The Secret Welsh Nationalist Paramilitary: Wales' Most Notorious Activists

In 1963, a secret Welsh nationalist paramilitary bombed Capel Celyn Dam. Capel Celyn was once a Welsh village in Tryweryn Valley, Wales. But it's now Llyn Celyn reservoir. The drowning of Capel Celyn would provide water to Liverpool, which many Welsh people viewed as an attack on Welsh heritage. So, Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (MAC - Movement for the Defence of Wales) was born, and conducted the Tryweryn valley bombing while Capel Celyn dam was under construction.
More background:
In Wales, you can spot the words "Cofiwch Dryweryn (Remember Tryweryn)" painted on murals. It's a memorial to Capel Celyn, and references the valley (Tryweryn Valley) it was nestled in. Back in the 1960s, Liverpool city council wanted to flood Tryweryn valley & Capel Celyn, destroying the Welsh-speaking community to provide water for the city. Capel Celyn was a bastion of Welsh heritage, culture, and the Welsh language, and was one of the only Welsh-speaking communities in the area. For many Welsh people, this was an attack on their Celtic heritage; Celtic cultures in Britain have historically not been treated well by the government, and Celtic people had faced discrimination for centuries.
Despite the Capel Celyn protests in Wales against the Tryweryn Valley flooding, and the fact that all the Welsh MPs except one voted against the plan, the British government approved it anyway, and construction of Capel Celyn Dam began. For Owain Williams, Emyr Llywelyn Jones, and John Albert Jones, this confirmed their view that England saw Wales as a colony. So they built an explosive device, snuck onto the Capel Celyn dam construction site, and detonated it beside an electrical transformer. Their goal was to send a message to the British government; "enough was enough".
The Capel Celyn bombing took the Britain by surprise, but after centuries of tension between the Welsh and English, many Welsh people supported it. Capel Celyn Dam was still finished, and the Welsh-speaking village is no more, replaced by Llyn Celyn reservoir. The damage done to Welsh heritage is irreversible. But Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru's actions sparked a new wave of Welsh nationalism in the public, and triggered a Welsh nationalism movement that saw a surge in support for parties like Plaid Cymru and led to the formation of the Welsh parliament with Welsh devolution. So, the three Welsh nationalists who started MAC shaped history in Wales.
I met Owain Williams in Pistyll in Gwynedd, Wales. After his actions in 1963, he was a fugitive on the run, hiding from the police in England, Wales, and under the protection of the IRA once he arrived in Ireland. Today, he is an elected councillor and leader of the local Welsh political party, Llais Gwynedd. This is his story.
TMTW S2 E3 - Capel Celyn Documentary: Why this Welsh Nationalist Bombed a Dam - Remember Tryweryn & the Flooding of Capel Celyn
00:00-00:55 - The Men who Bombed Capel Celyn Dam
00:58-02:13 - Capel Celyn: The Welsh Village Flooded by Liverpool
02:14-03:33 - Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru: Movement for the Defence of Wales
03:34-06:09 - The Bombing of Capel Celyn
06:10-06:54 - The Arrests of Emyr, Owain, and John.
06:55-07:34 - What Motivated the Tryweryn Triad? "Wales was just a Colony"
07:35-08:46 - Tension Between the Welsh and English
08:47-09:28 - Owain's Endgame: The Independence of Wales from the UK
09:29-10:57 - John Jenkins Takes over MAC
10:58-14:36 - Owain Goes on the Run
14:37-17:03 - Mental Scars from Owain's Time in Prison
17:04-19:33 - Where are the Tryweryn Triad now?
#Wales #Tryweryn #CapelCelyn #cymruambyth #welshnationalism #welshpeople

[@anokata-kd8oc]

The term "private water company" is already enough for me to agree with this men.

[@Capybarrrraaaa]

Some things are moral and correct by pure, logical necessity. Capitalists want their cake after eating it, and the Cymraeg keep paying that price.

[@jacobloft3898]

Wales is by far the most overlooked country in the UK when it comes to its culture, history and separatism.

[@LG-Musique]

Not if you’re actually in Wales 😂

[@stevenvater8720]

I live in wales and welsh culture and language is crammed into every crack 25/7

[@LG-Musique]

@@stevenvater8720 yep. Whether we like it or not lol

[@jacobloft3898]

From someone outside of wales though, I don’t hear anywhere near as much about wales compared to Scotland in the news and Ireland in the history books.

[@stevenvater8720]

@@jacobloft3898 Wales has got to the dogs, the way we were treated under lockdown and now the really insane 20mph. The arse embly tin pot dictators are getting ideas like stalin

[@kurtishaake4748]

I’m. Welsh man from the south. And I’m in tears, thank you so much for sharing this story. A lot of Welsh history is overlooked or ignored. This video is very important Cymru am byth YES CYMRU

[@balls9420]

@@liam1561 The English not very surprisingly have been supressing Celtic nations for centuries even if not intentionally like in Cornwall now. They are still supressing us and even in a lot of the nations our histories is not taught in schools instead its English history. This is not a victim mentality this is relief at history being taught to those outside the separatist circles.

[@jackietreehorn5561]

@@balls9420 they were clueless coming over to here in the north of Ireland, the elites in government sending working class people to shoot other working class people...pure disgusting

[@da4dim]

​@@balls9420 I think you'll find it's not the English who are to blame,they too,have had their truth erased from the history books.I used to blame the English too.After listening to Alan Wilson and reading some of his books he wrote with Baram Blackett,i think anybody with any interest in our history should do the same.I have more love for Wales,but the animosity towards England has disappeared,and see 'British' from a totally different perspective.The significance of Wales in the history of the world,not just Britain is fascinating.

