Goursez Vreizh, 2002

Report by Rod Lyon (Tewennow)
Deputy Grand Bard

Location. The site for this year's Goursez Vreizh (The Breton Gorseth) was at Menez Meur, about seven miles from the town of Brasparts. The ceremony took place in a clearing, located within the complex of a Breton "centre", displaying and promoting Breton culture and crafts.

Weather. The weather was dry and in the main sunny, although, due to a strong breeze and perhaps the altitude, not particularly warm.

Delegates. There were two delegates from Wales, former Archdruid Geraint Bowen and his wife, Zonia, and from Cornwall the Deputy Grand Bard, Rod Lyon (Tewennow) and his wife, Margaret (Myrgh Casnewydd).

Ceremony. Some 25 bards in all met at Menez Meur at approximately 10 am, and, after a cup of coffee, robed in a small room provided for the purpose. Following robing, we all proceeded to a point about 300 yards from the circle within which the ceremony was to take place, and after a short briefing, and led by a couple of pipers, we processed through an avenue of trees to the circle.

The circle was roughly defined by stones, but in the main by a rope barrier, outside of which stood approximately a hundred members of the public to witness the spectacle. Prominently located in the circle was the Maen-Log or "rock", on which the Drewyth Mur (Gwenc'hlan le Scou‘zec) stood, and eventually one of the delegates from both Wales and Cornwall.

The Drewyth Mur, who incidentally in the Breton Gorseth is a permanent holder of the office, on taking his position on the centre of the "rock" receives the Lady of the Flowers (here dressed completely in white) and accepts her gift. He then welcomes the delegates from Wales and Cornwall, who return greetings and take their place on the "rock", the Welsh delegate on the Drewyth Mur's right, and the Cornish delegate on his left.

Following the sounding of the horn to the four corners of the nation, as in Cornwall and Wales, and the Gorseth Prayer, which again is the same as that used at both the Welsh and Cornish Gorsethow, there were further brief messages from the Welsh and Cornish delegates. The Drewyth Mur then delivered his address - this year quite long and rather strongly worded!

As in the Welsh Gorseth, there are three orders within the Breton Gorseth: Druids (white robes), Bards (blue robes) and Ovates (green robes).Ê This year three druids, two bards and three ovates were received into the Gorseth, the ceremony taking place after the Drewyth Mur's address. Also accepted into the Gorseth was one "Disciple" - a young lady from Israel.

There then followed the "joining of the sword", in which one half of a small ceremonial sword, borne by a Breton Bard, is joined to the other half, borne by a Welsh Bard.Ê This is a symbol demonstrating the united nature of the Welsh and Breton Gorsethow, an act introduced before the founding of the Cornish Gorseth; but to show that the later-formed Cornish Gorseth shares equally the same aims, principles etc of the two other Gorsethow, the newly joined half-swords were given to the Cornish Bard Myrgh Casnewydd, who presented the whole to the Drewyth Mur. After accepting the sword and calling upon the Celtic People to bond together through their "spirit, heart and soul" until the return of Arthur, it was once again placed in the hands of the Cornish Bard, who in the company of the Breton and Welsh Bards, returned with it to their respective places in the circle.

We then witnessed another part of the ceremony which does not appear in the Cornish or Welsh Gorsethow, and that was the presenting of freshly gathered mistletoe, initially to the Drewyth Mur and the two delegates on the "rock", then to the other bards present, and finally to the members of the public outside of the circle of bards. This is to ensure, above all, Youth and Health.

Finally the date of the next Gorseth was announced (the third Sunday in July, 2003), the ceremony closed, and Bro Gozh ma Zado (Bro Goth agan Tasow) sung.

All the bards then left the circle, not in procession, to unrobe and join together for a first-class meal provided on the premises.

This was an excellent Gorseth and it was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion, made even better through the hospitality for which the Bretons are well known.

During our stay over the Gorseth weekend, we were advised of the names of the two Breton Delegates who will be attending our Gorseth at Pensilva in September. These will be Claude Amice from Brasparts and Guy Le Nair from L'Aber Wrac'h.

Tewennow
Cannas Barth Mur
2002

Photo: the Horner calls to the four corners of the Nation