snowdrop, for further information on Brigad, search the web, loads out there, but start off by linking to

Brigid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"St. Brigit of Ireland: From Virgin Saint to Fertility Goddess" on-line); MacKillop, James. 1998.Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid - 39k - cached - related

I am very much in favour of all things Druid and 'Celtic Paganism', it's a bit annoying though that so much of our ancient Celtic Religion has been borrowed by contemporary pagans in main because ''Nordic Paganism'' is out of fashion due to it's associations with the Nazis. Thus we get these ''Hybrid Paganisms'', modern Wicca is a case in point which gets be going, I have no problem with Wicca really, but it is a Saxon Religion (today borrowing much Celtic to give it a more presentable image) and Wales did not have ''Witches'' as in ther English style, fact or fiction. Wales had her ancient Celtic Godesses and ''Wise Women'' thus I do not think that Wicca is entirely a form of Paganism that Celtic peoples should be involved with. Far better perhaps Welsh Women should give birth to a 'BRIGGA', the Power!!! Anythoughts on this? Get in touch if you have gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com

Another problem, the use of Celtic Crosses as an icon for Pan Celtic Unity/Union, my long time patriot freind Tony Lewis (RIP), a Celtic/Welsh Silver Smith much favoured the Celtic Cross. Before he died (8/11/2005) he designed a flag of a Gold Celtic Cross on Purple field, I myself thought up a few others as you will note below. However, it has been pointed out to me that European Fascists use such Celtic Crosses as their iconic images. At first I might have said, so what! the English BNP uses the Saint Georges Cross but in England there has been an huge campaign to reclaim for English Patriotism. We might say the same about the Celtic Cross but then, I am going off the whole Celtic Christian Cross thing anyway, not because of it's associations with Crusades against Arabs and thus a pretty sensitive matter at the moment. No! more because of the association of the ''Christian Cross'' with their Crusader campaigns against Pagan peoples as the Prussians and other Balts, plus of course there is the awful ''Albiginese Crusade'' against the Cathars and the enforcing upon them of the 'Yellow Cross of Redemption''. So, Celtic Crosses out! as for the Celtic Triskel, did not the Breton Perrot Unit fighting with the Germans not wear such as an Armband? So, what to do? Well, I think it's got to be the Celtic Knot, yes! But what do you think? got any better ideas? if so contact me gethin.apgruffydd@ntlworld.com