Page 12 - Ninnau Jan-Feb 2021

An Update from Cymru-Ohio

By Arwel Jones and Ray
Williams

There are exciting develop-
ments for Cymru-Ohio 2018
relating to achieving a lasting
legacy of the long-term connec-
tion with Ohio!
It feels like a long time has
passed since the long, hot sum-
mer of 2018, when Cymru-Ohio
held celebrations of the 200th
anniversary commemorating the
departure of the first six fami-
lies leaving Cardiganshire (now
Ceredigion) for Ohio.
Back in the last week of June
2018, we were enjoying glori-
ous weather, which was perfect The schooner Vilma in Aberaerson Harbour.
for the enjoyment of all who
attended our events. These Compliments of Blue Sky Cam
included five exhibitions, four
Pub Nights, a BBQ, Cymanfa Arwel and Ray with copies of To Ohio & Beyond families, but also more than ments. For more information
Ganu (hymn singing) and our 3,000 emigrants who also left about Sebastien Boyesen, and
Gala Open Air Concert with a than 30 years and completed month’s delay in Liverpool Cardiganshire in the 19th centu- more images of the sculpture,
100-strong male voice choir as numerous professional installa- had spent eight long weeks, ry to search for a better life in visit his website under
the finale. tions throughout the UK. lacking one day, on the Ohio. www.boyesen.co.uk/current-
The charter of a traditional His projects in Wales include mighty deep where they Our next challenge was to projects
Welsh Topsail Schooner also “The Guardian,” a statue of a were buffeted by fierce find an appropriate location for We hope that one day, some
allowed many to gain an insight miner, reaching 66 feet high, storms and one of their num- the installation. We are fortu- of you will visit Ceredigion
to the ship the emigrants of which commemorates the Six ber had sickened and died nate because our proposals again, or indeed, come for the
1818 would have taken across Bells colliery disaster in and was cast overboard in coincided with Ceredigion first time, to see the sculpture as
Cardigan Bay to Liverpool. Abertillery, when 45 miners lost all probability to become County Council tendering for it drifts ‘in and out of vision’, at
We were not only blessed their lives in 1960. food for fishes, or at best, to plans to improve the Aberaeron the end of the north harbour
with fantastic weather, but also Virgil H. Evans wrote in his crumble back to mother harbour area. wall in Aberaeron.
with the presence of more than book, The Family Tree of John earth unnoticed, unho- We submitted details of our As many journeys over time
50 American friends who came Jones (Tirbach): noured, and unmarked on proposed sculpture to the have been made by those seek-
over to enjoy the festivities. “On the first day of July old ocean’s trackless Council, which was forwarded ing a new future, the sculpture
When our journey started 1818, two sailing vessels plains.” to their consultants. When the will remind us all how those
nearly six years ago, putting from Liverpool anchored in During our consultations and proposed plans to improve and ambitions can disappear and
together an appropriate pro- the port of Baltimore, hav- collaboration with Sebastien, enhance the harbour were reappear throughout the chal-
gramme of events was key, but ing on board a band of we were struck by this story of released in September, we were lenges each family faced on
we were also eager to ensure Welsh immigrants from loss, and are confident that the delighted to find our sculpture those perilous journeys.
that a suitable legacy could be Cardiganshire, South Wales, proposed sculpture will prove to included in the Aberaeron
left to commemorate the emi- bound for Paddy’s Run in be a wonderful tribute to the Harbour Improvement Plans.
grants leaving our shores for Butler County, Ohio, where pioneering spirit of the emi- This is a fantastic start, but there Note: The history of the Ohio
Ohio. a small party of their coun- grants, as well as proving to be continues to be a long road emigrants and their descendants
So over the last two years, we trymen had settled a few a popular tourist attraction. ahead before achieving full is available in two publications,
have had detailed interaction years previous. As shown in the quotation approval for the sculpture, and “To Ohio & Beyond” and the
with Sebastien Boyesen, a local- “They had left their from John Jones’s Family Tree then raising finance to complete Welsh version, “Ar Hynt i
ly and internationally acclaimed homes and kindred in Plwy, above, we felt that the sculpture the project. Ohio.” Both books are avail-
artist/sculptor/designer. He has Cilcenin Parish, about the represents not only the young We look forward to keeping able from
lived in Ceredigion for more first of April, and after a girl lost at sea and the original you informed of future develop- www.gwasggwynfil.com

