CORNISH LANGUAGE BROADCASTER CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

(Tavethlor Kernewek a wra solempnya y dhegves penn-bloodh)

RADYO AN GERNEWEGVA is celebrating nearly ten-years of Cornish language broadcasting – when it published its first 20-minute podcast on the 22nd February 2008.

Cornish journalist and business entrepreneur Matthew Clarke, said: “It was a hugely significant moment when we experimented in producing a magazine programme entirely in Cornish.”

“The show grew to an hour-long production every week and is now broadcast on The Source FM and Radio St Austell Bay, Coast FM, and it was also on the Hub FM (now closed).”

  Matthew Clarke

The Cornish service is run by Matthew Clarke and is celebrating ten-years of weekly productions and is marking its 500th show in the same week, he said.

Mr Clarke, said: “This anniversary is an important reminder of the role the creative industries can play in driving growth and attracting inward investment opportunities in Cornwall.”

“At the moment there is very little appetite by the mainstream media and the UK Government to support one of Europe’s oldest languages, but we are looking to expand and revamp our website (www.anradyo.com), and we have begun a TV service on YouTube called ‘Pellwolok an Gernewegva’.”

“It publishes a monthly news programme entirely in Cornish and a selection of other shows too, and recent programmes have been racking up over a thousand views on Facebook.”

“With a clear vision for the years ahead, we are seeking business partners and organisations to support our video outreach service, to see it thrive and embrace a bigger audience and opportunities,” he said.

Radyo an Gernewegva has formed a media partnership with Dorcas Media to work on business development and long-term sustainability plans, said Mr Clarke.

“Whitehall axed all central spending on the Cornish language a few years ago, and if it wasn’t for the large number of volunteers who supported and funded the service through ‘Crowd funding’ our indigenous language would certainly disappear.”

“All the other British languages have services like BBC Alba, BBC Cymru, S4C, BBC nan Gaidheal, and BBC Northern Ireland  – Cornish is the only British language that gets no Government support.  It is a disgrace and must stop,” said Mr Clarke.

For further information, contact: Matthew Clarke 01209 610890 / 07870 443535 matthew@kernowpods.com

Foot Note:

• Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language similar to Welsh and Breton. It is also related to Irish, Manx and Scottish Gaelic.
• The Cornish language nearly died out in the 19th and early 20th centuries. A revival began in the early 20th century.
• About 400 people are fluent in Cornish. However, thousands more have the ability to understand and speak some Cornish.
• More information on learning Cornish can be found on www.learncornishnow.com