For us, 2008 got off to a flying start with the news that Aer Arann will be carrying Cambria on all their flights in and out of Cardiff International Airport. They have picked up several of Air Wales old routes and are looking to expand their operations further in Britain and Europe.

The St. David’s Day Parade falls on a Saturday this year, so hopefully it will mean that many more can attend than in past years. It will certainly provide spectacle this year: a bagad – Bagad Penhars one of the finest Breton pipe bands and already well known to the people of north Pembrokeshire - is coming over from our sister nation Brittany, the Welsh Horse, the acclaimed Cambria Band and plenty of costumes, flags, banners, dancers and musicians. This year it sets off from the steps of the National Museums and Galleries at 1.15pm, and will then go down to the Bay to end on the steps of the Senedd with an address by Lord Elis-Thomas. If you have the chance, get there early and spend a couple of hours touring the Origins exhibition, a condensation of 40,000 years of Welsh history and how we came to be.

The Welsh must be the perfect immigrants to any country. Our talent for blending in and integrating in newly adopted homelands has, however, meant that we are not as well recognised abroad as are the Scots and the Irish. Perhaps this ability comes from centuries of subjugation, from the threat of having one’s head removed if found in the wrong place, not being allowed to speak ones own language etcetera - all ‘encouragements’ not to stand out but to blend in. Despite all efforts to stamp it out on a number of levels, the survival of the Welsh language makes us the envy of every other Celtic nation.

This year is the Year of Wales at the Interceltic Festival at Lorient in Brittany. Unfortunately it clashes with the Eisteddfod, but if you haven’t experienced it, it is well worth while doing so, and since it lasts for ten days it is quite possible with a bit of juggling to do both. Last year 850,000 people from all over Europe converged on the town for ten days of song, music and dance, culture, wine and food, so accommodation needs to be booked well in advance. That it has not been consistently well supported by, in particular, Welsh officialdom, unlike those of the other Celtic nations who embrace it with enthusiasm, has not gone without notice, and is interpreted by many in Brittany and elsewhere as a lamentable lack of interest and commitment. This despite the existence of an ambitious and impressive Memorandum of Understanding promising close cultural co-operation between the Welsh and Breton governments. The Bretons might rightly ask ‘Where’s the beef?’ It did not go unnoticed either, that this magazine was the sole representative of the entire Welsh media at the event. The festival is covered live by all the major European television networks, except, sadly, our own. 2007 was the Year of Scotland, and the Scottish government entered into the spirit of Lorient with customary zeal, taking full advantage of all the festival offers in terms of cultural and economic co-operation.

Lastly, the petition we launched for the Ray Gravell Cup has well exceeded 5000 signatures. Many have added omments and personal memories, heart-warming evidence of the love and respect which was felt for him. Those ollected so far have been bound and will be presented to his wife and family by David Gravell at the Cofio Grav concert which is being held on 2nd March at the Lyric, Carmarthen. David Gravell and Mansel Thomas first organised the concert with the backing of Ray himself, at that time called Cyngerdd Grav, to raise awareness of diabetes. After his death it was decided that the concert should go ahead anyway and that all monies raised should go to charity. All thoseasked to participate have agreed and will do so for nothing. The line up promises to be astounding.

Frances Jones-Davies
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