[@da4dim]

​@@balls9420How do you define 'Celt'?

[@balls9420]

​@@da4dim Is this gonna be an argument over lineages and where people came from and stuff?

[@LewisAdams-ul8ir]

Patriotic in my eyes I love learning our Welsh history 💯

[@proto6086]

From Patagonia, former Y Wladfa, we stand with the welsh struggle for freedom

[@jdlc903]

From England we stand with the indigenous of Patagonia in their struggle against Argentinan European colonialism✊ Guarani/quecha

[@ecohipster7724]

@@jdlc903 independent Wales/cymru, the English were always try and drag us down just look at present with the likes of Brexit

[@Tathannnn]

As a welsh person Thankyou for telling this story to more people, no one really knows much about Wales outside of Wales, everyone knows about Ireland (mostly because all Americans think they’re irish😂) and Scotland but not Wales so this is nice to know that people are interested in our history, Diolch ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@smokeyplane3285]

"all" americans?

[@Tathannnn]

@@smokeyplane3285 yes Americans couldn’t even point out where Ireland is on a map but claim they’re Irish and dye everything green on St Patrick’s day, they don’t even do that in Ireland 😂

[@smokeyplane3285]

@@Tathannnn hey now, im an american and i can point to where ireland is on a map!

[@Tathannnn]

@@smokeyplane3285 you’re one of the many few my friend

[@user-qw3rq6xv3n]

@@Tathannnn What do you mean that people only know about Ireland because of Americans? What is that in reference to ?

[@Sam_the_Sham_and_the_Pharoahs]

As a Native American, this speaks volumes and is strikingly similar to our history. We too had our language stripped. I'm Stockbridge Munsee band of the Mohican and Menominee. There used to be 30-40,000 Mohicans pre 1700's. Today? Our number stands at 1,800 enrolled Stockbridge tribal members like my wife and I, and our 3 children. I actually sought out a Stockbridge women for that very reason. Our culture was disappearing. This year we buried my Grandmother who was our oldest tribal member at 98 and the last of her generation as all her brothers and sisters have passed. I fear that in 100 years, our tribe will cease to exist. We too made deals with the British. We actually sided with them during the revolutionary war. In hindsight it was a bad idea, but for a 1770s Mohican, it made perfect sense. Do you want your landlord to live next to you or across an ocean? But they didn't win, and as a result neither did we. That's why we don't get to live in New York anymore, we got to walk to Wisconsin where fortunately the Menominee gave us land to have our reservation. The majority of people on the reservation are below the poverty limit. In fact 48% of adult males age 18-49 are below the federal poverty level. We have the highest AIDS transmission rates in an entire state. Drugs and alcohol, methamphetamine especially, has crippled the community. I thought the alcohol was bad. I thought the opioid epidemic was bad. But this is like nothing I've ever seen. Now we have an opioid crisis, with a meth crisis. Having only 1,800 members means that every death is noticed and felt because we all know each other.

[@olentangyriver1191]

That's terrible, seriously makes me angry

[@Matt_from_Florida]

I used to wonder why _"Westerns"_ were so popular in 1950s & 1960s television. Then I realized that they were basically the tales passed down from grandfathers & great-grandfathers brought to life. It was a retelling of a past that was known, but just out of reach. For instance, I was born in 1962 and there are pictures of "Nana" (my great, great-grandmother) holding me as a baby but she had past by the time I was aware of anything.

[@liamhgd581]

Wow. IV never considered it like that my man. Sympathies to your people and mine !!!!

[@fcon2123]

The Irish, Welsh, and Scottish fought the British to preserve their customs and way of life. America fought the British to eliminate an economic competitor. What America then did to the Natives has almost been on par with the atrocities of the Holocaust. Your people were chased from the coast, then forced from the fertile Midwest, and if you weren't exterminated you were given the pittance of shitty land in the badlands of the Southwestern states that already had downtrodden Native populations of their own. What a fucking travesty.

[@tonybroderick4808]

You people can survive but only if the youngsters start to wise up and keep clear of all drugs.

[@GeoffreyHellington]

This is a top notch interview and such a gem of a story, rarely told and full of heritage and history. Thank you so much for reaching out to Owain to make this and even more thanks to Owain for sharing in such honest detail. First hand accounts are gold and it's important that they are recoreded while they still can be. Brilliant video!

[@TieranFreedman]

Thanks so much for the feedback, glad you enjoyed the video! It was a privilege to meet Owain and hear his story.

[@christopher9727]

. Jesus Christ is the only hope in this world no other gods will lead you to heaven There is no security or hope with out Jesus Christ in this world come and repent of all sins today Today is the day of salvation come to the loving savior Today repent and do not go to hell Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today Holy Spirit Can give you peace guidance and purpose and the Lord will John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

[@therespectedlex9794]

Yes, what a fine, neoclassical figure of a man he is too, for an ugly scrote.

[@richardcarr7557]

Can totally agree with the way you felt. I am an Englishman,how can what was done have been right? The ordinary working class people have always been the ones to carry the cost, while the rich always increase their wealth at the expense of others. I knew about the history of the reservoir and the cost it had on community. It reminded me of my own area of Rutland, where Rutland water was built and the valley flooded it took away farms and a small community. People should in my opinion know about there History.

