A new exhibition has opened in the town to mark the anniversary of the special twinning relationship
By Ian Lewis · 21 September 2022
Carmarthen is celebrating its 40th twinning anniversary with the northern French town of Lesneven
A delegation from the town in Brittany visited Carmarthen earlier this month
chair of the Carmarthen Twinning Association said: "Established in 1982
the link between the two towns was re-set after being unable to visit each other during the Covid-19 pandemic
When he was mayor of Carmarthen in 1982 Cllr Hughes Griffiths arranged a twinning ceremony at the Guildhall and guests meet up to re-enact the original declaration during their September visit
Cllr Griffiths added: " The weekend to welcome the Bretons from our twin town Lesneven was a great success
Due to Covid it was the first time back after a two year break in our exchanges
"They were able to take part in the Urdd Grand Parade through Carmarthen as part of proclaiming that next year's Urdd National Eisteddfod will be in Carmarthenshire
"The Bretons were proud to carry their national flags as part of the procession and later joined in the Jamboree held in Carmarthen Park.”
The Forty Years of Twinning exhibition has also opened at Carmarthen Library which runs until October 5 for the public to view it
It shows the links and exchanges that have been made between Carmarthen and Lesneven in so many aspects of every day life
A ceremony was also held at the former Crown Court at the Guildhall where the original Twinning Ceremony was held in April 1982
Carmarthen deputy mayor Cllr Wyn opened the proceedings and extended the Bretons a warm welcome
Malcolm Jones read out the charter as agreed between the two towns
he was the Carmarthen Twinning Secretary that read out the same Charter in the original ceremony
The guest speaker was the well known poet and TV presenter Aneirin Karadog
who addressed the ceremony in Welsh and Breton
in English and French - the four official languages of the twinning
Cllr Thomas presented a cultural map of Wales to be forwarded to the mayor of Lesneven and Cllr Griffiths presented an inscribed Welsh Slate to Yann Iestyn the Chair of the Lesneven Twinning Committee
a Carmarthen based choir and the ceremony was followed by a Twinning Supper at St Peters’ Civic Hall where a special birthday cake to celebrate 40 years of twinning between the two town was cut by both chairs of the twinning committees
the Bretons went to the Mayor’s Parlour at St Peter's Civic Hall and signed the visitors book
They also extended a warm welcome in May of next year to the people of Carmarthen to visit Lesneven
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When Spurs player Joe Rodon signed on a season-long loan to Rennes
little did the Welsh international defender realise that every time he steps out at the French club’s home ground
Rennes is the capital of Brittany in north west France and the Ligue 1 club’s anthem
which is also the national anthem of Brittany
During the first interview Rodon gave to his new club
it was explained to him that the anthem – Bro Gozh ma Zadoù – has the same tune as the Welsh national anthem
and in Breton the anthem’s title is the same as the Welsh version – Old Land of My Fathers
The Breton lyrics were the creation of François Jaffrennou in 1897
from Pontypridd – the composer of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
The Breton national anthem is also often played during major sporting events in the French region – including at all Rennes home games
It’s thought that the tune was chosen as the Breton national anthem to celebrate the friendship between the Welsh and Bretons at a Congress of the Union Régionaliste Bretonne held in Lesneven in 1903
And it’s not just the anthem – there are also a number of other similarities between the two cultures
Welsh and Breton are Brythonic languages and so are also linguistically similar
Wales and Brittany also form part of six Celtic nations
is also sung to the same tune as Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
We reckon that should be plenty to make Joe Rodon feel right at home
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If you go to Vigo you can support Celta Vigo
Many bars in Galicia play Celtic folk music and restaurants often have Celtic banquets
Lannion is twinned with Caerphilly as well 🙂
Make yourself a platform there joe continuing into the World Cup
https://nantes.maville.com/actu/actudet_-Nos-coeurs-battent-pour-le-Pays-de-Galles_-441423_actu.Htm
and Guérande is in the same department than Nantes
departement of loire-atlantique is the heart of political and independant britanny
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Wales midfielder Jordan James has joined Brittany club Rennes in France
left Birmingham City to join the club in Ligue 1 in a deal worth around £4m
It’s the club where James’ international colleague Joe Rodon had a loan spell when at Tottenham
It’s a great move for the rising young star who is is sure to love it at the club – one of the reasons being that every time he steps out at the French club’s home ground
The anthem – Bro Gozh ma Zadoù – has the same tune as the Welsh national anthem
Can’t wait to get started! Thank you for the warm welcome, @staderennais! See you at Roazhon park, Sunday 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/1FM6gFuT1e
— Jordan James (@JordanJaj66) August 12, 2024
finished 10th in the French league last year
James said: “I’m delighted to be joining Rennes
“I can’t wait to play with my new teammates
and experience France football and Ligue 1
We reckon that Jordan James will feel right at home
It was chosen because the Britons (Welsh in English) and Bretons were once the same people
But would morph into distinct cultures due to be isolated by England and France
Have always had a soft spot for that part of the world
Good luck to Jordan its nice to see younger players broadening their horizons .
