3rd Owain Glyndwr Festival Sept 14th- 16th 2007

Another year gone and we can’t believe it’s been our third year running the Owain Glyndwr Festival at the Ancient Briton in Pen y Cae. This year, after taking on board your comments, we went the whole hog and ran it for two days and nights and though we are all shattered, we all feel that this year has certainly been the
best so far.

We must thank all those people who put so much work and effort into getting this event together. We have to say this up front as without the volunteer hours, the donated goods, equipment and facilities, transport, the good will gestures and musicians giving of their time for free, we would never have achieved what has certainly been a fantastic weekend. THANK YOU – all of you and you know who you are. We still have things that need improving and will continue to work to build upon the success of the past three years.

A special thank you to:

Cribarth Events - who did such a professional job of the stage, PA and lighting and made a huge difference for our musicians and audience this year!
Meibion y Ddraig, Sons of the Dragon - who created an amazing atmosphere in their archers camp and provided many budding archers with a chance to hone their skills.
Horses Through History – again we couldn’t have done this without you and your horses and the Prince himself.
Hywel and Pontardawe Acoustic Music Club– fine musicians and great entertainment
Jimmy Juggle – the best in kids entertainment and circus skills
The Play Supply – imaginative play and creation for kids and the awarding body of the Cabbage for the Best Horse Poo Sculpture (awarded by Prince Glyndwr)
Dwy Droed Chwith – traditional Welsh clog dancing who meet every Weds at 6pm in Alltwen Community Centre
Glamorgan School of Arms – training in medieval combat skills and martial arts, thanks for superb displays. They meet in Swansea.
Stonecraft – another great local band back again for the festival
Boys From The Hill– who played their penultimate gig on Saturday. Thanks for a great three years guys and good luck for the future!
Lazarus Carpenter – for getting together a fab Friday night of music and keeping the music going on Saturday evening.
Penycae School -who did a wonderful performance of the history of Owain Glyndwr
Glantawe Hawking - who brought with them beautiful birds of prey.
Esyllt Harker and Gillian Stevens – beautiful story telling with traditional music.
Sharie – who stepped in at the last minute to share Welsh faerie tales.
The Friday night (and Sat) musicians – Ian James, Double Zeros, Kelly’s Angles, Esinti, Lazarus and the Lambs, Up the Creek

and….

John Williams (Communities First), Cen and Crew (1st Swansea Valley Scouts), Howard Marr, Crad Lowe, Coelbren School, Welfare Hall and Church and of course Gerald and the staff of the Ancient Briton, for your enthusiasm and constant support of this event.
This event has been sponsored by the BBNPA Sustainable Development Fund and Awards For All.

the Prince arrives on site

Ponty Acoustic Music Club

kids playing the part

Meibion y Ddraig Archers

What a fantastic festival and a big hand for the one who ordered the weather! A little piece of summer was to be found at the Ancient Briton in the Upper Swansea Valley on the 16th September 2006 as the second Owain Glyndwr Festival got into full swing.

Due to the success of the first Owain Glyndwr Festival last year, The Sleeping Giant Foundation knew it had its work cut out to bring a bigger event with more of everything and I believe we did it. The day was packed with a whole variety of things to do from shield and sword making for the children, bodhran an accordion workshops to sampling local crafts, food and real ale.

With the addition of a dedicated music marquee, there was music to be heard all day and well into the night. Friday night started the festival with a session led by the fantastic fiddle player Dan Morris. The music was started on Saturday with three superb performances by local primary schools from Abercraf, Caehopkin and Penrhos which packed out the marquee. Wonderful storytelling in both English and Welsh was done by Esyllt Harker and accompanied by Gillian Stevens playing early Welsh instruments such as the crwth. Owen Griffiths, our local community Police Officer changed into period costume and told some very funny tales. There followed performances by the Pontardawe Acoustic Music Club, a very successful Open Mic session and the evening was rounded off with stunning performances from Stonecraft and the ever energetic Boys from the Hill.

