The 21st Australian Celtic Festival may have honoured Scotland as its 2013 theme but representatives of the Cornish in Australia also gathered in Glen Innes last week (2-5 May, 2013). Situated 915m (3,000 ft) above sea level in the Northern Tablelands of NSW the lovely town of Glen Innes again hosted this annual pan-celtic festival, the 22nd celebration since the Celtic Council of Australia chose the town as the location of The Australian Standing Stones.
This ring array of granite standing stones, carted from the nearby Red Range, stands 3 metres tall at 1115m elevation looking over the friendly town from a hill nearby.
Friday saw representatives of the CANSW attending the ‘Celtic communities’ reception hosted by Glen Innes High School, with some fine entertainment by the school’s choir and musicians, and morning tea by the school auxiliary. A highlight was a Celtic art competition open to all students attending schools in the Glen Innes Severn local government area.
The Guardian of the Stones official luncheon (the Cornish having 3 guardians among the dozen or so) was next, and then the Festival official opening. Cornish-Australians joined together for an informal meal on Friday evening.
Cornish Australians and Breton Australians prepare march in the street parade in Glen Innes, 4 May, 2013
Saturday morning’s big street parade had a solid contingent wearing Cornish tartans and colours, with banners and flags held high, representing CANSW, the Southern Sons of Cornwall (SSOC), and Queensland. As well, locals with Cornish ancestry or birth joined in, and again some of our Breton cousins marched with the Cornish.
Cornish Australians and Breton Australians after the street parade
Saturday morning’s big street parade had a solid contingent wearing Cornish tartans and colours, with banners and flags held high, representing CANSW, the Southern Sons of Cornwall (SSOC), and Queensland. As well, locals with Cornish ancestry or birth joined in, and again some of our Breton cousins marched with the Cornish.
Joining the crowds flocking to the Standing Stones where the Festival was in full swing, the Cornish (old and young) were able to meet up with old friends, and mix with our fellow Celts from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Isle of Man, and Galicia.
Over the Saturday and Sunday, in beautiful sunny autumn weather they also enjoyed terrific Celtic music and dance. An information tent of the Celtic Council of Australia staffed in part by Cornish, had many people drop by, interested in their Cornish heritage.
Cornish-Australian Carrl (Myriad) Tregonning of the former Celtic ‘Ragged Band’ was among those honoured at a formal dinner with a Triquetra Award, for his many contributions to the cultural side of the Australian Celtic Festival.
Cornish start off from in front of the Cornish Stone, commemorating the 1497 Cornish uprising – as part of the the ceremony
Finally the Cornish gathered for the evocative ‘Cornish Stone’ ceremony, honouring Cornwall as a nation, the Cornish as an ethnic group in Australia, and commemorating the 516th anniversary of the Uprising of 1497. Rousing singing of Hail to the Homeland and Trelawney let all know the Cornish were at another fine Celtic festival.
Solemptyna an Men – the 17th Cornish Stone Ceremony
Joining the crowds flocking to the Standing Stones where the Festival was in full swing, the Cornish (old and young) were able to meet up with old friends, and mix with our fellow Celts from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Isle of Man, and Galicia. Over the Saturday and Sunday, in beautiful sunny autumn weather they also enjoyed terrific Celtic music and dance.Saturday morning’s big street parade had a solid contingent wearing Cornish tartans and colours, with banners and flags held high, representing CANSW, the Southern Sons of Cornwall (SSOC), and Queensland. As well, locals with Cornish ancestry or birth joined in, and again some of our Breton cousins marched with the Cornish.
An information tent of the Celtic Council of Australia staffed in part by Cornish, had many people drop by, interested in their Cornish heritage. Cornish-Australian Carrl (Myriad) Tregonning of the former Celtic ‘Ragged Band’ was among those honoured at a formal dinner with a Triquetra Award, for his many contributions to the cultural side of the Australian Celtic Festival.
Finally the Cornish gathered for the evocative ‘Cornish Stone’ ceremony, honouring Cornwall as a nation, the Cornish as an ethnic group in Australia, and commemorating the 516th anniversary of the Uprising of 1497. Rousing singing of Hail to the Homeland and Trelawney let all know the Cornish were at another fine Celtic festival.
As the sun set over the Stones, the closing ceremony handed the next Festival from the Scots to the Cornish and celebrations continued in town.
Chris Dunkerley Cornish Representative, Celtic Council of Australia Inc 13 May, 2011
http://www.australiancelticfestival.com/
http://celticcouncil.org.au/cornish/nsw.htm
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