Celebration Of Owain Glyndwr

Schoolchildren from Llanelli will be taking part in a celebration of the life of Owain Glyndwr in Carmarthen next Friday – the 616th anniversary of his proclaiming himself Prince of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event on Owain Glyndwr Day Friday September 16 is part of the Children’s Festival of Welsh History which has over 130 shows at heritage sites all over Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire County Council Community First team has arranged for pupils from Penygaer School and Old Road School to attend the event outside Carmarthen Castle, one of Wales most important castles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The children will have the chance to meet the rebel Prince of Wales in an interactive performance aimed at children aged 6 – 11 years of age. Actors from In Character will bring the show to life highlighting to the children what caused the rebellion; what happened during those twelve years in battle, and why do we still remember Owain Glyndŵr as one of the greatest Welsh heroes of all time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After years of oppression by the Marcher Lords and the English crown, one brave Welshman decided enough was enough. He dreamed of an independent Wales, and in 1400 proclaimed himself Prince of Wales. He was the last native Welshman to hold the title. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He led a twelve year rebellion against the English rule in Wales, and although initially successful, in the end, Owain Glyndŵr was forced to retreat. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The castle has an interesting and violent history with many battles fought nearby over control of the castle, with one of the most famous incidents in the early 1400s when the castle was repeatedly taken by Owain Glyndwr during his rebellion, but recaptured by the King himself. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event, Owain Glyndŵr – The Rebel Prince of Wales, is being held under the Community Involvement Plan and there will be a performance at about 10.15am with around 50 children and staff attending. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, who is a member of the Carmarthen Town Centre Regeneration Forum sub-committee for events, said: “This will be an excellent event and I’m pleased to be involved with the Forum organising it with the council’s tourism section. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Owain Glyndwr had been in Carmarthen Castle. He came down the Tywi Valley and they came out and gave him the keys.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​