The new Cymru national football team manager Craig Bellamy paid a visit to a Machynlleth landmark on Owain Glyndŵr day.
The Owain Glyndwr Centre in Machynlleth welcomed a special visitor on September 16 in the form of current head coach of the Welsh national football team, Craig Bellamy.
The former footballer visited the site of the centre which stands on the site of a parliament held in 1404 where the historic Welsh leader was crowned Prince of Wales, becoming the first native born Welshman to hold the title.
The parliament building is Grade 1 listed due to its historical importance and was given to Machynlleth by Lord David Davies of Llandinam in February 1912.
"I have to understand being Welsh, where I'm from, and the most important people to have come from our country. It means a lot to me."
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) September 16, 2024
Machynlleth ❤️🏴#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/1QQcq8C0WA
Owain Glyndwr Day, held annually on September 16, is a celebration of the life and legacy of last native Prince of Wales, with many schools and organisations commemorate the day through parades and reflections on then history of his revolt.
The day is celebrated on the day Glyndwr was proclaimed as Prince of Wales by his followers in 1400, after which he instigated a 15-year Welsh Revolt against the rule of King Henry IV of England.
The Welsh coach has his own history with the famed Welsh leader, revealing that he had a tattoo of Glyndwr on his upper arm throughout his football career.
Bellamy’s tattoo depicts the Battle of Pilleth in 1402, a battle fought in Powys that was led by Owain Glyndwr.
In 2008 he was quoted saying: “I’m a proud Welshman who is big on Welsh history and Owain Glyndŵr was a huge idol for me.
“Reading about what he did helped me to understand where I’m from, how we’ve come up in the world as Welsh people and so on. I like what he stood for.”
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He also met with pupils from ysgol Bro Hyddgen, as the school had various activities planned to celebrate ‘Diwrnod Owain Glyndwr’ including inviting the pupils to attend school dressed in yellow and red as in the colours of Owain Glyndwr’s flag.
Primary Assistant Head Nia Wynn said: "Our Year 5 and 6 pupils visited Senedd-dy Owain Glyndwr’ to learn about the history of Owain Glyndwr and were told they would meet some special guests.
"The pupils were welcomed by local historian Arfon Hughes and none other than Craig Bellamy. There was a very entertaining question and answer session which the children thoroughly enjoyed hearing the responses from the Wales football manager.
"The whole experience brought the history of Owain Glyndwr alive for the children and will be a day they will remember for some time."
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