[@chendaforest]

Wonder where the water in your taps comes from ? ;)

[@ds9642]

@@chendaforesthe should stop drinking it as a show of solidarity

[@hotstepper887]

So, let's get this level of intelligence we read here understood, as there just isn't any, LOL. Welsh history is, In the 16th century Henry VIII, who was Welsh being the great-grandson of Owen Tudor, passed the "Laws in Wales Acts" aiming to fully incorporate Wales into the Kingdom of England. Wales was also defeated by the Romans, while the Cornish never were, so if any part of England does have a right to its own independence, it is ONLY Cornwall that do have a right to make that claim, they remained undefeated. The Roman's tried, and they failed to defeat the Cornish. In the 1st century, upon the Roman's arrival, they initially recorded the Dumnonii but later reported on the Cornovii of Dumnonii. The Romans colonized much of central and southern Britain, but Dumnonia was unaffected by the conquest. Roman rule had little to no impact on the region, meaning it could flourish as a fully independent kingdom, which evidence shows was sometimes under the dominion of the kings of the Britons, and sometimes to have been governed by its own Dumnonian monarchy, (either by the title of duke or king). This kingdom shared strong linguistic, political and cultural links with Brittany. The Saxons also tried and failed to defeat the Cornish. When the Kingdom of Wessex were expanding their territory westwards towards Cornwall after they defeated the Welsh. The Cornish were frequently embattled with the West Saxons who used their Germanic word "walha" meaning "stranger" or "foreigner", to describe their opponents, later specifying them as the Cornwalas (the Cornish). Conflict continued until King Athelstan of England gave up, and he determined that the River Tamar be the formal boundary between the West Saxons and the Cornish in the year 936, making Cornwall one of the very last retreats of the true Britons.

[@redwiltshire1816]

@@chendaforestwonder where the gold in your royal family comes from?

[@chendaforest]

@@redwiltshire1816 I'm South African hun we don't have one...

[@Kopite68]

As a Scouser, I am extremely embarrassed by the actions of whoever thought this idea was a good one. It certainly wasn't the idea from people of Liverpool, but instead some dodgy politian who would've been behind this. No change there! I would agree with any act which tried to stop the dam. It's not terrorism if your protecting your land from invaders.

[@Jj-ff9vq]

A third of Lerpwl was 1st generation Welsh immigrant. The Welsh Streets. Welsh Presbyterian Churches. The Welsh National Eisteddfod was held in Lerpwl. Even the very founder of Paid Cymru was born in the Wirral. Nothing short of a Welsh invasion. The Welsh, who are a mighty nation, need to understand their own history better.

[@charliezobel511]

Maybe learn how to spell politician next time

[@MDM1992]

@@Jj-ff9vq explain.. because you evidently know fuck all about welsh history. We have been on this island longer than what would later become the english.. so who invaded who?? Moron.

[@nbandpinportugal]

@@Jj-ff9vq Very interesting. The UK should be a union of equals. An independent Wales would be greatly diminished ( and so would the union ) and probably ruled by a cabal of lunatics like the SNP.

[@chendaforest]

We all need water...'dodgy' politician was just ensuring Liverpool got it .

[@annieknight71]

I live in America, both my grandparents were from South Wales. My grandmother grew up while Welsh not was practiced and she always said she was English. I couldn’t understand why and I found out about Welsh not maybe 5 or 6 years ago. Her family only spoke Welsh. Her mother never knew English and her father did. My grandfather moved to America to avoid working in the coal mines and when WW 1 started he was given a choice to join the US army or be deported. He knew he would be drafted in Wales and if he survived in the US army he would get citizenship. So he joined the army. He married my grandmother in Wales after the war near Swansea and brought her to Michigan. I appreciate what you did to free Wales. I can never understand why nobody know what Wales really is. It’s never mentioned as part of the UK in America. They always say the English, Scottish and Irish, never Wales. Thank you for all you suffered, I know I really don’t understand how much you gave up. I do appreciate what you did.

[@Tomc_vodslam]

Ireland is certainly not part of the UK.

[@christycullen2355]

​@@Tomc_vodslam she means Northern Ireland I assume

[@darnellbiggumsthe9th658]

@@Tomc_vodslam he’s talking about the irish republican freedom fighters in the north of ireland

[@davebrown9707]

Thats because Americans are thick

[@wodens-hitman1552]

Suffered? The English tax payers feed their kids. Typical ignorant yank

[@wolfie854]

Great interview and story. This part of our history should be known and taught more widely. All credit to Owain for sticking to his principles all his life.

[@godzillas6301]

yeah , and for blowing things up , endangering lives , carrying a gun he admits he would use and hanging around with the feckin ira ....

[@peterjeremymckenzie8444]

Very good documentary Tieran, very interesting bits I had not heard about before. Was in Treweryn last year when the water level was low. Met a guy who knew Emyr as a young man. The buried bodies in the graveyard of the chapel were just capped in concrete and believe they were not reinterred in the new chapel on the resevoir foreshore. Some grave stones were moved. Not sure how accurate that is, but two massive concrete pads. Used to see John Jenkins in Johnstown near Wrexham, always had a red cymru bobble hat on. He died in a care home a few years ago.

[@TieranFreedman]

Thank you Peter, glad you enjoyed it! I felt lucky to meet someone who had such an impact on history. I had not heard that about the graves, I really hope that it isn't true. When I was at the reservoir the water level was quite high. Is it true that when it's low you can see remnants of the village?

[@peterjeremymckenzie8444]

@@TieranFreedman The village was demolished but there is a wall around the Chapel site and graveyard and large concrete pads . There are plaques over the chapel site and cemetry, the one over the cemetry says "Claddfa Capel Celyn corchuddiwyd Awst 1964" Capel Celyn Cemetry Covered August 1964. Bricks and pieces of guttering, can be seen but the buildings are gone. The old road bridge can be seen but water not that low when I went.

[@adrianjones8060]

Hen brud i ni DDEFFRO hogia bach…. Mae’r iaith yn rhu bwysig i adael Iddo fo farw. … Cofiwch Trywerun., Cofiwch Owain, Cofiwch ein arwyr a gwffiodd dros ein cenedl 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Cymru am byth .achos Heb iaith, Heb galon.

