Gorseth Kernow

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Gorseth Kernow is a Cornish organization, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall.

The revived Cornish Gorseth was inaugurated in 1928 by Arch Druid Pedrog of Wales at the request of a small group of Cornish scholars including Henry Jenner and Robert Morton Nance on the pattern of the Welsh Gorsedd.

Gorseth Kernow states its aim as "to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall." As such it supports the revival of the Cornish language. The Gorseth also encourages the study of the arts and history. The Gorseth is a non-political organisation.

The first ceremony took place at Boscawen-Un stone circle in 1928. It has been held annually since and has become an important institution in Cornwall's cultural and civic life. Its competitions attract many applicants and the "open Gorseth" is attended by many Cornish people. There is also extensive coverage on local media. The next open Gorseth will be held in September 2007 in Penzance.

An important part of the open Gorseth is the awarding of bardships to individuals for meritorious work for Cornish culture. Thus the Gorseth acts in many ways as a form of "honours system". Bardships are awarded for study in the language, services to Cornish music, encouraging the arts (especially amongst children) amongst other things. Initiate Bards are given Bardic names by the Grand Bard who welcomes them into the College of Bards. These names are in Cornish and will often refer somehow to the reason for their bardship.

The three major Gorseths in Britain are recorded in an ancient Welsh triad as being held at Moel Merw and Bryn Gwyddon in Wales and Boscawen Un in Cornwall. After domination of the Brythonic Celts by the Saxons the Bardic tradition fell into disuse and despite attempts at revival over the centuries lost all its prestige.