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New S4C series celebrates Welsh place names

25 Jun 2023 3 minute read
Presenter Tudur Owen. Photo S4C

S4C has produced a new series of short films celebrating Welsh place names.

The six short films have been created as part of the popular Cynefin series, and are being screened following the heated debate in the media about the decision of the Brecon Beacons National Park to revert to its Welsh name.

Presented by Tudur Owen, the series has been created for the Welsh language broadcaster’s social media platforms.

Tudur Owen believes Welsh place names belong to everyone – including people who live outside Wales and by outlining the origins of six place names including the Bannau Brycheiniog, Llandysul, Great Orme, or Gogarth in Welsh, Llandudno, Betws-y-coed and Penychain near Pwllheli, he hopes to encourage people to treasure and use the Welsh names.

The six films, which are also available in English, have been produced for S4C by Rondo and will be available to watch on S4C’s YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok platforms.

Passionate

“I’m passionate about Welsh place names. I think they’re important not only to tell us where we are, but also who we are.

“More often than not, there’s a good story behind a Welsh name – there are centuries of history to start with,” Tudur Owen said.

“It’s important to keep a hold of them because we see them disappearing and see them as some kind of symptom of the threat there is to society as things change.

“I try not to preach too much but these are our names, and they belong to everyone – including people outside Wales. They are part of the history of the British Isles after all – something to be treasured and protected.

“As people watch these short, small films I hope they will then be able to decide for themselves, because I think it’s a mistake to dictate and legislate and force people to use them. People have to use the Welsh names of their own free will.”

Llinos Wynne, S4C’s Factual Content Commissioner, said: “The debate over the use of Welsh place names has been a hot topic recently, and so Tudur, who is so passionate about the subject, is the perfect presenter for the films.

“It is also important that this content is available to non-Welsh speakers as it has such a valuable contribution to make to broaden understanding of the origin of our place names. Through our social media platforms we hope that these films will reach as wide an audience as possible.”


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Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

The personality of field names are a treasure trove of local and family history, wonderful stuff. I’m looking forward to them…

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

Note to Mr M Mansfield: if this this an example of N.C On Sunday’s to come then full marks Sir, diolch…

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
1 year ago

Da iawn Tuds, great work!!
Great article Nation Cymru too!!

Anyone who is interested in Welsh Place Names, I would encourage you to look into the Welsh Place Name Sociaety / Cymdeithas Enwau Lleoedd Cymru.
They are doing great work encoraging & recording these names around the country, so they are not lost to the midsts of time.

https://www.cymdeithasenwaulleoedd.cymru/en/ (English)
https://www.cymdeithasenwaulleoedd.cymru/ (Welsh)

For just £10 per year, you could join the Society & do your little bit for Cymru!

George Bodley
George Bodley
1 year ago

I think Tudor Owen is wrong about legislating for our place names in wales ,does he think that english names should be imposed ,its like saying lets call french place names by an english name or rename a place name in England you can imagine the outcry if you tried that in both those nations.particularly little england.

Richard Thomas
Richard Thomas
1 year ago
Reply to  George Bodley

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make here. I’m pretty sure what he’s saying is we shouldn’t force the adoption of a particular name by the force of law, but merely use good will and common preference to encourage further use. Very few people (basically nobody) would now write Llanelly, Nevin or Carnarvon; I do occasionally encounter Conway but that’s a rarity now. To be honest with you I’m sure most English people aren’t in any way bothered by the use of Welsh place names; names are names to them; they only call that big mountain in Gwynedd… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Richard Thomas
lufcwls
lufcwls
1 year ago

We recently moved to north Wales (from south) and changed the name of our house from an English name to a Welsh name that fits in with the area. The amount of terrible, not original, place names up here is ridiculous.

Ed Jones
Ed Jones
1 year ago
Reply to  lufcwls

Diolch! Hope you enjoy it up here!

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