Cloddiwch Dryweryn? Capel Celyn flooding recreated in Minecraft to teach children Welsh history

Children in Wales are being taught about Welsh history, including the flooding of Capel Celyn, by playing the Minecraft video game.

Mentrau Iaith Cymru, and in particular Menter Iaith Môn, Dinbych and Caerffili have been working within the game to create significant buildings and moments in Welsh history.

Castell Dinas Brân near Llangollen and the village of Capel Celyn, situated near Bala which was flooded to create a reservoir for Liverpool in 1965, have already been built and broadcast live on social media, which allows everyone to watch it at any time.

“The spirit of our grandparents lives on in these young people, when you see the energy and ingenuity they have in rebuilding their heritage on Minecraft,” Richard Owen, Menter Iaith Môn, explained.

“We are about to release a video showing in minutes how Castell Dinas Bran rose from the first stone to a great structure. The village of Capel Celyn, including the Chapel, is also a marvel, but of course history is history so there may be surprises for some of the children as the village disappears under the floodwater of the Tryweryn dam.

“In essence, the activity allows young people to socialize and work together in Welsh, essential skills for the future workplace, while also having fun and developing a greater depth of understanding of their history.”

Popularity

The next project will be to recreate Aberlleiniog Castle. The original pilot group were children local to Ynys Môn, Dinbych and Caerffili, but it’s planned now to extend the project to include 7-11 year old children from across Wales.

However, given the popularity of the project, participants who have been verified by Menter Iaith Môn will be registered on a first-come first-served basis.

The initial registration can be made by emailing your contact details to [email protected].

The Minecraft videos can be watched here.