Around the field were other entertainments such as James Matthews from Juggling Roadshow who did wonderful juggling, stilt walking and a circus skills workshop. Jason Gardner from Dragon Forge was present again getting a lot of interest in the work of a blacksmith.
We were graced with the presence of Prince Owain Glyndwr who not only opened and closed the festival, but showed off mounted combat skills to the delight of the audience. The Glamorgan School of Arms added to this by demonstrating medieval hand to hand combat skills. I think there maybe a few new knights in the making.

'We're all exhausted, but really overjoyed about the amazing positive feeling from this event,' said Maureen Mountford The Sleeping Giant Foundation's Director and Festival Organiser, 'we've had a huge turnout and massive amounts of support from our local community.' 'It is events like these that we need to attract people into the area,' said Mr Christopher Gledhill, Chief Executive of the Brecon Beacons National Park who spoke at the festival opening dressed in a monk's outfit!

So now we are looking to next year and we would love to make this into a proper two day event. This will mean that we will need some more help on the festival organising front, so if you want a chance to be a part of this growing event and do something positive for the local community, then get in touch with Eleanor on 01639 731062 - oh and there might be a few quid in it for you as well!

The third Owain Glyndwr Festival will take place on the weekend of the 15th and 16th September 2007 - put it in your diaries now.

The Sleeping Giant Foundation would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all those who helped out, especially the stewards who manned the entrances and car park, the local schools who got their performances together at short notice, Martin Ellis who provided advice and encouragement, Coelbren Miners' Welfare Hall and Coelbren School for the loan of the tables and chairs, Rhiannon Morley who did a sterling job on creating all those foam swords, Abercrave Rugby Club for stewarding Saturday night, Wynn Roberts at Ystradgynlais Welfare Hall who sponsored the shield making workshop, Howard Marr and John Evans, Geraint Roberts, Clive Osborne, Owen Griffiths, 1st Swansea Valley Scouts for the main marquee, Tom Addey of Communities First and John Williams from the Forestry Commission and of course Gerald of the Ancient Briton who continues to support this event and serves the best real ales in Wales....

Links
Boys From The Hill
Horses Through History
Juggling Roadshow
Dragon Forge
Pontardawe Acoustic Music Club
The Ancient Briton 01639 730273
Stonecraft
Glamorgan School of Arms

This event was sponsored by the Sustainable Development Fund (BBNPA) and by Powys County Council.

Wow what a weekend it has been! From the opening night with Mari Lwyd to a scorching set Saturday night by Boys From The Hill, the first Owain Glyndwr Festival organised by The Sleeping Giant Foundation has been a resounding success with all.

Mari Lwyd started the event rolling on Friday night with a set in the Ancient Briton followed by a well attended jam session.

Saturday's weather was kind and the festival kicked off in earnest with lots of people attending. The entertainment was fantastic, with music from Graig Garw Valley Voices, Mari Lwyd, Pontardawe Acoustic Music Club and Hafwen the young harpist. James from the Juggling Roadshow kept the young and young at heart entertained with circus skills, fire juggling and the appearance of a 7ft 'Gandalf'.

Jason Gardner demonstrated the art of the blacksmith and displayed the replica of Owain's sword of state to a rapt audience. He was also wearing the most hilarious pair of home made safety boots that needed to be seen to be believed.

Stories were told by Linda Ware and wonderful crafts, delicious local food and real ale kept people going all day.

The highlight of the day was the appearance of Owain Glyndwr and his standard bearer, both on war horses, opening the festival and being presented his sword in the closing ceremony. Children had the chance to form ranks for a parade with Owain as he led them around the field and the sight of the horses in full regalia was very impressive.

'It's been a big hit,' said Eleanor, The Sleeping Giant Foundation's Development Officer and Festival Organiser, ' People have been saying how much fun it has been and how informative it is. We've had numerous comments on the welcoming, family friendly atmosphere we've had on site. We'll definately be back next year with a bigger and better festival.' Good to hear, especially as last seen Eleanor was riding into the hills on Owain Glyndwr's horse, being led by the Prince himself!!

The festival closed with a spectacular performance by Boys From The Hill that left no-one in doubt that there are some very talented artists in our valley.