The Celtic festival season bursts into life this weekend with Cwlwm Celtaidd, a family-friendly festival which retains strong links with the Isle of Man and presents a packed weekend programme of concerts, dances, workshops, street displays and legendary bar sessions in the seaside town of Porthcawl.
Returning after a year’s hiatus to assess the festival’s future strategy, Cwlwm Celtaidd has gone into partnership with TRAC Cymru, an initiative which promotes and encourages the participation and development of the folk music scene in Wales.
Manx group Perree Bane, who will attend this year’s festival, has forged a long term relationship with organisers of the event, presenting a striking presence with their colourful costume adapted from historical record, and often seen at local events. Based in the south of the Island, the group’s name is taken from the Manx Gaelic words for ‘white jacket’, which partners the Loaghtan wool trousers worn by the men of the group.
Although still firmly linked to its home town of Porthcawl in South Wales, a further major change for the festival is a move into the Hi Tide Resort and Complex, which first opened its doors in 1947 as a beach shop with refreshment stalls, but has developed into the borough’s top cabaret and function venue.
Cwlwm Celtaidd also provides a great opportunity for an early, seasonal break – combining local amenities and outdoor pursuits with the richness of a fast-paced and rewarding festival.
Valerie Caine
© March 2019
(Courtesy of Manx Life)
