’A little over 500 years ago Michael Joseph of St Keverne lead a Cornish host against one of the most powerful institutions in Europe, the English crown. His was a protest against the poor treatment of the Cornish and this memory continues to fuel the Cornish spirit to the present day.’

Thus began the spirited words of Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, Grand Bard of Cornwall and passionate Cornishman, as he delivered his Proclamation speech on behalf of the bards of Gorsedh Kernow gathered in St Keverne in front of the iconic statue of Thomas Flamank and Michael ’An Gof’ Joseph. 

’Today it is our culture and heritage which is under threat but unlike Michael Joseph we have the use of some powerful democratic tools,’ said the Grand Bard.

’We now have recognition of the Cornish language, Kernewek, in 2002, National Minority Status in 2014 and the Devolution Deal of 2015 which includes a clear commitment to cherish and promote our precious Cornish heritage.’

Standing alongside the celebrated statue of Flamank and An Gof, the Chairman of St Keverne Parish Council, Cllr David Lambrick, warmly welcomed the gathering of blue robed bards and formally invited Gorsedh Kernow to hold their bardic ceremony and Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture in the town later in the year.

Welcoming the establishment of the Heritage Kernow Board as set out by the Cornwall Devolution Deal the Grand Bard called for the new Board to be representative of Cornish organisations across the entire range of heritage and to work towards Cornwall’s full ownership of her heritage assets.