[@welshman8954]

​@@adrianjones8060 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@SubseaTaff]

Cofiwch Dreweryn ❤ Cymru am byth! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿✊️

[@2stepsaway820]

Cymru am Byth ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@HyperC-rz2oe]

Cymru am byth! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 cariad o Ceredigion

[@MervynPartin]

An excellent presentation. The resources of Wales have long made others wealthy, with the arrogance and active support of the London government- coal, iron ore, water, etc. so the reaction to this is understandable. They may have been regarded as terrorists, but so were many who actually achieved independence for their countries and are now regarded as statesmen.

[@russellbishop5995]

In 1967 I went on a family holiday to North-Wales, in a village called Cwm-y-glo. I was seven. My enduring memory of those two weeks was the amount of water; not just because it rained for much of the time, but the numerous reservoirs in this part of the world, yet we were cut off for much of the day. Why? Because there were big black pipes heading towards Liverpool and Manchester. A child's mind I believe is more logical than an adult's, and I remember saying to my parents, 'that's not fair.' It still resonates, and I can't help but feel that Wales is overlooked by Westminster. I stand by The Welsh.

[@NathanSaor1798]

This video is crazy good you need to spread this add more tags to it or something. Love this content

[@TieranFreedman]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it! I'll be sharing it around on social media soon 😊 I really enjoyed filming and editing this, it was so fascinating to meet someone who had a noticeable impact on history.

[@dylanjones7485]

Am Welsh:D

[@welshexile1963]

What an excellent and interesting video, thank you, Cofiwch Dreweryn 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️✊️

[@TieranFreedman]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! 😊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@wodens-hitman1552]

You wouldn't survive one year without the English tax payers

[@mrkitcatt2119]

@@wodens-hitman1552 too right

[@JSC131]

What a beautiful story makes me so proud that im welsh and still live in my beautiful country i remember this so well Owen is a true saint of Wales.

[@Inquisitor_Vex]

Only 264 likes is bloody criminal. This interview is fantastic and the narrator does a good job of providing context. Diolch yn fawr, Tieran. 🍻

[@TieranFreedman]

Thanks so much for the kind words, glad you enjoyed the video! 💚 I really enjoyed putting it together

[@Arthurian.]

He's a wonderful patriot, bless him.

[@Greenranger123]

@@Arthurian. wonderful patriot yeah blowing up a damn im welsh but i dont agree with this guy wales wouldnt last a year without the uk

[@Arthurian.]

@@Greenranger123 you wanna make an omelet, you sometimes have to break some eggs. Some people enjoy being free from the crown.

[@Greenranger123]

@@Arthurian. were called united kingdom for a reason wales wouldnt last a year without england you lot are delusional

[@WildwoodTV]

Same thing happened at Llanwyddyn now "Lake Vrynwy" my mum's family had to move. There is also a stone at Llyn Celyn about the Lloyd family.

[@megasuperhyperspeed]

Recently the water levels recceeded enough to see some of the ruins of the old houses one the one side of the lake.

[@MarkOffski]

Only just caught this, very well produced and a quality interview. Ive had the pleasure to meet Owain Williams during time spent on the stunning Llŷn Peninsula so know of his story and his passion for Wales is a credit to his Nation.

[@ronaldroberts9556]

A true observation of the reasons, the feelings and the sentiments of the Cymry. Thank you, Tieran. Pob bendith iti Owain!

[@great.933]

So much love to Wales from Latin America, you are as important as Scotland is…Thanks Wales for being Wales.

[@gareththomas6714]

important as scotland is?what on earth does that mean-we know that already anyway and who said we were n't?

[@wodens-hitman1552]

Mind your own business

[@stephendouglas-cr1mk]

Scottish National Party under investigation for corruption.

[@mktf5582]

LOL Latin America don't give a damn for Cymru/Scoatland,in fact majority Latinos couldn't even point to them on a map.

[@great.933]

@@wodens-hitman1552 Blah blah blah, dumbass, when I made the comment, keep true to yourselves is because is clear to me that you all the welsh ain’t English, but is cool, keep being as dumb as an Ass.

[@andyfarnan6]

Great video respect for the fight for freedom and the right to govern one’s own land from Eire 🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@Arthurian.]

I always found it humorous that Ireland promotes National Socialism.... Like those Nazis 😂

[@TieranFreedman]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳

[@pv4711]

Fuck eire

[@jackietreehorn5561]

Don't think it was the provisional IRA you said think it was the official ira

[@Tomlear99]

As a cymro i will never ever blame the great people of England. Cornwall, liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester etc have had many years of hurt as much as we have alongside our Scottish and Irish brothers, we all need to understand that the systematic beat downs we all endured throughout history is no fault of honest working class English people but that of greedy rich politicians from west minister who want to see their pockets lined with blood money, solidarity with all of the working class across the British isle ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@rayely66]

Thanks Tom I'm fuckin gutted ere at the thought of my fellow Liverpudlian behaving like dat ,they should've known better , SORRY 😢

[@Maharan169]

Cytuno. Mae dal i ddigwydd wan

[@tasty8186]

Really fantastic interview and story. Thanks for creating this. So much respect for Owain. Down to earth, humble and dedicated to a cause.

[@theeyeiswatching8036]

what a gem. an amazing amount of care and effort put into this video that is criminally under appreciated

[@peter1282]

Thank you for creating this

[@TieranFreedman]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@paulnash9851]

A very well made little film. Well done Sir !... This is the first thing of yours I’ve seen/heard of. I hope your other productions are as good as this, if so, I very much look forwards to catching up with your back catalogue.

