Gruffudd ap Cynan talk 05/03/2023
Harpist Ann Jones hosted a group of Draig Werdd members at her home on a hill above Kilternan, Co. Dublin on Sunday afternoon 5th March 2023, for a talk about Gruffudd ap Cynan, prince of Gwynedd from 1081-1137, and his connections with Ireland. Her talk was enhanced with relevant musical illustrations played by Ann on one of her many harps. The photos below share a wonderful afternoon in a wonderful location.
St. David’s Day reception 01/03/2023
Photos of some members of Draig Werdd and of Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir who were at a reception hosted by the Welsh Government office in Ireland at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin to mark St. David’s Day 2023 in Ireland. Musical entertainment was provided by renowned Welsh harpist Catrin Finch and Irish violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain. Photographs courtesy of Aaron Daly.
Draig Werdd walk 22/01/2023
To coincide with St. Dwynwen’s (Welsh patron saint of lovers) Day on January 26th, a number of members made a circular walk on Howth Head in Dublin, which took in views of the Baily lighthouse, similar to the one on Ynys Llanddwyn off the coast of Anglesey, where St. Dwynwen ended her days, and where the church which she built became a place of pilgrimage in the middle ages. The walk ended with bara brith and Welsh cakes, washed down with a few drinks, in one of the Howth hostelries.
Welsh Diaspora Evening 10/3/2020
Draig Werdd, together with Global Wales Dublin, hosted a social evening on Tuesday 10th March as part of Wales Week Dublin, which took place from 9-13 March in the foyer of the CHQ building on Custom House Quay in Dublin. Those present were able to socialise over food and drink and were entertained by music on the harp from Draig Werdd member Ann Jones Walsh and by the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir, with their conductor Brian Murphy and accompanist John Shera. Poetry and prose readings in Welsh and English, some sample Welsh lessons and a talk from Global Welsh Dublin about their plans for the future were given during the evening in Dome Cymru, which had been erected as a venue for the events of Wales Week Dublin.
St. David’s Day reception in the National Museum of Ireland, 21/2/2019
The Welsh Government hosted a St. David’s Day reception in the rotunda of the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology on the evening of Thursday February 21st 2019 to mark St. David’s Day and to launch a new partnership between the National Museums of Wales and Ireland. In attendance were the directors of both museums as well as Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas AM representing the Welsh government, Sean Kyne, Irish government chief whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language and the British ambassador Robin Barnett. Entertainment was provided by Gwyneth Glyn and Twm Morys from Wales.
Bray-Greystones walk June 25th 2016
One of our annual (or occasionally bi-annual) Draig Werdd walks was held on Saturday June 25th, 2016 when we walked the coastal path from Bray to Greystones. The day turned out to be a very enjoyable one, with fine views over the Irish Sea and along the coastline, and a lot of opportunity to talk along the way, followed by more of the same over a cup of tea of something stronger in Greystones while watching Wales beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Euro 2016.
Some photos from the walk are shown below – click on a thumbnail to enlarge any of them.