We’ve been advised that on 5 October fifteen autonomy- and independence-supporting regions of Europe, including representatives from Yes Cymru, are meeting for a major international conference at Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh. The organisers, the Scottish Independence Convention in association with the International Commission for European Citizens, invite any of our members who might be interested to join them … there is also an evening ceilidh, and you will be welcome to go to either or both. The conference is 2:00pm–5.00pm and tickets are £10; those for the ceilidh with the Stan Reeves Ceilidh Band are £15 including a fork buffet. Details at this link, and tickets at this link.

Our friends at Cwmulus are hosting another on-line event at 7.00pm on Friday 4 October, when Howard Huws will give an illustrated talk about the wells and springs of Glamorgan and the rich folk culture associated with them. Cwmulus is no longer able to offer simultaneous translation into English, but language learners are welcome to watch the event in order to practise listening to spoken Welsh. There will be plenty of slides to assist understanding. Registration at this link.

We’ve been asked to publicise Arachne Press’ open call for a new poetry anthology, Afonydd … please share the information below as widely as you can.

Arachne Press is looking for short poems linked to the rivers of Wales, written in Welsh and/or English, by poets born in Wales, living in Wales or writing in Welsh.

We are not looking for generic river poems, but for specific poems inspired by particular rivers, that are more than descriptions.

Deadline: 31 July 2024
Full details at this link

Mae gwasg Arachne Press yn chwilio am gerddi byr, heb eu cyhoeddi sydd â chysylltiad ag afonydd Cymru, cerddi Cymraeg neu gerddi Saesneg, gan feirdd sydd yn enedigol o Gymru neu yn byw yng Nghymru neu yn ysgrifennu yn Gymraeg.

Nid ydym yn edrych am gerddi cyffredinol am afonydd, ond yn hytrach cerddi wedi’u hysbrydoli gan afonydd penodol, a cherddi sydd yn fwy na dim ond disgrifiad.

Dyddiad cau: 31 Gorffennaf 2024
Manylion llawn ar y ddolen hon.

The Gaelic Books Council are holding a book launch in their shop (32 Mansfield Street, Glasgow G11 5QP) on Thursday 20 June to mark World Refugee Day.

The book is a new, illustrated edition of Depositions with Welsh, Gàidhlig, Gaeilge and Scots translations of Anton Floyd’s poems which featured in the original book Depositions, which came out last year, written in many languages including Irish, Greek, Egyptian and Arabic. The book gained a lot of interest when it was first published in Ireland, and there is now a version featuring Welsh. The collection holds themes of being forced from home, emigration and refugees, and Floyd is a refugee himself.

The launch will be joined by Anton Floyd and the Gaelic translator, Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, with readings in Welsh and Scots as well. You are very welcome to attend – booking is free and available on Eventbrite.

Thanks to Nerys Brown for passing on this invitation.

Demonstrating how maths and music often go together, our musical director Huw Thomas provided the screenshot above “about Elmer Rees, a former president of the society whom many of us will remember well”.

Our list of Society Office Bearers confirms that Professor Elmer Rees was our Vice-President in 1988/89, becoming President the following season.

To quote the page that Huw found: “Born this day 1941 in Llandybie, near Ammanford, Elmer Gethin Rees, who is a mathematician and has published texts on linear algebra, algebraic geometry, differential geometry and topology. One of his best-known achievements is in establishing the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences, ‘designed to bring together mathematicians and practitioners in science, industry and commerce.’”

A search on The History of Wales Facebook page shows that his birthday (21 April) has been celebrated every year since 2016! If you’re interested in Wales and Welsh people – as most of our readers will be – do take a look at that page, because it’s a constant feed of facts about most interesting folk from all walks of life.