[@Revolution_now605]

Solidarity to wales from Ireland

[@wodens-hitman1552]

Take the scrounging Scottish with you too

[@Sea_Enjoyer]

Solidarity to both from England. We're still 70%+ Celtic too, and aren't our leaders.

[@sarahjacks8059]

The winners concentrate on winning, the losers concentrate on the winners. LOSERS.

[@justsayingx]

Learn your history the Welsh and the English are responsible for the colonisation of Ireland. So fuck them.

[@user-uh6fr4wv8j]

Get back across the black pool paddie non a that

[@Friddle]

Hugely underrated. Top quality video of something I've never heard of. Thank you

[@robertstraw9881]

Fair play to him for standing up for what he believes in. The English establishment are fucking awful. Please don’t think us regular folk agree with what they did.

[@eadweardwoden7309]

the anglo saxon english were deposed and pushed into serfdom and poverty, land stolen, people raped and killed by norman baron thugs for hundreds of years by who came over with william the bastard in 1066. the normans completely destroyed english society, forced the free people into slavery which they call serfdom, forced to work land for some foreign thug, look up the harrowing the north and the other atrocities the Normans committed. This is what ignorant people of history mix up, it wasn't the english who invaded wales, it was the normans, first william then his barons, same with ireland, no englishmen invaded, a norman baron did and set up house pushing the irish to serfdom too. till this day we still feel the echoes of the norman conquest.

[@noelfleming3567]

👍🇮🇪

[@user-ys8pq5vd3s]

The trouble is that they are NOT English. They ARE jewish, moslem, black, indian, arab, ALL foreigners and illegals.

[@hambutty1]

These boys changed the face of Wales forever. Since the 60's the Welsh language has grown, and grown. Welsh culture and the Welsh identity grows ever stronger, whilst the English identity is now under attack... from the English middle Class Socialista in London. Cofiwch Dryweryn ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@boarfaceswinejaw4516]

its the conservatives who keep attacking celtic culture, all in the name of their dead empire.

[@therespectedlex9794]

The spite of terrorists cannot be equalled. You have to ask yourself what are the biggest most dangerous and toxic trends in the world? What actually has the most power nowadays?

[@jimmycburfield5997]

As a Cumbrian I say good for them. Love of your home and home land is worth standing up for. Patriot in my view

[@markarianludd5930]

An excellent documentary. I lived in Wales as a child many, many years ago and had fond memories.

[@michaelbuckley8986]

This brings back memories for me.I remember this being talked about at school in Dublin when I was a lad .Thanks for sharing.

[@robwalsh9843]

It's astonishing that British authorities thought that preserving the Welsh language was "evil". Bizarre.

[@reaperiscomingforme]

I'm english and I think Wales should be free

[@Joe-said]

What?!!

[@a_little_flame589]

so are you saying that we take away the democratic rights of a nation to give what a vast minority of people actually want and give power to a nation that lets be honest here doesn't have enough money or people to sustain itself it would either basically be a british puppet state or an american one more people would leave the nation because of the brain drain it is just a bad idea

[@whattheactualfook976]

And nothing’s really changed. When are enough people going to figure out the Politicians. (ALL of them ) are the problem. As I’ve become older and successive governments have crapped on Welsh, Irish, Scots and English I’ve come to have a lot of sympathy for people like this guy. Very few public servants represent the people anymore. Something has to give.

[@varelmarais2222]

A patriot and a hero, if only people would protest against tyranny like this now. Cernunnos bless his soul

[@narannavan]

Amen

[@LolLol-gd7ly]

@Son of Wessex why shouldn't he gobshite?

[@mzcymro]

@@SuperClappy1984 And? Owain has no doubt paid sufficient NI contributions to qualify for claiming his state pension. You haven't, yet!

[@newforestpixie5297]

@Son of Wessex at the match when AFC Bournemouth gained promotion to the top tier of English Football, a huge Wessex flag can be seen above a section of the crowd . I couldn’t believe it but it was a breath of fresh air .

[@bluephalanx]

Fideo Da, ardderchog! May we use this video as a resource for a presentation? It'd be greatly appreciated.

[@TieranFreedman]

Hi, thanks for getting in touch! Would you mind telling me a bit about about the presentation (what is it about and where will it be used)?

[@bluephalanx]

@Tieran Freedman it's about tryweryn, I'm getting two perspectives and I value owain's perspective very much as it shows a completely different narrative to how most English media present it. We're students in sixth form who need to show two perspectives of a situation to students younger than us.

[@bluephalanx]

@@TieranFreedman trying to vary the views and not have singular bias

[@TieranFreedman]

@@bluephalanx Sounds like a great project! I'm happy for you to embed the video in your presentation provided it is just for use in your class. Could you add a link to my channel & channel name next to it? :) Good luck, I hope your presentation goes well 🙂

[@bluephalanx]

@@TieranFreedman Absolutely! Thank you very much.

[@JohnQuilyQuinlan]

Just stumbled on this, wow, great story, thank you for the upload, amazing that I never heard his story before, I’m not too far from kinsale myself, this is history that needs to be recorded.

[@andyh6849]

A friend is one of the three's son ... couldn't be anymore proud of these patriots

[@coysgub5599]

It would have been so easy, to give into that base human level of rage, that something like this must have instilled. We see people killing for causes the world over. But honestly, taking action like this for something you believe in so strongly and going out of your way to ensure that nobody is harmed, even the people that are directly responsible for what is happening to you and your community deserves praise. Huge respect for these men.

[@jintsfan]

Yeah. The cost was irrelevant. How many nurses or …. never mind.