Hiraeth: Why We are Learning Welsh

By Rob Davis Bwrw Golwg, commenting on target of one million Welsh
political and religious matters in speakers by the year 2050. For
On our first trip to Nant the United States. Thanks to the our part, the book is a chance to
Gwrtheyrn, my wife and I had COVID-19 pandemic, I even help reach that target, by planti-
marveled at the seaside haven had the opportunity to do a bit ng seeds of Welsh and encour-
nestled at the bottom of a steep of online Welsh teaching myself aging people to give it a shot.
and winding road—not to men- for some beginners with We dedicated the book to the
tion the English-free-zone it Cymdeithas Madog. I had done one million Welsh speakers and
created and defended for its stu- some in-person teaching before more of the year 2050. With
dents. On our next visit, as I that, but to tackle it online was great generosity, Sain Records
wrote in Ninnau a couple of truly a new challenge! and the estate of Gerallt Lloyd
years ago, we returned as stu- Along the way, in the day to Owen have allowed us to
dents ourselves. When we day, I found that sometimes I include excerpts from Welsh
attended that immersion Welsh was thinking in English and songs and poems of great
course, and lived and dreamed sometimes I was thinking in renown. In the book, we
in the “language of heaven,” it Welsh. Or to put it more direct- remember the Treachery of the
represented both the highest ly: I realized that I really could Blue Books, and the fire in
point yet attained on our Welsh- think in Welsh, and that some- Llŷn, and Capel Celyn. Perhaps
learning journey, and a mere times I did. (Full disclosure: I there will be people who are
vantage point from which to started writing this article in reading about these historic
take in the route ahead on the English, switched to Welsh events for the first time. And
ascent of our linguistic Everest. partway through, then translated perhaps people who are think-
Since that Welsh course, a lot the remainder.) ing about getting a tattoo will
has happened. Also along the way, a wholly also start thinking about
On that very trip we were unexpected opportunity came to reclaiming their heritage by
interviewed by Elin Fflur and us. Thanks to the recommenda- learning the language of their
appeared on the Welsh-lan- tion of one of our Welsh-speak- forefathers.
guage television program ing friends, a publisher contact- The road out of Nant
“Heno,” (Everyone is always ed us about writing a book— Gwrtheyrn is steep, the climb
surprised that there are “The Welsh Tattoo Handbook.” arduous. One gazes up at it as a
Americans who are learning The publisher, Bradan Press of mountaineer before Everest,
Welsh!) Since returning home, Nova Scotia, publishes a Tattoo with Welsh in one’s heart
we have continued our studies, Handbook series, and would we instead of a pack on one’s back.
chiefly with the online assis- be interested in adding Welsh to Can we return to the world out- Rob explores the Welsh countryside near Beddgelert
tance of my very first Welsh the list? side, a world with Welsh and
tutor, John Good (aka Sioni Easy question, isn’t it? English together, without losing North America is the same Because it is here.
Dda) in Arizona, with whom we And though it took a pile of the Welsh? Or is living with thing. The old land of our Rob’s article can be found in
read and discuss contemporary work, the book is now pub- English like the “death zone” at fathers—and its old language— Welsh on p31.
Welsh literature in class each lished! It aims to help non- the peak of Everest, where no have lost so much, but are still An interview with Rob & his
week. Our daughter was born, Welsh-speaking people find one can live for long? What is here. And as with a mountain wife Meagan, can be found on p
and we started trying to teach good inspiration for Welsh-lan- more difficult—learning Welsh, and the reason to climb it, so we 19.
her Welsh at the same time as guage tattoos and use the lan- or keeping it? learn and keep the language:
she was inevitably learning guage correctly. But really, the In our book, we say that the
English. I would be inter- book means something else to desire for a Welsh tattoo is a NINNAU & Y DRYCH

viewed three times on the my wife and me. Remember, clear expression of hiraeth. I The North American Welsh Newspaper ®
Welsh-language radio program the Welsh government has set a would say that to learn Welsh in

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Page 12 NINNAU - The North American Welsh Newspaper January-February 2021