What’s the connection between Steven Spielberg and the town of Carmarthen in southwest Wales, UK
The answer is a national premiere of his 1993 classic Jurassic Park
In the 1980s, Carmarthen’s Lyric Cinema was on its last legs and ready for the wrecking ball. At least that’s what authorities had in mind. They pictured a new shopping center
Local drama volunteer Liz Evans thought the theater would be perfect for staging shows with local kids
Noting the impact live performance had on their quality of life
she decided to mount a production of Jesus Christ Superstar
This wasn’t intended to revive the Lyric’s fortunes
just give it a bit of razzle-dazzle before construction crews moved in
Evans soon realized the potential was there to keep it as a venue
The structure had been part of Carmarthen for hundreds of years. Film Hub Wales reveals how it started out as a townhouse with an illustrious past
The Spectator’s Sir Richard Steele (1672 – 1729) reportedly died here
In the mid-1930s “the building was refurbished to a 1,000 seat cinema, in the ‘moderne’ style with Art Deco detailing,” they write
Half a century later and the magic had faded. Liz Evans’ son Wynne – a radio presenter and singer, now known for his role in the Go Compare insurance ads – is quoted by the Daily Mail saying there were “bits of the ceiling on the floor and all the seats were ripped
And there was only one man who could help them…
According to reports, a premiere of Jurassic Park was initially arranged
only to be canceled for unspecified reasons
Liz Evans’ dino dreams looked to be dashed. However, her cause was taken up by friend Richard Goodridge. A postman, Goodridge also had the honor of being the mayor at the time. He wrote directly to Steven Spielberg complaining about the aborted premiere
To say the community was looking forward to the event is an understatement
Part of the letter read that: “People have postponed their holidays to see it.”
Goodridge was then contacted by Spielberg’s reps
Hollywood had taken an unlikely shine to the Welsh community spirit
When it finally happened, the premiere was an authentic Jurassic experience. Liz Evans reportedly bought inflatable dinosaurs, cardboard displays and even created a special cocktail
This screening took place at the same time as the Royal premiere in London
Evans apparently pipped their projectionist to the post
ensuring Wales got it shown first by mere minutes
It was surely only a matter of time before this saga got a film treatment of its own. Sky Originals is behind Save the Cinema
The plot reportedly features Evans barricading herself into the cinema as part of the action
Wales Online reported that filming took place on the streets of Carmarthen
“Parts of the town were closed off,” while “a section of King Street was transformed to look like the early 1990s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip-SURWiJko
More from us: The Weird Oscar Record Steven Spielberg Holds
Directed by Sara Sugarman (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen)
the film co-stars Harry Potter’s Tom Felton as Richard Goodridge
with Liz’s sons Wynne and Mark in small roles playing themselves
Save the Cinema was released on January 14th
Sites he contributes to include The Vintage News
His short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books
linkedin.com/in/steve-palace-91399144/?originalSubdomain=uk
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