[@rapidfirematt]

Great video Tieran, really good video. Love the channel!

[@TieranFreedman]

Thanks so much, glad you're enjoying the videos! 😁

[@JaricDesann]

Nice one butty, cracking documentary ❤ Cofiwch dryweryn

[@MrBenandrea]

Just discovered this channel, very good content and am enjoying so far

[@TieranFreedman]

Thanks so much, glad to hear it! 😁

[@alexgould2572]

ib]ve seen capel celyn and as a welsh speaker it cuts me deep to see a fully welsh community the last of its kind be destroyed whatever the reason. if you ever wonder why people seek independence this is a key factor.

[@TheAustinfuller]

Great film… As a Cornishman I understand as our land has become a theme park while being one of the most deprived areas of the U.K

[@c4four132]

@@liam1561 you are both stupid and english. Stop playing make-believe, especially from yorkshire 😂

[@SN-cm7hu]

It's time now I feel for a Union of Celtic Republics. Encompassing Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Mann, Cornwall, and Brittany.

[@c4four132]

@@SN-cm7hu youre such a larper hahahah. Do yourself a favour and keep your head in the real world, think about feasible and realistic things not silly fantasies

[@eadweardwoden7309]

@@SN-cm7hu the english are just as celtic, they share as much DNA of the ancient britons as any cornish or welshmen, just with an percentage of germanic, which you probably have too. Scotland was invaded by the irish, a tribe called the "scotti" in the 4th century, before it was called pictland which slowly was conquered and assimilated by the irish to become scotland, kinda like how the anglo saxon and the britons mixed.

[@balls9420]

@@eadweardwoden7309 The English originated from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. They are Anglo Saxons. Sure there has been mixing throughout history between the Celts and the Anglos but to argue the English are just as Celtic is silly.

[@alexj_roberts]

As a South Walian, it’s interesting to hear Owain’s accent, because it’s far closer to a South Wales dialect than the Liverpudlian twang that goes through most of the North nowadays.

[@WelahMan]

You've no idea how many people think we're English here in the north until we actually speak Welsh 😂

[@therespectedlex9794]

Is he a Zionist Jew?

[@littlewoodimp]

I know, I know .... the English call us woollybacks and the Welsh call us bastards. 😉😉

[@therespectedlex9794]

@@littlewoodimp Some of the Scouse do move to North Wales. Sort of confusing it.

[@barbarahalkyard1901]

People of North wales are mostley hybrids of scouse and mancs. From the holiday camps.😂

[@stebennett5981]

love your content fella. brilliant porduction and a great watch

[@TieranFreedman]

Thanks so much, glad to hear that!

[@caseyaylward8853]

100% Patriot. It shouldn't even be a debate.

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

Welsh is the last of the ancient Brythonic languages of these islands still in use. It needs to be protected.

[@hesperhurt]

No it isn't. Assuming you're referring to Celtic languages, and not including Bretton, Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic, along with Cornish, are far purer to their original languages than Welsh is today. The Old Welsh language is very rarely spoken and few people, outside of academic, are able to even read it. Modern Welsh is a mixture of Germanic, Saxon, Latin, Roman dialects and Celtic. Na ddyw e ddim. Gan dybio eich bod yn cyfeirio at ieithoedd Celtaidd, a heb gynnwys Llydaweg, Gwyddeleg a Gaeleg yr Alban, ynghyd â Chernyweg, yn llawer purach i'w hieithoedd gwreiddiol na'r Gymraeg heddiw. Anaml iawn mae'r Hen Gymraeg yn cael ei siarad ag ychydig o bobl, y tu allan i'r byd academaidd, sy'n gallu ei darllen hyd yn oed. Mae Cymraeg modern yn gymysgedd o dafodieithoedd Germainid, Sacsonaidd, Lladin, Rhufeinig a Cheltaidd.

[@gangsta2197]

he said brythonic dummy@@hesperhurt

[@mariamerigold]

Thank you for covering this. Diolch!

[@kirbyinhalesjotaro4471]

I have no idea how you keep getting these interviews when you have like just 13K subscribers but I respect it!

[@TieranFreedman]

Haha back when I organised this interview I only had about 750 😅

[@fumanchu9418]

What a character. What a story. He's a hero, way more than a patriot!

[@jeremymorrall6750]

I fear there are now seismic forces at work that NO ONE in the British Isles can hope to resist. Forget about Welsh Nationalism, History, Culture etc.; they are rapidly being extinguished. I'm well aware I'm stating the obvious and this indisputable reality shatters my heart, but we ( the indigenous people's of the British Isles) are about to become a footnote in history. All I can say is we must be fruitful and multiply. I say these things more in sadness than in anger.

[@lilyflower91]

Protecting your own land from foreign invasion is never terrorism.

[@liquidsnake6879]

Yet anyone who suggests turning back the damn boats coming from france is considered a terrorist even though they haven't done anything other than speak against the invading force and the corrupt elite that supports it.

[@numbersstationsarchive194]

@@liquidsnake6879 Need I remind you that we don't speak for our government. Our corrupt, evil, tory bastard of a government.

[@jackietreehorn5561]

The term terrorism is a smokescreen used by the colonial powers to divert the situation from anyone who dares to fight back

[@douglashilton5327]

Thanks for that mate

[@snesleywipessqueegeeservices]

An excellent informative and well made film. 💪🏽😎✌🏽

[@TieranFreedman]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@lawrencecopeland9366]

It is time for the Welsh, the Irish, the English and the Scots, to do a heads-up at what is going on in the Kingdom, something bad is coming our way , and we are not ready for it.

