The Esedhvos Kernow Festival of Cornish Culture takes place this year in Callington from Saturday 31st August to Sunday 8th September, 2024
Opening with a Nos Lowen Cornish dance evening on Saturday August 31st , the festival is built around the Open Gorsedh ceremony on the Saturday afternoon, but lasts through until later on Sunday September 8th when it culminates with a food fair, music, a Cornish language church service, and a mural trail walk.
Along the way there is singing, storytelling, meet the authors, The Silver Ball – a new play based on the audio drama by Anna Chorlton, The Piskey Path – a Mazed Tales puppet show, The Prophecy of Merlin with Mike O’Connor and Barbara Griggs, films and exhibitions, and a Cornish language school.
The Gorsedh Awards evening on Friday 6th September will feature performances from Richard Trethewey and Vocal Footprint.
Saturday 7th September at Callington Community College sees the annual gathering of the Bards of Gorsedh Kernow, led by Grand Bard, Mab Stenak Veur, Pol Hodge, with Eleanor Valdebouze as the Lady of Cornwall. The event will be live-streamed worldwide and be broadcast on air via Callington Amateur Radio Society. Hundreds of Bards will attend, from as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
Entertainment on the Gorsedh field on the day will be provided by Cornwall Youth Choirs, Callington Town Band, the Kelliwik Golowi band and Cornish wrestling. Stalls include Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek, Agan Tavas, Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, Cornwall Heritage Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cat’s Protection Launceston & District, Lowender CIO, Cornwall Pride, Cornish crafts and a variety of local food and drink stalls. The field opens at 11am
The Saturday evening Gorsedh concert features the renowned, nine-piece singing sensation Barrett’s Privateers, Cornish traditional music trailblazers Dalla Duo and pioneering electro-folk artist Martha Woods, with additional sounds and stunning visuals by Stone Club.
The Esedhvos Festival is held every year around the annual bardic ceremony which moves annually around Cornwall.
Full details and programme can be found here: https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/esedhvos-programme-callington-2024/
Book ticketed events here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/esedhvos-kernow
Gorsedh Kernow names 24 new Bards for 2024
Twenty-four new bards will be welcomed into the College of Bards of Gorsedh Kernow at Callington on 7th September 2024 by the Grand Bard of Cornwall, Pol Hodge, Mab Stenak Veur, in recognition of their outstanding work in serving Cornwall. Two new Bards from Australia and one from the USA are to be included.
Gorsedh Kernow was established with the aim of celebrating and promoting Cornwall’s distinctive Celtic culture and many of this year’s new bards are honoured for working in their community to nurture and promote Cornish culture.
The new bards for 2024 are:
1. Cam Andrever-Wright, London –
By examination in the Cornish language and continuing work for Kernow
2. Jennifer Blockley, Launceston By examination in the Cornish language and continuing work for Kernow
3. Judith Cayzer,South Petherwin
By examination in the Cornish language and continuing work for Kernow
4. Arthur Coates, Victoria, Australia
For his extensive services to Cornish Identity in Australia
5. Kim Conchie, Falmouth
For his extensive contribution to cultural life in Kernow
6. Tamsin Daniel, Penzance
For her work reclaiming and restoring buildings of Cornish national identity and culture
7. Suzanne Elliot, London
By examination in the Cornish language and continuing work for Kernow
8. Sue Hill, Redruth
For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture through Community Arts and Celebration in Kernow
9. Kurt Jackson, St. Just in Penwith For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture through Visual Art and Poetry
10. Emma Jenkin, Truro
For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture through working for the Cornish Language
11. Peter Joseph, Heamoor, Penzance For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture through the mining and industrial history of Kernow
12. Andrew Long, Callington
For promoting Cornish Identity through his extensive work in the community
13. Dickon Moon, Cobham, Surrey
For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture through exceptional service to Cornish Rugby
14. Brian Oldham, Liskeard For his services to the archaeology and history of the Liskeard district
15. Les Pierce, Callington
For his long and continuing work for Kernow
16. Elizabeth Rowe, Harpist
For services to Gorsedh Music
17. Robynne Sanderson, Broken Hill, N.S.W., Australia For services to Cornish Identity in Australia
18. Taran Spalding-Jenkin, Bristol
For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture through his performance poetry and storytelling
19. Alex Taylor, Penzance
For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture through Cornish Dance
20.Barbara Tremewan, Perranporth
For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture by her outstanding work in the Community of Perranzabuloe
21. Julia Twomlow, Porthcurno
For leading and promoting an awareness of Cornwall’s historical contributions in the museum sector,
both nationally and internationally
22. Guy Watson, Helston
For promoting Cornish Identity and Culture through Cornish Drama
23. Sandy Weitzel, Mineral Point, Wisconsin, U.S.A. For services to Cornish Identity in the U.S.A.
24. Sharron Wormald, St.Clether
By examination in the Cornish language and continuing work for Kernow
Gorsedh Kernow website: www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk
Further information also on facebook via ‘Gorsedh Kernow’ and ‘GorsedhKernow in Kelliwik’ pages.
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