WALES-BRITTANY LINKS STRENGTHENED AT EUROPEAN CELTIC FESTIVAL

30 Jul 2002 01:59 PM

Wales will be renewing old friendships with Brittany at the Lorient Inter-Celtic Festival later this week (Friday, 2 August). From Pontardawe to Pontypool, from Caernarfon to Ruthin – more than 20 Welsh towns are twinned with communities in Brittany and have built up a close relationship with their Celtic cousins.

Wales is the featured country at Brittany’s Inter-Celtic Festival this year. The festival attracts 700,000 European visitors who come to enjoy music and culture of the Celtic nations. Wales will be flying the flag at Lorient when it stages a showcase of the best in Welsh food and drink, culture and music and visitor attractions throughout the week (2-11 August). The Wales Pavilion is a joint venture by the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales Tourist Board, Welsh Development Agency and Wales Arts International.

"This is an exciting opportunity to promote a 21st century Wales to a wide audience," said Welsh Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies, who will travel to Lorient to officially launch the Wales Pavilion.

"It is a great honour for Wales to be the featured nation at this year’s Festival and I hope that our presence will increase awareness of Wales. The Festival attracts people from all four corners of the world and our aim to make sure that they leave knowing more about Wales, what it has to offer and what we are trying to achieve."

The Wales Pavilion will include daily live music performances by Welsh singers and musicians, cookery demonstrations and information about Wales' award-winning restaurants and hotels and other visitor attractions. A range of high-quality crafts produced in Wales will be on display, as well street entertainment. The Welsh Books Council will be promoting a strong selection of books from Wales.

Welsh Culture Minister Jenny Randerson will be launching the Year of Wales at the Lorient Festival on Monday, 5 August.

The Wales World Nation Pavilion will be situated at Place Paul Bert in Lorient from Friday 2 August to Sunday 11 August, and will be open from 11am to 7pm. Admission is free.

Note:

1. The following Welsh councils have twining arrangements with communities in Brittany:

Name of Council French community

Carmarthen Lesneven

Cwmamman Pouldergat

Llandeilo Le Conquet

Llandovery Pluguffan

Newcastle Emlyn Plonevez-Porzay

Llandybie Ploneour-

Lanvern

St Clears Peillac

Ruthin Briec

St Asaph Begard

Pontypool Longjumeau

Caernarfon Landerneau

Harlech Riec-Sur-Belon

Caerphilly Lannion

Llandysul Plogonnec

Aberystwyth St B Brieuc

Brecon Gouesnou

Crickhowell Scaer

Gorseinon & Llwchwr Ploermel

Crymych Plomelin

Pencoed Plouzane

Pontardawe Locmine

Fishguard & Goodwick Loctudy

Penarth St Pol-De-Leon

(30 July, 2002)