[@eboysam1437]

He's a patriot!!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@andrewjones-productions]

I went to Ysgol Y Berwyn (secondary school) in Y Bala. Tryweryn and Capel Celyn as a topic was omnipresent. My great grandmother told me of the time she was caned and made to wear the 'Welsh Not' for simply interpreting to her classmate who had asked her 'What did the teacher say?'. The recent news (May 2023) that the UK Government were downplaying the number of Welsh speakers in the census by a huge amount just demonstrates that the Westmonster (sic) attitude towards Wales, its language and culture has not changed. The three men of Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru are not only considered patriots, but heroes. For non-Welsh speakers visiting Wales, please don't be alarmed if you see the word 'Mudiad' as it is used in many ways and the word itself has many connotations that are completely non-political and certainly not linked to violence. E.g. 'Mudiad Meithrin' which is the name for Welsh-medium playgroups for infants. Tieran Freedman deserves a lot of credit for this very accurate and comprehensive documentary. Perhaps the number of likes, or lack thereof for what is an exceptional video, is testament to the general attitude and maybe a refusal to acknowledge a shameful part of history of the UK that is not that long ago in the past. Cofiwch Dryweryn! Cymru Rhydd!

[@TieranFreedman]

Thanks for sharing this. Learning about the suppression of Welsh language and culture really shocked me, though I can't say I was all that surprised given Britain's track record. So sad to hear that your grandmother was punished for speaking her language. Thank you for the kind words, glad you enjoyed the video! I really enjoyed meeting Owain and hearing his story. As a sidenote I just checked out your channel and your video about the fire festival in Japan. Really fascinating stuff. I'm planning on heading to Japan in 2024 or 2025 to film another series. How long did you spend out there?

[@andrewjones-productions]

@@TieranFreedman Thank you Tieran. Also, thank you for watching one of my videos! Believe it or not, three professionals on a bit of a holiday and getting sloppy and lazy with production! The real purpose of my channel is to hold my showreel for clients and is hidden away. Actually, I am still in Japan. I have been here for 32 years. It would be nice to meet you here! Incidentally, the Ainu video on my channel is of a culture and language that isn't Japanese and will likely resonate with you.

[@zacdoc9426]

Brilliant video

[@jarrahdrum]

excellent, thank you for this, subscribed

[@TieranFreedman]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@tnt123skeleton9]

brilliantly interesting video

[@michaelmcdonald5631]

Why do you think there’s still a prince of Wales, to remind the Welsh that England has their foot on your throat

[@derickjude7188]

Also to leech taxes in the process!

[@leodesalis5915]

​@@derickjude7188 bro I hate to say it but us here in Wales leech of the English just the same as the Scots do, the amount of money given by the British government dwarves the amount they take in taxes.

[@grant6849]

@@leodesalis5915It’s not true

[@DaveWoods-ku5em]

Solidarity to Ireland from Wales and I'm from Liverpool

[@angr3819]

Thank you

[@SI-vb7hd]

Fascinating. I had never heard about this.

[@TieranFreedman]

Neither had I until hearing about his story from a friend who lives in Wales!

[@theobviouskraken3404]

Born and raised in the Rhondda Valleys by a Welsh family who spoke no Welsh. I speak little Welsh - it was literally beaten out of my great grandmother (spoke it as her first language as a child) by her teachers. There is such a stinking attitude even amongst the Welsh of "Oh its a dead culture/language". It isnt dead, it is oppressed. That way of thinking is several generations old because it was forced into them. I work at an English company, and the amount of racist comments I receive is staggering. They think it is "harmless fun", as it is "only against the Welsh". It is often in simple conversation that I will say something that reflects where I was raised, and I get mocked. I will say a town name or the name of a friend and they will pretend to choke and mock how Welsh is written and spoken. It is so normalised amongst the English to be racist against the Welsh, Scots, Irish and even French that they don't even realise they do it and dont consider it racism as it has "nothing to do with skin colour". I never had Welsh pride growing up, I never understood why you would be proud of something you had no say or choice in. I didnt choose to be born and raised here, so why be proud? But as I have gotten into my twenties, I have learned more about my heritage, culture, language and histoy. I have learned how we have suffered at the hands of the Saes, and how we should apparently be ashamed of our culture, ashamed to say the town where we grew up and ashamed to want to identify as Welsh and not British. But I now proudly say I am a Welshman. I am learning the language, I am fighting back against the ingrained racism in the English by calling it out when I see it (or experience it), and I hope that one day Wales may stand on its own as an independent nation, with the ability to truly regain its identity. I cannot say I blame the men for their actions, I understand their frustration and that they felt felt the Welsh had no say over its own future.

[@residentoftherealm]

I could have written this myself. Repressed language and culture. Spent my life growing up hating the welsh language and not knowing anything about the magic and myth in the veins of the land. Fast forward to my late twenties (now 36) and I am fully and deeply immersed in my culture heritage and land. I now know all about the mabinogi and the folklore of wales. I'm teaching my children too. I feel proud to be welsh and I am starting to learn the language. Welsh in school was shit. Boring and mind numbing. It killed it. I was born in caerphilly and still live near by today. I feel immense pride at being from the valleys and feel lucky to call this magical landscape home. Wales is a landscape full of myth, magic and culture. Yma o hyd. Fi godwn ni eto.

[@steffanhuw8556]

stop playing the victim u gimp

[@user-sf4jb1vi5y]

He should be king of Wales. We're sticking together again Wales Ireland Scotland.❤

[@jackietreehorn5561]

Is Irish in the north share your grievance, not only was our language and culture obliterated, but it was illegal for Irish nationalists to fly our own flag and had no right to vote in government elections and the aparteid state ruled the roost .......we would never lie down though and take it

[@deb388]

Hero's in my eyes Glyndawr would be proud.

