6th September 2008 - Bards of the Open Gorseth
The annual open Gorseth of Gorseth Kernow is where new bards are admitted and competition prozes and awards are made to celebrate all things Cornish.
To coincide with the Dehwelans festival this year's Gorseth is in East Looe.
Held in the open air, the bardic circle on Barbican Playing Fields has spectactular views over Looe bay towards Rame Head. The bards assembled at Looe Community School.
Bards are dressed in their distinctive blue robes.
The grand bard and former grand bards join the assembly.
Merv Davey is the piper.
Led by the Heralds the procession leaves the school and makes it's way to the bardic circle on barbican Playing Fields.
Army cadets form a guard of honour at the entrance to the field.
The Awen is the symbol of the Gorseth or Gathering of Bards. Awen is a Welsh word meaning Muse or Inspiration and represents the creative powers in action. It is also known as Y Nod Cyfrin, The Mystic Mark, or Y Nod Pelydr Goleuni, The Mark of the Shaft of Light, where it is derived from the rays of the rising sun. In the Bardic Gorseth however , it represents the attributes of Love, Justice and Truth. It is also a continuing symbol of the Celtic imagination which tends to express concepts in threefold form.
Mayors and Civic dignatries follow the banner and piper.
The flag of St Piran flies proud.
The new bards are not allowed to wear the headdress until they have been admitted.
Christie Phillips is the Lady of Cornwall who leads the flower girls.
Welsh and Breton bards have also travelled to Looe.
Old Cornwall society banners follow the bards.
The bards enter the circle.
Delegates from the Welsh and Breton Gorseths have travelled to Looe.
In the circle harpists play.
