Newcastle Emlyn and Adpar / Castell Newydd Emlyn ac Adpar

The “Action Group against New Supermarket in Newcastle Emlyn” were out in force last Friday (12th June) in town with stalls and banners and even a town crier, putting their case to the public.

They gathered hundreds of signatures against the proposed supermarket development and said that 80 per cent of the people they spoke to were against the building of the supermarket.

Several shops including Fleur de Paris, Little Bite. Little Gems, Fedwen Bakers, Renaissance, The Makers Mark and Ty Croeso Deli closed at 11am, their owners joining the street campaigning.

Chair of the action group, Tim Swann said:

“The great news is that the large majority of the people on the street were solidly against another supermarket. And all seemed very up to speed on the reasons”.

Could the mystery supermarket company be Sainsbury’s?

On Saturday, 4th July 2009 Newcastle Emlyn and its Castle are once again the centre of a remarkable free entry festival of battles, processions, feasts, music, a fayre, stories and dragons. The story of the death of the old dragon and the birth of the new dragon is retold as Owain Glyndwr, Merlin, the Dragon Charmers, Tiamat, the Dragon Queen and others relive the stories and prophecies, then move the story on.

This festival, labelled the first of its kind in west Wales by the Heritage Lottery Fund, who supported the first event, promises to be ‘a thrilling day out, full of exciting and magical entertainment with links to our historical past and an insight into our folklore,’ Councillor Haydon Jones affirms.

The baby dragon, which has been travelling Europe recently, will re-enact its birth and then later in the day be named. There is also the invitation to suggest a name for baby dragon in a special book.

To celebrate this day a new song is being looked for; a song about the baby dragon, other Welsh dragons or the Dragon as the Spirit of the Welsh people. Anyone wishing to offer a song, in Welsh or English, to be performed on the day should contact Marc Gordon on 07766 370561. The song judged to be the best on the day will be awarded a recording session at the Red Kite Studios.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to join in with lots of activities such as making costumes, puppets, dragon’s wings and eggs with Trysordy Scrap Store, then taking part in the procession of dragons through the town at 3pm . You can have a go at archery in the encampment of Cwm Rhefeloidd and then watch these gallant men and Owain Glyndwr go into battle. The birds of Pant Glas will be flying, Big Small Events and Teatro do Elefante from Portugal will be fire juggling, providing theatre, and strolling minstrels will be performing around the medieval fayre.

A very modern addition will be the chance for visitors to broadcast live to the Heart of The Dragon Website. www.heartofthedragonwales.org

Also ongoing during the day will be the Attic Theatre and Hanes Emlyn’s exhibition as well as impromptu performances around town. Plus the chance to win an amazing Dragon Crystal donated by Rainbow Crystals.

In the evening Owain, with Merlin, returns on horseback through town to the castle to reclaim his flag and meet his bride. There is to be a wedding feast, the marriage itself, the performance of the winning song, dancing, music and dancing, fire juggling, story telling and the fire sculpture.

Interested in being involved contact:

Pamela on 01559 371427
or
Annette on 01559 370969

Contacts:

Pamela Gaunt / Artistic Director
01559 370969
pamelagaunt@aol.com

Marc Gordon / Music & Song Competition Organiser
07766 370969 /01239 710700
marcgordon@btinternet.com

Annette Ecuyere Lee / Festival Organiser
01559 370969
ecuyere@btinternet.com

From: Pamela Gaunt Artistic Director Heart of the Dragon.

Heart of the Dragon has received a grant of £4,895 to work with local community groups to become part of the next Heart of the Dragon Festival planned for July 4th 2009.

Click for larger image

The success of the first festival in 2007 left many people asking ”when is it happening again?”…so the grant gives the opportunity of schools, youth clubs, drama groups, to work with professional storytellers, musicians, puppet and mask makers to take central roles in the re-enactment of the towns local legend of the Last Dragon.

Lady Mayoress Maureen Webley, says:

“I am delighted that the Dragon Festival Committee have been successful in obtaining Awards for All funding, as a great boost towards the preparations for the 2nd Dragon Festival in Newcastle Emlyn, which hopefully will be as successful if not more so than the first. The interest being shown by a number of international groups is very exciting and the town looks forward to seeing their involvement in the Festival”

The festival will be held around the grounds of Emlyns castle and river, where there will be historic battle re-enactments, medieval fayre, birds of prey show, a dragon procession,the now famous arrival of the coracle bearing the dragon egg (which appeared in the town in 2006) a second chance to see the hatching of the First Baby Dragon of Wales, and a fulfillment of Merlins prophecy with Owain Glandwr returning to reclaim his Dragon Queen! See www.heartofthedragonwales.org.uk

To book a visiting artist to work with your group please contact pamelagaunt@aol.com 01559 371427. Or for an inspiration pack with a storytelling and music CD and a thirty minute DVD contact Debbie at thehowlettclan@homecall.co.uk 01559 370842

For further information on Awards for All or to obtain an application pack please call 01686 611 740 or website www.awardsforall.org.uk