Penn Bloath Lowen Kernewek – Happy Birthday Cornish Language

It’s 20 years since we secured the official recognition of the Cornish Language. Remember it well.
I was surprised when I discovered I was the first to speak Cornish in Parliament in May 1997. And I considered it an honour to lead the campaign for the official recognition of our language in Parliament at that time. I took the campaign through 5 Government departments as Ministers struggled to decide how to respond to our request! That takes nothing from the outstanding leaders of the language movement at that time. They deserve the credit and should be celebrated. Not I. I was merely a vehicle for their excellent efforts. ‘Pur da’!