[@Supra_Mare_Cultro_Bloke]

very inspiring❤

[@WalesTheTrueBritons]

Patriot! No such thing as a Terr… when the aim is to free one’s nation from direct or indirect Foreign rule.

[@TieranFreedman]

Good point! Especially considering their actions contributed to Wales being granted its own parliament.

[@501sqn3]

That would be true, however this misguided criminal wasn't trying to save his nation from foreign rule!. He is a British citizen/subject and committed a criminal offence against the law of the nation, Great Britain and it's citizens. 🙄🇬🇧

[@patricktalbot8980]

Yeah anyone who bombs people is a terrorist

[@cathyroche6738]

So the taliban??

[@501sqn3]

@@cathyroche6738 More like the taffyban ! 😁

[@erroneous6947]

Very interesting thank you. I’m American with welsh ancestry.

[@TieranFreedman]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cariadgoesexploring2197]

I love this ole boy what an absolute legend. ❤

[@michaelmcgovern2264]

What a brave man god bless you man

[@lewisb85]

Never met Owain but I did meet John Barnard Jenkins a few times before he passed, the man was a true patriot. I see why he took over MAC he did have the tactical training from the British army.

[@tommyatkins2527]

that makes him a traitor

[@celtictuathism4585]

@@tommyatkins2527 A traitor to what?

[@tommyatkins2527]

@@celtictuathism4585 the country lol I mean wales wouldnt last independently lol wed be fucked

[@tommyatkins2527]

@@celtictuathism4585 nice flag reminds me of some thing kommaraden

[@celtictuathism4585]

@@tommyatkins2527 My idea of a 'United Kingdom' is different to the one which currently exists.

[@7rox1990]

The apology from Liverpool Council wasn't just too little too late- it was disingenuous. As this video shows, Liverpool's water needs were already met and were exceeded. The need to flood was one of greed, in order to sell water elsewhere. If Liverpool Council was genuine, they would've been honest in their apology.

[@GUNNFORRESTER]

As a direct descendant of Hywel Dda, my great grandmother was a Powell, Long Live Wales, May it's independence lead to great prosperity

[@claretormerod8220]

I found out one of my great grandparents weren’t from far away from here, pretty cool

[@CinCee-]

This should be made into a movie or mini series.

[@TieranFreedman]

A film student in Wales actually made a Welsh-language movie called "The Welshman" about it. I believe the trailer is on KZbin!

[@coryparni3620]

​@@TieranFreedmanplayed by his grandson

[@ozzbow3507]

Patriots!

[@Chris-ve8xw]

Thank you all, freedom fighters. Nice documentary :)

[@NEMOfishZ92]

I'm English and I'm definitely taking the Welsh side here

[@michaelmcgovern2264]

Welsh is a lovely language just like the Irish language

[@skylongskylong1982]

Labour have run Wales with the Welsh Nationalists for the last decade. The whole infrastructure from health care, to education has failed just check the statistics. England, Scotland, Northern Ireland have no problem if Wales wanted independence tomorrow. The problem that is always not talked about is the hostility between North, and South Wales. Both are have different cultures, and ideologies. You can tell just visiting, and talking to the citizens. To not take my word for it just visit the regions, and chat to the locals.

[@justinhemmings-hastings1511]

My grand dad Gwilym Roberts, and my great uncle gronway was the cobbler in pwllheli and i was led to believe meetings about this took place in room above his cobblers shop in Pwllheli

[@petedgm]

I'm glad you were looked after in Cork!

[@sian8527]

What an amazing video and so informative ...I would say patriot .

[@TieranFreedman]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@christybyrne5195]

Thank you very much for this wonderful documentary. Long live Wales!

[@TieranFreedman]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@christybyrne5195]

@@TieranFreedman Thank U Tieran!

[@ShadowExile89]

Absolute legend in my eyes. Cymru Am Byth

[@jillybe1873]

Hero of Cymru. Lets hope we get our freedom soon. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@tech9auto223]

I remember watching a program about northern Ireland it showed a arms cache sent to Irish nationalists and it was one cache sent from South Africa the rest was halfed between Scottish and Welsh nationalists and disappeared never to be seen again somewhere out there is large arms caches interestingly instead of AK-47s it was vz 58 assault rifles

[@chrism3236]

I recall many years ago the idea that all English signage should be removed from North and Mid Wales apart from the words Bed and Breakfast obviously as Wales could not survive economically without non Welsh tourists.

[@scroolewse7733]

This is what people don’t realise……you can’t suckle at the tit of England anymore your country goes bankrupt and ends in a failed state……people want independence but still hold their hand out.

[@thornwarbler]

What a great video........Cheers.

[@TieranFreedman]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ronanmcallister1232]

great story.. legend of a man

[@babylonsburning1]

This man is a hero. He put his country, language and people before his own safety and liberty. Every country need more people like him to stand up and fight against the capitalists and globalists who put money before people. I salute you Sir.

[@WelahMan]

He didn't fight against capitalists. He fought against English.

[@babylonsburning1]

@@WelahMan And why do you think the Angelish wanted to invade Cymri? To take land, resources and the people, you fool.

[@WelahMan]

@@babylonsburning1 Then why in over 400 years have the Welsh still not been freed. It doesn't matter what government is in charge you never let us go

[@babylonsburning1]

@@WelahMan Change is coming.

[@venkkooo]

​@@babylonsburning1the government stealing from the citizens isn't capitalism, that's socialism

[@honkylips9072]

Great video. Me not being Welsh myself, I have not heard much about Welsh Nationalists. I'm glad to see there are still people who want to preserve Welsh culture and gain independence.

[@TieranFreedman]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!😁󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