Introduction to the British Isles

1. Introduction to the British Isles Wales

3. Some facts and figures • Just over 20 000 km² • 200 km east to west • 250 km north to south • Population: 2.94 million (2001 census) • 80% of the land dedicated to agriculture • Highest mountain: Mt. Snowdon (1,085 m) • 1,300 kilometres of coastline

4. Steam Railway: Snowdonia National Park

5. Longest place name • Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch (St. Mary’s Church in a hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and St. Tysill’s Church of the red cave) aka Llanfair PG

6. The counties of Wales

7. Important dates • 750 AD Offa’s Dyke boundary between Mercia and the Welsh kingdoms

8. 1110 “Little England” Henry I moves Flemish settlers to a farming settlement in South Pembrokeshire

9. 1284 Edward I annexes Wales – migration from England to Wales. Castles such as Caernarfon built to protect English Interests

10. 1536 Act of Union with England under Henry VIII • 1770s Religious refugees flee to Wales, including French Huguenots • 1788 Welsh convicts sent to Australia • 1841 Irish flee to mainland Britain as a result of the Great Famine. Nearly 30 000 settle in Wales • 1850s Rural Welsh move to the cities: by 1900, 63% of the population concentrated in Glamorgan and Monmouthshire

11. Who are the Welsh? • Celtic tribes from Europe came to settle the whole of the British Isles 500-100 BC, alongside the original Iron Age population. • Celtic language behind the modern Welsh language • Roman and Saxon invasions pushed the original Britons into the land area of Wales • Inward and outward migration has added new layers of population

12. The origin of the word Wales • Variation on Anglo-Saxon word meaning foreigners. Cf. Walloon • The Welsh word for the country is Cymru (friends/comrades) cf Cumbria

13. Symbols of Wales Y Ddraig Goch

14. Daffodils – narcissus obvallaris

15. Leeks

16. St. David (1st March) • Male voice choirs • National anthem: Land of my Fathers • Rugby • Pobol Y Cwm • Food: laverbread, welsh tea cakes, bara brith • Welsh lovespoon

18. Famous Welsh people • Henry VII • Dylan Thomas • RS Thomas • Tom Jones • Max Boyce • Catherine Zeta Jones • Anthony Hopkins

19. Cool Cymru • 1990s – Music: Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals (Newport as the “new Seattle”) • - Films: Justin Kerrigan (Human Traffic) • - Fashion: Julien Macdonald

20. Manic Street Preachers

21. Welsh languageCymraeg • 20% of the population consider Welsh as their mother tongue • Concentration in the north-west • Welsh and English official languages • Welsh medium education • Welsh compulsory in schools • Welsh language radio and television • Bilingual roadsigns

22. Industry in Wales • Early 20th century – coal, steel (south), slate (north), fishing, maritime industry • Main industries today are tourism and public services • Manufacturing: less heavy industry, more electronics, technology-related industry

23. Economic deprivation, especially South Wales valleys (former mining areas) • 2003 – Average gross income 17 900 GBP (cf 21 600 in England, 19 500 in Scotland)

24. Leisure activities • Visiting the pub (58% say it’s their favourite activity) • Sport (35% do sport on a regular basis) • DIY, Gardening • Music – Welsh festivals such as Eisteddfod

25. Devolution in Wales • 1925: Plaid Cymru founded • 1979: referendum rejected by 80% • 1997: referendum 50.3% in favour (Assembly, not parliament), 49.7% against • 1999 Welsh Assembly 60 AMs (40 constistuency; 20 from party lists, using alternative party vote) • Main responsibilities: health, education, economic development, rural affairs • No power over: defence, foreign affairs, taxation, policing • Welsh Assembly elections 2003: Labour 30 AMs, PC 12, Conservatives 11

26. Still 40 MPs at Westminster, Secretary of State for Wales a member of the cabinet • Budget of 14 billion GBP • Different policy decisions from Westminster include abolition of Key Stage 1 and 2 tests for school children (at 6-7 and 10-11); free prescription charges for under – 25s; plans to abolish prescription charges completely by 2007; appointment of Children’s Commissioner

27. First minister – Alun Michael (1999 - 2000; resigned over sex scandal) • Rhodri Morgan (2000 - )

28. Welsh Assembly building at Cardiff Bay; new chamber designed by Lord Richard Rogers, opened on St. David’s Day, 2006

30. Quiz • What is the capital of Wales? • What is the Welsh flag called? • What is the population of Wales? • What percentage of the population speak Welsh? • Where is the Welsh Assembly? • What percentage of the population voted in favour of the Assembly in 1997? • How big is Wales? • Who annexed Wales to England? • Under which monarch was the Act of Union in 1536? • Which two counties home the majority of the population? • What is the population of Wales? • What percentage of Welsh land is dedicated to agriculture? • Who designed the new chamber at the Welsh Assembly? • Who is the patron saint of Wales and which date is his feast day? • What are the national emblems of Wales?

31. Cardiff • Y Draig Goch • 2.94 million • 20% • Cardiff Bay • 50.3% • 20 000 km² • Edward I • What is the capital of Wales? • What is the Welsh flag called? • What is the population of Wales? • What percentage of the population speak Welsh? • Where is the Welsh Assembly? • What percentage of the population voted in favour of the Assembly in 1997? • How big is Wales? • Who annexed Wales to England?

32. Henry VIII • Glamorgan and Monmouthshire • 80% • Tourism • Lord Richard Rogers • St. David – 1st March • Leeks and daffodils • Under which monarch was the Act of Union in 1536? • Which two counties home the majority of the population? • What percentage of Welsh land is dedicated to agriculture? • What is the largest industry today? • Who designed the new chamber at the Welsh Assembly? • Who is the patron saint of Wales and which date is his feast day? • What are the national emblems of Wales?