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Celtic Brotherhood: fact or fiction?

Welsh and Irish connections are the subject of the inaugural lecture and symposium at the Wales Millennium Centre on Saturday, November 18. This auspicious event is the culmination of a week–long celebration of Wales’ Celtic ties with Ireland, organised by North Wales Stage (Llwyfan Gogledd Cymru) as part of its residency at WMC.  Prominent business people and academics will gather to hear keynote speaker, Arwel Ellis Owen deliver a broadcaster and author’s view of the Celtic Brotherhood, as he explores the myths and realities of current day and historic relations between the two countries.

In the mid 1980s Mr Owen spent three years in Belfast as head of programmes at BBC Northern Ireland. Whilst there, he gained a valuable insight into the life, culture and politics of the country, getting to know key people and gaining an appreciation of their different perspectives and motivations. He has also traveled extensively in the Republic of Ireland and has trained journalists from across the world, including Moldova, India, Dubai and Norway.

Joining him to form a distinguished top table discussion panel at the event are Colm McGrady, Consul General of Ireland to Wales, Dr Claire Connolly from University of Wales, Cardiff and Dr Paul O’Leary from University of Wales, Aberystwyth. They will each respond to Mr Ellis Owen’s lecture and introduce their own thoughts on the current state of play between Irish Welsh relations. Following their comments, the floor will be opened up to a question and answer session.

Entrance to the event, which is being held in the Japanese Room at 3pm, is free, although places are limited.

North Wales Stage (Llwyfan Gogledd Cymru) takes up residency at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay from 14-18 November 2006 with a series of events, performances and lectures exploring the cultural links between Wales and Ireland.
From the staging of Ifor ap Glyn and Darach   Scolaí’s thought-provoking production Branwen to poetry readings by some of Wales’ greatest living poets, including Iwan Llwyd and Myrddin ap Dafydd, to the inaugural Celtic Brotherhood lecture and symposium, the residency promises a feast of entertainment, discussion and debate to enrich the cultural conversation of the Cardiff and beyond.

More information is available from North Wales Stage on 07855 758 264 or via the website: www.north-wales-stage.co.uk.